Missing dogs found with altered appearances in Connecticut

(WTNH) — In recent weeks, the Connecticut Dog Gone Recovery Volunteer Network has issued a concerning warning to pet owners: missing dogs are being found with altered appearances.

“It didn’t even look like the same dog,” said Melanie Heltke, CT Dog Gone Recovery Volunteer. “There was a white dog that was completely shaved so you didn’t even know it was the same dog.”

Heltke said there have been several incidents across the state in recent weeks where missing dogs are being found with their hair or fur dyed or cut.

One such case involved 8-year-old Marcus from New Haven, whose appearance was drastically changed from brown to purple when he was found.

The video below is from News 8 at 10 p.m. on May 8.

Krizzia Fajardo, whose dog Nemo went missing from her Bridgeport backyard four months ago, said, “he’s probably a whole different color.”

“I was like constantly looking out on the street thinking I’m going to see a white dog. I never really pictured someone would do that,” said Fajardo. “I follow up with every single lead, even if a dog doesn’t look like Nemo I know it doesn’t look like him but I’m going just to make sure.”

Fajardo spent hours, days, and weeks driving and searching for Nemo. She was showing people his photo, knocking on doors, and repeatedly putting up posters. However, along with no luck, she said her hunt has been hindered.

“I had a lot of posters made, and I was putting them up around our neighborhood; I noticed a lot of my posters were being taken down,” said Fajardo. “That poster with a missing dog is still up, but Nemo’s isn’t.”

“Possibility someone in the area has the dog,” said Heltke.

While the motive behind the altered appearances is unknown, “change their appearance to what, to keep it?” asked Heltke.

Fajardo knows she’d do anything to have her fur baby back home, “you’re going through such a drastic measure to conceal how they look, that’s really sad. You should just return them. We miss him. We want him home. I’m even offering to give a reward, no questions asked.”

Heltke said the best way to prevent your dog from going missing is to never leave them unmonitored, even when in a backyard and as a precaution buy a GPS tracking collar.

Check out CT Dog Gone Recovery for more information on dogs that are missing including Knox who recently went missing in Hamden or to volunteer.

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