Westbrook man facing animal cruelty charge after fatally shooting his dog: CSP

WESTBROOK, Conn. — Connecticut State Police arrested a Westbrook man Tuesday after they say he admitted to shooting and killing his dog.

Wesley Bassett, 51, of Westbrook, is facing charges of illegal discharge of a firearm, cruelty to animals and criminal possession of a firearm/ammunition. He was released from custody on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on Feb. 18.

At 5:10 p.m., Westbrook police and State Police Troop F went to a home on Essex Road in Westbrook for a well-being check. A veterinary hospital had reported to police that they were concerned after Bassett commented to them over the phone about putting his dog down, state police said.

After a Westbrook officer and trooper arrived at the home, a family member told them that Bassett was living in a camper behind the residence.

As the Westbrook officer and trooper met with Bassett, the officer found a “large pool of red liquid” on the ground, which investigators later determined to be blood, state police said. The officer also discovered a leash and dog caller hanging outside the camper, which also had blood on it.

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Bassett told the officer that his dog had been ill and dying, and that he “did the ‘humane' thing by putting it down,” according to state police. He also told police that he left the dog's remains near the woods for the coyotes to take.

While he explained to police that the dog had been “lame due to a tick-borne illness,” state police noted that lameness “in and of itself is not fatal to animals.”

Although Bassett initially told the officer that he had someone else put the dog down, he allegedly later admitted to killing the dog by shooting it. State police said he lied because he is a convicted felon and knew he is ineligible to possess a firearm. 

Police consulted with an animal control officer, who determined that there were no existing laws in Connecticut that permit pet owners to euthanize them “in such a manner,” according to state police. Animal control later took the dog's remains for a necropsy.

The officer and trooper arrested Bassett, who led them to his 9mm pistol within the camper, state police said. The pistol contained four live 9mm rounds in the magazine and police found 76 additional live 9mm rounds.

Police seized the pistol, magazine and ammunition as evidence, state police said.

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