A Fairfield family’s dog was mistaken for a small coyote this week and euthanized, prompting an apology from the police chief and an internal investigation of the department’s animal control procedures.
Police were called to help animal control at about 9 p.m. Wednesday night to help with an animal in “severe distress” near Lawrence Road, police Chief Christopher Lyddy said in a statement Friday.
“The animal, which was found at night during adverse weather conditions, was identified as a young coyote by multiple individuals, including two Fairfield Animal Control Officers,” Lyddy said.
Those officers contacted the state, per wildlife procedures, but were told there were no available rehabilitation facilities that could care for the animal, Lyddy said.