Pero attempts to save pit bulls seized in drug raid

New London - City Councilor Rob Pero will ask the city and police administration at its meeting Tuesday to create a policy on when seized dogs should be euthanized.

The request is being made after Pero learned that 10 pit bulls seized during a drug raid in October at Alger Place were going to be put down by the city.

Pero, at the request of several local animal rights activists, intervened and requested that the dogs be evaluated by a third party to see if any are adoptable.

"We shouldn't put dogs down because they're a certain breed," said Pero. "If they can be saved, we should try to save them."

At the city's animal control facility Friday in Bates Woods Park, the dogs were in their runs, some constantly barking, others running back and forth between their inside pens and outside runs.

Pero said the city should have something in writing on how it should proceed before euthanizing a dog. He also said he thought the city should work with other agencies that can take these type of animals in the future.

It was unclear exactly when the dogs were scheduled to be euthanized. The dogs are part of an investigation concerning the drug raid.

Police Chief Margaret Ackley said in an e-mail that 10 dogs were seized during a drug raid at 51 Alger Place in October. She said the dogs' owner was in federal custody, and police were "evaluating the situation."

Day Staff Writer Michael Naughton contributed to this report.

i.larraneta@theday.com

m.naughton@theday.com