Two people facing animal cruelty charges in connection with fatal shooting of dog in Southington

Police have arrested a woman and are expected to charge a second person in connection with a dog that was shot in Southington over the summer and left to die.

Karenlynne Gatling, 24, of Bristol was charged Thursday with one count of cruelty to animals, according to the Southington Police Department. Police said they also have a warrant for 43-year-old Maurice McElrath of Waterbury on charges of cruelty to animals, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver and unlawful discharge of firearms.

Police said Gatling spent the night at a family member’s residence on Defashion Street and, on the morning of Aug. 17, was picked up by her friend McElrath. The residents of the home had already left for the day.

When Gatling left the home, McElrath told her, “Yo, I think I shot your dog,” according to police. Police said Gatling went back into the home and found a 7-year-old pit bull injured, at which point she retrieved a washcloth to “apply pressure to the hole” and left the residence to make it look like the animal had been injured after she left.

Gatling sent the dog owner a text message indicating she would be leaving the home and did not mention the incident, according to police.

A few hours later, the dog’s owner came home and found blood leading from the back deck into the house and to her bedroom, where she found the animal dead. Police said it was initially suspected that the pit bull had been attacked by another dog, but the dog owner later learned through Gatling that McElrath had shot it.

According to the dog owner, Gatling said the dog left the home through a dog door and came out barking when McElrath arrived to pick her up, police said.

A necropsy report, completed by the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, concluded the cause of death was “consistent with the clinical findings of a suspected gunshot wound,” according to police.

Police said Gatling declined to cooperate with authorities during the investigation after their initial contact with her.

McElrath refused to provide a statement, according to police. Police said McElrath is being held on bond in unrelated cases and will be served with a warrant charging him in the pit bull’s death during his next scheduled court appearance.

Following her arrest Thursday, Gatling was released on a $2,500 bond. She is expected to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Dec. 14.