At Least 10 Innocent Dogs Were Brutally Killed By Cops At Connecticut Dog Training Facility

According to Newsweek, a police officer was among a number of persons detained when it was discovered that 10 canines had been ruthlessly shot at a Connecticut canine training facility, according to authorities.

Following the killing and burying of at least ten canines at the training facility in Naugatuck, police officers David Rivera Jr. (34), his father David Rivera Sr. (57), and Daniel Luna (33), were apprehended and arrested.

Police in Naugatuck initiated an investigation late April into charges of illegal explosives, guns, and animal abuse at Black Rock Canine Training, located at 100 Hunters Mountain Road. The institution trains canines for law enforcement and people, the report said.

In a Facebook post, an NPD spokesperson said:

Through interviews with witnesses it is alleged that numerous canines of all ages and breeds, including German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois and Labrador Retrievers have been abused and injured during their time at Black Rock Canines.

More specifically, that at least 10 canines have been killed by employees with a firearm. The canines that were shot and killed were then buried on the property by the owner/ operators of the business.

According to the warrant, Rivera and Luna murdered dogs they felt couldn’t be sold or taught because of their temperaments.

Colin McAllister, Naugatuck Chief of Police, said at a news conference Tuesday:

The allegations outlined in these affidavits are not only illegal but also disheartening. As a police agency with three successful working K-9s that serve our community to their highest capacity, we are appalled at the treatment that other dogs of the same caliber were given while under the care of Black Rock Canines.

On April 26, 2022, Naugatuck police cooperated with state, federal, and Stratford police to carry out a search and seizure warrant at the facility in collaboration with the other agencies.

There is a distressing history of animal mistreatment, according to the court records, including one employee who said Luna shot dogs as they were being fed. The employee said that the dog bowls sometimes had gunshot holes in them and that they were also buried on the property.

The police claimed they discovered military-grade explosives being stashed in Tupperware containers on the premises during their investigation, according to FOX61, which covered the story.

A knife was allegedly used by Rivera Sr. to threaten two current and former employees at the canine training facility on April 29, according to reports. Naugatuck police were called to the scene and arrived to the business on the same day.

He was subsequently taken into custody and charged with second-degree threatening as well as two charges of breach of peace. He was freed after posting a $25,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 11 in Waterbury.

Police arrested Rivera Jr. when he turned himself in to them. He was charged with conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals, reckless endangerment in the first degree, and conspiracy to euthanize a canine. The cop was freed after posting a $150,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 18, according to Newsweek. According to the article, he has been put on administrative leave from his responsibilities as a police officer.

As part of the investigation, Luna turned himself in to police and was charged with four counts of animal cruelty, four counts of conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals, reckless endangerment, four counts of unlawful euthanasia of a canine, conspiracy to commit euthanasia of a canine, and identity theft in the third degree. As reported by WTNH, he was arrested and sent to Waterbury Superior Court on May 3, where he was arraigned. He has a 225,000$ bond.

The remaining 31 canines were taken away by the police and put in a shelter where they would get adequate care, according to reports.