Staff report

Remember Charlile, the pitiful pitbull abandoned in a crate on an East Haven street earlier this winter? East Haven Police and Animal Control officers have tracked down the owner, Michael Giano, 28, of Branford, charging him with cruelty to animals.

According to the East Haven Police Department, Animal Control officers Owen Little and Sean Godejohn received a call on Jan. 10 regarding an abandoned dog at the Breezewood Condominiums at 130 Coe Avenue, where next to a Dumpster they found an abandoned pitbull inside an unsecured crate without food, water, or protection from the elements.

After taking possession of the abandoned dog, Little and Godejohn posted photos of the dog to Facebook to see if anyone recognized it;. Within days the officers learned the dog’s name, “Menace,” and that he was owned by Giano. Little and Godejohn viewed Giano’s Facebook page, which contained pictures of Giano with Menace. When contacted, police say Giano admitted to leaving Menace at the Breezewood condominiums because Menace was aggressive, even toward Giano.

Officers served an arrest warrant for cruelty to animals, failure to vaccinate, and failure to comply with ownership requirements on Giano when he appeared at court for unrelated charges. Giano is scheduled for his next court appearance on Friday, March 17.

According to East Haven Police Lieutenant Joseph Murgo, people unable to provide care for their pet can turn the animal in at the shelter with no questions asked.

Little credited the team work of the East Haven Animal Control, East Haven Police Department, and Branford Police Department with completing the investigation.

Menace is still at the East Haven Animal shelter and is undergoing intensive training to help socialize him with the hopes of him being adoptable one day. For more information, call the shelter at 203-468-3249.