Missing pit bull found, another dies after alleged abuse by Waterbury woman

Tim Harfmann and Tim Rizzo

2 hours ago

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — Animal advocates say a female pit bull is in better hands, after the dog was abused and went missing.

“It was a moment of like, 'Wow, we did something positive here.' “We got it, we found it, we didn't give up,” said Diana Urban, president of Protecting Kids & Pets Partnership.

The retired Connecticut state representative helped recover the dog after Kadesha Wilson, of Waterbury, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

The 29-year-old allegedly abused dogs at her Marley Place apartment.

Court documents say another pit bull, named Shadow, was left in a car on Wilson's property.

The dog was malnourished and the car was covered in feces.

“The vet looked at him and said, 'No, his organs are shutting down,'” Urban said.

The Bridgeport Animal Rescue Crew, known as BARC, attempted to restore Shadow to health while he was in foster care – but the dog died on June 15.

“[Shadow] had eight days where he was loved and cherished, and [BARC volunteers] were with him when he passed away,” Urban said. “They didn’t leave him alone.”

Another dog found, a female pit bull, named Sissy, is in better condition and is headed to a more permanent foster home.

“We really think [Sissy’s] on the mend,” Urban said. “If you looked at the photos of Shadow, it was heartbreaking. [Sissy] was thin, but she was not so starved that she [Shadow] was.”

Urban said as animal advocates continue their fight for justice, getting Sissy to safety is a major step.

“So often there is no happy ending, and this is a happy ending for the people who put their hearts and souls into trying to save the dogs,” Urban said.

Wilson was arraigned and released from Waterbury Superior Court on June 14. The judge ordered him not to own any animals and to reappear in court on July 12.