Police: Woman ‘tossed’ dog from moving car

NORWALK — A Wilton woman faces an animal cruelty charge after a 911 caller reported seeing a dog being “tossed” out of a moving vehicle this month, police said.

Helen Skulski, 56, turned herself in at Norwalk police headquarters Friday morning on an arrest warrant, Sgt. Sofia Gulino said.

Skulski was charged with animal cruelty and held on a $25,000 bond.

The charge stems from an incident around 2 p.m. on March 9, Gulino said.

A motorist called police to report she saw “a dog being tossed out of a moving vehicle,” Gulino said. The caller told police she stopped traffic with her car to protect the dog, which she was able to bring to the side of the road.

Animal Control and police officers responded and brought the dog, a beagle, to a local animal hospital to be evaluated. Gulino said the beagle had “superficial scrapes.”

Gulino said the dog’s owners reached out to the Animal Control Office after the incident.

As police continued to investigate, officers were told by the state’s attorney’s office that the dog had to be returned to the owner until evidence of the alleged animal cruelty could be provided, Gulino said.

Throughout the investigation, animal control officers from Norwalk and Wilton checked on the welfare of the dog at the owner’s home, Gulino said. During those checks, she said, the beagle “was found in good condition.”

“The ongoing investigation would reveal evidence to support animal cruelty, and the investigator submitted a warrant to the court,” Gulino said.

Police did not say what “evidence” was found.

When the warrant was approved, Gulino said, it ordered that Skulski not have dogs or any animals. She said the beagle and a cat are being removed from Skulski’s home.