When the dogs, cats and other animals at the shelter needed greater support a few years ago, Vitelli formed a nonprofit organization called Wags and Whiskers TLC that raised money to support the shelter’s work.
Now the Police Department for which Vitelli once worked alleges in a warrant that Vitelli, 46, of Reeds Gap Road in the Northford section of North Branford, stole money from donated returnable bottles and cans intended to support shelter animals.
West Haven police have arrested Vitelli, who resigned after an “extensive” police internal affairs investigation began in January. They charged him with second-degree larceny and third-degree criminal mischief, police spokesman Sgt. David Tammaro said.
Vitelli was a member and treasurer of Wags and Whiskers, which raised money by redeeming bottles and cans that the public would donate to the Collis Street shelter, then used the money collected to pay for veterinarian care.
A police internal affairs investigation found that Vitelli allegedly had been redeeming returnables and pocketing the proceeds, not providing it to Wags and Whiskers, Tammaro said. Police detective supervisors also alleged that Vitelli had damaged a storage area for the redeemable items.
Calling Vitelli’s arrest an “unfortunate event,” Ian Robertson, president of Wags & Whiskers TLC, said in a statement that the group has “put other resources in place to make sure the money is accounted for and is put to good use for its original intention of helping support the West Haven Animal Shelter.”
Tammaro said he believed Vitelli initially was put on administrative leave, but later resigned. Tammaro said police did not know for how long the alleged theft had been going on or the full amount that might have allegedly been stolen.
“My understanding is, it was well over $500 that they were able to prove,” he said.
Vitelli, who could not be reached for comment, told the New Haven Register last year that the organization raised an average of $100 a week by collecting cans.
In addition, “We raise money through soliciting donations, raising money at fairs, festivals and pet clinics, and we average about $500 to $1,000 per event,” Vitelli said at the time.
Wags and Whiskers TLC has been described in online listings as an animal support group.
“We help many shelters in many ways. We fund-raise to provide extra medical care for the animals at area shelters,” says one such listing, on www.greenpeople.org. “We also hold rabies clinics to provide owned pets their vaccines.”
Vitelli, who apparently was able to post bond, is due back in court July 28, Tammaro said.
Deputy Chief of Police Joseph Perno declined to comment on Vitelli’s arrest, saying he preferred to let it play out in court.
Asked how the alleged theft was discovered, Perno said, “You see all the bottles there and then all of a sudden they’re gone, but you don’t see the money coming into Wags and Whiskers.”
He said his understanding is that Wags and Whiskers has taken steps to continue operations independently of Vitelli.
“They’re since gone totally away from him,” Perno said.
Vitelli’s arrest shouldn’t discourage people who might want to give to the group, Perno said.
“That organization helps out tremendously, with rabies clinics, food — and even the time that some of the volunteers put in,” he said. “It’s a tremendous organization and people shouldn’t judge it on the acts of one person.”
Other members of the group couldn’t immediately be contacted.
Vitelli’s work with Wags and Whiskers was separate from his work as an animal control officer, Perno said. The animal shelter is budgeted to have four animal control officers but currently has three, Perno said.
(NH Register - July 20, 2015)
