Westport Woman Faces Dognapping Charges

A Westport woman is facing charges following a dognapping incident.

Detective Jeff Majewski says a seven year old long haired Dachshund named “Jet” went missing on May 26.

The dog's owner was told by his ex-girlfriend, identified as 39-year-old Angela Benetti, that the dog ran out of the house soon after he went to work around 8:30 a.m.

A multi-day search was undertaken by the owner who looked in wooded areas and nearby neighborhoods, while putting up flyers and posting notices on social media sites.

He also offered a reward for information on the missing dog.

"Jet" was eventually located in the Pawtucket, RI Animal Shelter.

Staff at the shelter said "Jet" was dropped off at the shelter at 10 a.m. on May 26, the day the dog went missing, by a woman who said she found the dog walking on Newport Ave.

During the course of an investigation Benetti was identified as the woman who dropped off the dog.

Majewsji says she gave a different name, provided a fictitious RI address, and provided her own cell phone number.

She also sent Jet's owner a sympathy card after reporting the dog's disappearance.

Benetti also claimed she called many area animal control officers immediately after she reported “Jet” missing.

However it was later determined that she had not called or reached out to any.

Majewski says Benetti was arrested on Thursday and charged with Larceny over $250 dollars since the dog was valued at over one thousand dollars.