The Glastonbury Police Department launched an animal cruelty investigation on Thursday, March 12, 2026, after a distressing video involving local fitness influencer Mike Gerchy began circulating on social media.
The footage, shared by the advocacy group Desmond’s Army, appears to show Gerchy repeatedly kicking a black-and-white dog named Stitch and throwing the animal onto furniture.
While the police have not officially named the suspect, Gerchy took to his Instagram account of 85,000 followers to defend his actions, claiming the clip was "doctored" and two years old.
The investigation currently stands as a primary focal point for animal rights activists in Connecticut.
Its primary mandate involves determining if Gerchy’s physical response to a domestic dog fight constituted criminal abuse or a necessary intervention.
“The Glastonbury Police Department would like to thank the public for its interest in this case,” officials stated in a Thursday release, noting that the viral nature of the clip brought the incident to their immediate attention.
The controversy will also absorb and expand upon Gerchy’s counter-claims regarding the safety of his household.
A critical component of his defense is a second video he posted, which appears to show Stitch attacking a smaller dog, Thor, near two young children.
Gerchy argued that his quick, albeit violent, actions were the only reason both dogs are alive today.
“Am I proud of what happened? Absolutely not,” Gerchy stated in an Instagram post.
“But because of what I did... Thor is still alive, and also because of that, Stitch is still alive.”
One of the most immediate challenges for investigators is reconciling the influencer’s claims of being a "very good man" with the graphic nature of the footage.
Observers cited the "intense emotional reaction" from the public as the primary reason for the rapid police response.
“I love my dogs more than anything,” Gerchy remarked, explaining that Stitch had previously caused $16,000 in vet bills by breaking Thor’s jaw and leg in separate unprovoked attacks.
The establishment of this investigation follows a series of Instagram videos where Gerchy pushed back against "Desmond’s Army," alleging the footage was released by an ex-partner to damage his reputation.
While no charges have been filed yet, the emphasis remains on the welfare of the animals involved.
Director-level animal control officers pledged to conduct a thorough review of the household's history and the full, unedited video.
As the Glastonbury community waits for a formal ruling, the question remains: “Where is the legal line between breaking up a dangerous dog fight and committing animal cruelty?”, a question that will likely define the outcome of this case in the coming weeks.