Connecticut Dog Magazine Spring 2023

ANNUAL VETERINARY GUIDE LIVING ROOF HOMES FOR DOGS GET TROPICAL WITH AN ISLAND DOG ADOPTABLE SANDALS!

Danbury VCA Northside Animal Hospital

203-743-4521 (Exotics)

South Windsor

VCA Valley Animal Hospital

860-528-2178

Waterford

VCA New London Animal Hospital 860-442-0611

East Hartford

VCA Animal Hospital of East Hartford 860-569-1066

Vernon VCA Animal Hospital of Vernon 860-872-7351

Milford VCA Baybrook Animal Hospital

203-882-8600 (Cat Friendly Practice)

Cheshire

VCA Cheshire Animal Hospital

203-272-3266

Darien VCA Darien Animal Hospital 203-655-1449

Stamford VCA Davis Animal Hospital

203-327-0300

East Haven VCA Foxon Animal Hospital

203-468-2001

Shelton VCA Shoreline Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center

203-929-8600 (Emergency & Specialty)

Norwalk VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center

203-854-9960

(Emergency & Specialty)

Cromwell VCA Cromwell Animal Hospital 860-635-1979

Plainville VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital 860-747-2759

Bristol VCA Bristol Animal Hospital 860-583-4641

Plainfield VCA Plainfield Animal Hospital

860-564-7177 (Exotics)

Naugatuck VCA Naugatuck Animal Hospital

203-723-7187 (Fear Free Practice)

West Hartford VCA Veterinary Specialists of CT 860-236-3273

(Emergency & Specialty)

Southbury VCA Maple Ridge Animal Hospital

203-262-0595

Feed me, Seymour, Feed Me!

From the Desk of: Nancy Alperson, DVM VCA Plainfield Animal Hospital

A couple weeks after my older son was born, I gave in. It was time to feed the dog breakfast - the only problem was I was recovering from a c-section, and it physically hurt to lean over to scoop food out of the dogfood bin. I felt sad. Our dog also looked really sad, and he had been doing such a great job with a crying newborn in the house. Clearly he deserved a hot dog! Unlike the dogfood bin, the refrigerator was an easy reach. Not long afterwards, he vomited, and the undigested hot dog came right back up. We had not expected the dog to continue to be sick, so my husband took him to the vet. I was embarrassed to learn he told her about the hot dog. I still remember asking how she reacted. He said she reacted like it was the most logical choice in the world. She just wanted to know if it was chewed up or whole.

That was not my only dog who got sick from eating bad things. When I was in vet school, my dog was such a frequent flier in the hospital, that any time a golden retriever was being seen for “dietary indiscretion” I would get a text asking if it was my dog. Legos, crayons, wrappers, chicken bones all brought my dog to the vet. Sometimes my dogs got sick from items that I gave to them before I was vet because I didn’t know they could cause any issues. Some memorable snacks included grapes, raisins, and corn cobs. So, why does that all of that matter?

It matters because pet owners need not be embarrassed or ashamed about something their dog ate. It happens to many of us, even veterinarians. If that embarrassment prevents sharing pertinent information, it can make a huge difference in treatment, and even be a matter of life and death. Trust me, whatever your dog has eaten, we’ve seen it before. No vet judged us, and we won’t judge you, but we do need to know

Here are some examples:

• Those raisins or grapes that your dog ate could affect their kidneys. Knowing in time, we may be able to introduce intervention to prevent digestion and further damage.

• Perhaps your dog suddenly started vomiting and having diarrhea because you gave them a steak. When my kids were toddlers, my dogs had a steady diet of bologna. This isn’t a rare occurrence, and we get it.

• Uncomfortable admitting that the dog got into pot? That happens too. In fact, it happens a lot. Every vet I know has treated at least one dog who got into pot.

• Maybe your dog got into medication. Some are uncomfortable sharing they are on certain medications. It is okay; you can trust us. A lot of people are on medications for various reasons, and you do not have to reveal any details.

• We don’t judge if you gave the dog medicine intentionally. I know many many owners who have tried to take care of a sick dog late at night, and consulted the internet.

• The internet sometimes recommends over-the-counter medicine or a prescription lying around the house for another dog, or even a human family member. I’ve been there and done that too, but when treating your dog, it is vital we know what medicines they may have taken before we prescribe anything. Not only are different medications countered by different treatments, but certain medications cannot be combined. If a vet does not know that a dog has accessed a particular medication, the vet can unknowingly make your dog sick by putting your pet on a contradicting medication.

A couple years after I became a vet, my dog got into a 5lb bag of crushed oyster shells I had bought for my chickens. Crushed oyster shells are very high in calcium, so in addition to having to monitor her for the subsequent vomiting and diarrhea, I also had to monitor her blood calcium. That experience was even more memorable, because the shells looked almost fluorescent on the x-ray, which happened to be brightly visible at the very moment that my clinic’s regional leadership happened to be passing through on a visit. A glowing and gleaming x-ray with a lot of senior vets present garnered a lot of questions and a lot of advice, but even that did not lead to judgement.

Whatever the cause of a sick pet visit, as veterinarians, we love getting to answers as simply as possible in order to form a gameplan with you. By gaining all the knowledge we can, testing and treatment can be faster, less stressful, and less expensive. We become veterinarians because our passion and purpose calls us to do the very best we can by animals. We are your partner in pet ownership, and here to help keep your pets healthy and happy.

Dr. Alperson is a small animal and exotics vet at VCA Plainfield. She and her husband have two sons, two dogs who love to get into the garbage, 3 cats who like to get into the dogs’ food, 8 chickens and are grandparents to two leopard geckos. Dr. Alperson and her son run Zoe’s Rocks Facebook page in memory of her son’s friend Zoe Wolfus and to help raise awareness of mental health issues and encourage kindness.

Radiograph of ingested oysters, credit VCA Animal Hospitals

LURE COURSING AT LARKIN’S RUN!

What is it:

Lure Coursing is a fun activity to stimulate your dog by chasing a mechanical lure in our big play yard! No experience needed. If your dog likes to run and chase, this is for you!

When: June - November 2020, Sundays 12-3pm

WHEN: April 2023

How Much: $3 a run or $25 for a 12-pack

Go to website for more info or Alpha Dog Events

Where: Larkins Run 591 Madison Road, Durham, CT 06422 860-349-8493 www.larkinsrun.com

Where: Larkin’s Run 591 Madison Road Durham, CT 06422

860-349-8493

Dogs will be running by themselves not with other dogs. Dogs must be fully vaccinated and on leash when outside of play yard. No Flex leashes. Thank you! Can’t wait to see you there!

Located in Windham County in the town of Newfane, the Four Columns Inn features a stunning historic setting, a welcoming staff, thoughtful hospitality details, and gourmet food at celebrity chef Andrea Jourdan’s restaurant, Andrea’s Table.

The inn’s 15 bedrooms are furnished with an eclectic mix of antiques and new furniture, boast the finest linens, bathroom amenities, free wi-fi and flat screen televisions. King or queen-size beds welcome guests for the night. Many rooms have fireplaces and deep soaking Jacuzzi bathtubs. All rooms have air conditioning.

The 15 bedrooms are separated across three buildings, one of which is the pet-friendly Garden Annex with the three rooms 07 (Red Clover, King Bed, Walk-In Shower, Bathtub), 08 (Buttercup, King Bed, Bath/Shower Combo), and 09 (Dandelion, Queen Bed, Bath/Shower Combo).

The Four Columns Inn rolls out the red carpet for canines and cats. Dogs are provided treats, water bowls, and a pup bed for an additional $60 fee (per pet). The property includes grassy areas and walking trails so pups can enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Guests should not leave their dog (or cat) out of the fun when heading off on an awesome vacation, no matter the season. There is plenty for Fido, Kitty & our Inn Guests to do whether on the trails or garden side.

Rooms in the Main Building & the Four Columns Building, including the Common Areas, maintain a pet-free environment for the comfort of our Inn Guests who may be allergic.

Inn Guests with dogs are invited to enjoy sitting outside by Bullfrog Pond and Trout Pond, or they can hike on nearby walking trails. Four

for more information, visit www.fcivt.com or call the Inn 802 365 7713

Spring 2023

Connecticut Dog is published quarterly: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Guidelines for submissions are available upon request. Visit www.ConnecticutDog.com for more details.

Connecticut Dog P.O. Box 28 Glastonbury, CT 06033

Founders Melissa Roberts

Susan Roberts

Owner, Publisher, Art Director

Melissa Roberts publisher@ConnecticutDog.com

Assistant Editor Amelia Mae Roberts

Production Manager David Lansa DL Graphic Design, LLC. design@ConnecticutDog.com

Contributing Writers Nancy Alperson, DVM Anastasia Freccia

Contributing Photographers

Wendi Butler

Max England Anastasia Freccia

Cover Dog: Adoptable Sandals is available through Lucky Dog Refuge (see page 7) Harness provided by: Beaut Outerwear Photo taken at: Stamford Florist

Cover Photographer: Anastasia Freccia

Advertising publisher@ConnecticutDog.com www.MaeMedia.net

At Connecticut Dog magazine, our mission

and only resource regarding

and wellness for dog owners throughout the state of Connecticut. The contents of this magazine is copyrighted by Connecticut Dog, all rights reserved. Reproduction of any articles, advertisement, or material from this issue is forbidden without written permission of the publisher. The publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services and/or products and/or article topics within those advertisements or editorial content of any kind when accepting and publishing advertising or editorial submissions.

Christ has died.

Christ has risen. Christ will come again

SandalsAdopt

In March 2022, sweet Sandals came to us from the Bahamas where she had spent years at an outdoor sanctuary and had a very tough life on the streets before that. She was heartworm positive at the time, which we successfully treated her for. But she still seemed lethargic so we ran more tests and she discovered she had congestive heart failure. However, our Sanadals is a survivor and the condition is being managed very well with medication!

Once very shy, Sandals’ personality has really blossomed in her year at Lucky Dog Refuge. She is funny, spirited, and loves to be outdoors. This very good girl is between 6 and 8-years old but has never had a home to call her own. Are you the one to give her that life she has always dreamed of?

If you are interested in adopting Sandals, please contact:

Lucky Dog Refuge

36 Pulaski Street

Stamford, CT 203-434-1402

www.Luckydogrefuge.com

Thank you Stamford Florist for allowing the front cover photo to be taken at your shop! www.stamfordflorist.com

Thank you to Beaut Outerwear for donating a custom designed harness made specifically for Sandals and her future family.

Island Harness with the Tropical Print created by Ricardo Auguste at Beaut Outerwear.

BeautOuterwear.com

@Beautouterwear

Photo Credit: Anastasia Freccia

Rescue on the News

Army’s Legacy was recently on News 8, letting viewers know all about their non-profit fosterbased rescue organization, how they got started and their mission to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals. Thanks to foster families, the organization has been able to help hundreds of animals to find their forever families. Featured was 12-week old AJ, an adorable deaf pit mix puppy that came in as an ownersurrender. Army’s Legacy is always looking for

Understanding Service Dogs

Written by: Karin Fry

What is a Service Dog? Every dog has a job. Most dogs’ job is being a pet. They typically are there for the enjoyment of the owner(s), perhaps a family, a couple or a single person. Dogs bring comfort, love and responsibility. Their job is to blend into their environment, adapt to domestic life and be a friend. “A trained dog is a happy dog” goes the saying and I hold that to be true. Dogs should be trained in order to keep the peace and be controlled. Some dogs qualify and are trained to be service dogs. Examples of such dogs are guard dogs, search and rescue dogs, police dogs and those that help people with documented special needs. Those are the most common service dogs. They are highly trained in providing a particular task. Perhaps the service dog is a guide dog for the blind, assisting people with PTSD, the hearing impaired, those with anxiety, epilepsy, and much more.

The training goes above and beyond his basic training. Discipline is the most important part and this is what they are working on every day. Yes, service dogs are working dogs and they loyal, obedient and trusting to their handler. What is amazing is that their sense of need to help and serve is without any judgment and selfishness. Their task is to assist their handler in whatever they are trained for and to be alert. When you see a dog with a service dog vest or a tag, know that they are working and need to focus on their handler, even though it may not look like it.

These dogs don’t pull on leashes, bark, growl or jump up. They heel, sit, come and defecate on command. Every one of those commands has been drilled into them and their training is ongoing. Just like we have learned a language, how to do simple everyday tasks, they have learned their skills.

What is the special need of any particular handler? That is only between the handler and the dog. Just like anyone doesn’t want to be asked about their medication, handlers don’t want to be asked what service the dog is carrying out for them. They are not to be petted without asking, they won’t come to you if you call them, and they won’t take a treat. They are there for only the handler alone and will only answer to them.

Contrary to belief, emotional support dogs are not service dogs. True service dogs get an A+ in behavior and are educated, trained and mentally mature. They can go into public places like grocery stores, restaurants, airports and airplanes, hotels and many more. The training for service dogs varies and is intense. It can take a long time to shape a service dog and they need to pass a test for their skill before they can graduate. As a result of their education, many people are benefitting from their services that can make life easier and more comfortable than before. Above all things, the most important part of the training is the trust and respect to their handler.

people interested in becoming a foster and they can always use donations that will go towards the care of the adoptable animals. Visit www. armyslegacy.org to learn more. Happily

•

Earth Animal + The Mitten Project EVENTS

Connecticut Food Share (CFS) is a member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks. Spokesperson for CFS, Jason Jakubowski, President and CEO states, “Earth Animal continues to support our vision of a thriving community free of hunger. This generous donation of $53,000 can help us provide 100,000 meals to our neighbors.”

The Mitten Project is only possible through the participation and generous donations of local businesses and very generous customers and friends. Thank you for helping us get to our astonishing goal of $53,000! Photo and text provided by Earth Animal.

Momma & Babies

Dog Star Rescue recently partnered up with a rescue from the southern states to take in a momma dog named Gypsy and her seven puppies, all who were scheduled to be euthanized. On that same day, there was another momma dog that was killed by a car and she had six puppies at two-days old that she left behind. Now with an amazing local volunteer foster family through Dog Star Rescue, Gypsy is currently caring for her seven puppies and the six puppies that had lost their momma. All of the dogs are safe and thriving. If you would like to follow the journey of

Dog Star Rescue Adoption Event

Back on January 14, 2023 Shoreline Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram held an adoption event for Dog Star Rescue. Here a few smiling faces! Photos provided by Dog Star Rescue.

Pets in the Park

March 25, 2023

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bethel Municipal Center, Bethel

Rescue on the Runway

April 23. 2023

11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Location: TBD

Charity Tag Sale

May 13 & 14, 2023

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

31 Buckland Drive, Waterbury

Hops on the Hill “Hops for Hounds”

May 21, 2023

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

275 Dug Road, South Glastonbury

Pets in the Park

June 4, 2023

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

2 Pickett District Road, New Milford

Catherine Hubbard Butterfly Party

June 10, 2023

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

3 Primrose Street, Newtown

The Great Country Mutt Show

June 11, 2023

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lime Rock Park, Lakeville

Pups & Pints Car Show

June 18, 2023

12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Norbrook Farm Brewery, Colebrook

Gypsy and the thirteen puppies, check out the social media posts from Dog Star Rescue. Photo provided by Dog Star Rescue.

New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare Society offers tips and resources, for neighbors to help neighbors and their pets!

Text provided by NFSAWS

Rents and food prices are high, and this is affecting whole families—including pets. Many people are struggling to feed and care for the pets they love.

But through this, neighbors are helping neighbors, and are building stronger, safer communities for everyone while doing it. New Fairfield/ Sherman Animal Welfare (NFSAWS) is proud to support our community, and the people helping each other in it. There are all kinds of ways for community members to get involved in helping neighbors, that benefit us all:

• Donate food or supplies to NFSAW’s pet pantry. Last year NFSAW was able to provide food and supplies for 10 animals in our community. This year NFSAW is launching a pet food and supply pantry to help pet parents in need.

• Help a lost pet get back home. If you find a lost pet, it’s likely they haven’t wandered far from home. You can help them be reunited with their owner by taking their picture and posting it to Nextdoor and other local social media pages; walking them around the neigh-

borhood to see if anyone recognizes them; and having them scanned for a microchip. NFSAW can help by posting them to our social media pages, and we can even provide food and supplies to any lost pet finders who can hold onto the pet for a short period! Reach out at nfsaw@ att.net  to learn more.

• Check in on neighbors. People will often post to Nextdoor and other local social media pages when they’re having trouble feeding their pet, or need help with a vet bill. This presents the opportunity for mutual aid—people helping each other with pet-related challenges, and other basic needs. In addition to supporting neighbors

In Loving Memory

Ralph “Des” DeSimone

Jan 14th 1947 - Oct 19th 2022

Ralph was an avid animal lover, He spent many hours taking his pets on car rides, taking them on many different hikes and walks with tons of ball chasing, and he was also very generous when he was handing out dog treats. Ralph also spent time training his pups, he loved that personal bond that training and spending time with his dogs created, before covid was a thing, He had spent every Sunday morning with his wife Carol and their fur kid Chloe at a for fun agility class smiling and laughing the entire time. Ralph and his huge smile and heart will be forever missed but never forgotten.

with direct donations, you can point people to NFSAW’s web page on pet safety net resources, and pets.findhelp.com—a free, first-of-its-kind platform to make accessing pet support services easy.

• Adopt directly from someone who needs to find their pet a new home. There are people who can no longer take care of their pet, and need to find them a new home. Adopting a pet directly from their original owner allows the pet to remain in homes and never enter the shelter. This is called “self-rehoming” and it is very important! Self-rehoming is often more humane for pets, and offers reassurance to the pet’s original family, too, by allowing them to pick, and perhaps even stay in touch with, the new owner. Check self-rehoming websites like home-home. org and adoptapet.com, where people who need to find new homes for their pets can list them. NFSAW can help by posting an adoption listing on our website and social media.

Together we can ease each other’s burdens—and help make sure people going through hard times don’t also lose their pets.

Photo credit: Wendi Butler Text provided by Sara Roy

Photo credit: BARC-CT

Pawsome Pets in North Haven helped to make a difference for local dogs in need.

Inspired by holiday toy drives, Where the Love Is decided to team up with local businesses like ours and put together a drive for dogs at their shelter who were in need of homes and donations for food, toys, treats, vet bills and more. They sent us ornaments of all the dogs that were adoptable and in need of these gifts and we put them up on our rescue tree in front of our shop and our clients would pick them out and come back with the donation gifts. Photos and text provided by Pawsome Pets.

Make a Difference!

Where the Love Is can use your help to receive grant money! Where the Love Is will receive $25 for every vote it receives from an Ion Bank customer. Vote for Where the Love Is to help them raise money to save dogs! You can vote until March 17, 2023!

The Little Guild offers a training/behavioral support program providing no cost behavioral support and training to all Little Guild dog adopters. We offer sessions both in adopters’ homes and/or at the Little Guild. We also offer the same service for low cost to all other area dog owners who are facing behavioral issues with their dogs. www.littleguild.org

Two is Better than One

PawSafe is happy to announce that they have two locations in Connecticut:

110 Sandy Beach Road in Ellington

348 Old Colony Road in Eastford

Both shelters hold adoption events weekly and have many volunteer and foster opportunities! Anyone interested can reach out to info@pawsafe.org or by visiting their website at www.pawsafe.org.

Sweet Souls Skyler is 4 or 5-months old, she is sweet as can be! She is almost house trained, walks on a leash and is good with dogs, cats and the kids! Skyler is a mixed breed Heinz 57 puppy full of love and kisses! She weighs about 25 lbs. and she will make a GREAT family pet! Photo and text provided by TLC Sweet Souls Rescue.

TLC SWEET SOULS RESCUE

Laura.dorr11@gmail.com

Laura Dorr 203 942 4008

Hiring Full / Part-Time Veterinarian

Come work where you are treated like family, work/life balance is considered a priority. Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals & Pleasant Paws Pet Center are looking for full/part-time/relief veterinarian to join our team! 2 State of the art facilities, Generous signing bonus and more! Privately Owned. Contact rockvali@hotmail.com or 203-426-8585

With so many veterinarians throughout Connecticut, it may be difficult to find the right doctor for your pet. When choosing a veterinarian you should approach your search with the same considerations as you would when looking for a doctor for yourself. Think about what kind of practice you want to use and the expectations that you have. Do your research online by visiting their website. Learn more about the veterinarians at the practice and their approach to medicine. Evaluate what the staff is like and how the practice runs, especially when it comes to emergency visits, late night or otherwise. Consider the location of the practice, their hours and fees. Get referrals. Although it can be confusing as to which veterinarian is the right fit for your family and pet, take some time to thumb through the next few pages to learn more about some of the local veterinarian practices within your community.

ANNUAL VETERINARY GUIDE

Veterinarians in this issue:

Adorable Pets Veterinary Center, Haddam

Animal Hospital of Putnam, Putnam

Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine Emergency and Referral Center, Guilford & North Haven

Companion Animal Hospital of Cromwell, Cromwell

East Brook Animal Hospital, Mansfield Center

Mt. Pleasant Hospital for Animals, Newtown

Northeastern Veterinary Care Center, Mystic

Powder Ridge Veterinary Hospital, Middlefield

VCA Animal Hospital of East Hartford, East Hartford

VCA Animal Hospital of Vernon, Vernon

VCA Baybrook Animal Hospital, Milford

VCA Bristol Animal Hospital, Bristol

VCA Cheshire Animal Hospital, Cheshire

VCA Cromwell Animal Hospital, Cromwell

VCA Davis Animal Hospital, Stamford

VCA Darien Animal Hospital, Darien

VCA Foxon Animal Hospital, East Haven

VCA Maple Ridge Animal Hospital, Southbury

VCA Naugatuck Animal Hospital, Naugatuck

VCA New London Animal Hospital, Waterford

VCA Northside Animal Hospital, Danbury

VCA Old Canal Animal Hospital, Plainville

VCA Plainfield Animal Hospital, Plainfield

VCA Shoreline Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, Shelton

VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center, Norwalk

VCA Veterinary Specialists of CT, West Hartford

VCA Valley Animal Hospital, South Windsor

Quality care from people who care 24 hours a day. Central Hospital knows that your pets are very important members of your family. For over 40 years we have been providing emergency and critical care 24-hours a day, 365 days a year to your beloved companions.

We understand, better than most, that you want them to have the same level of care you would expect for any member of your family. Central Hospital now has two newly built, convenient locations in North Haven and Guilford providing care around the clock. Our ICU provides 24-hour advanced supportive care overseen by veterinarians that specialize in critical care. Specialty Departments Include:

Medicine: Cardiology, Dermatology, Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Ophthalmology

Surgery: Orthopedic Surgery, Arthroscopy, Soft Tissue Surgery, Laparoscopy

Radiology: Ultrasound, X-Rays, CT Scan, Fluoroscopy, Radioactive Iodine Therapy

Other Specialties: Avian/Exotic Care, Anesthesiology, Pain Management, Behavior, Animal Rehabilitation, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

COVID 19 GUIDELINES IN PLACE

In order to reduce exposure of COVID-19 to you and our staff, you will not be able to accompany your pet into the hospital. During an emergency please call prior to your arrival. When you arrive a staff member will take your information and instruct you when to come in to the hospital. Examinations will be performed while you wait safely in your vehicle, and most, if not all, communications will be accomplished via phone, discharge paperwork, and e-mail. Covid guidelines are subject to change, call for updated policies

Photo credit: Melissa Wilson of MW Photography

Basic Pet Care: What Every Pet Owner Should Know

Written by Jean Tosun Furs

Adog is reliable, trustworthy, and loving but first and foremost, a dog is a faithful and true friend. A dog models as a selfless service companion, enjoys simple pleasures (a walk, a treat or a cuddle) and loves unconditionally.

In order to survive, companion animals like humans need water, food, shelter, and love. If you are thinking about giving one a forever home, especially before committing to share your living space, it is best to learn about the proper care of a pet. This holds true even if you already have a companion pet. Your local library or bookstore has books on animal care where you can get advice and help. You can contact your local rescue shelter or animal control officer if you’d like to speak to someone directly about pet care.

As a pet owner, you’ll need items such as beds, healthy food, food and water bowls, storage bins, toys, a collar, leash, harness and identification tags for their safety.

Water is the main component for healthy, living cells of the body. Without water, your dog’s body will not function properly. More specifically, your dog will dehydrate. This can happen if your dog isn’t getting enough water, which is why you should clean and refill your dog’s water bowl daily.

Food is essential for your dog to thrive. According to Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM with Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, Dip, ACVIM (Oncology), in his book TheDogCancerSurvivalGuidestates: “no dog can thrive on kibble” and suggests real meat and vegetables daily. Add some meat and vegetables to the kibble if that’s what you can afford. Some of the healthiest foods for dogs are blueberries, chicken, salmon, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, apple slices, eggs, oatmeal, plain yogurt, carrots and peanut butter. The right pet food will enrich your buddy’s life and provide them with the energy and nutrients they need.

Shelter and love: For safety’s sake, our companion animals should not be left outdoors unattended. Dogs are family and family members live indoors and are loved.

Tips

Health Care: Veterinarian visits should be with a competent veterinarian. Wellness examinations are suggested to make sure your pet is healthy.

Vaccinations: Vaccinating your pets is essential to being a responsible pet parent. Rabies and distemper vaccinations are required.

Walks: Going for a walk is the highlight of a dog’s day and is essential to their psychological and physical health. Dogs need a change of scenery, social interaction, exercise, and a chance to sniff the day’s “news”. Rushing a walk because you’re in a hurry, tugging at a dog’s neck or taking them right back indoors as soon as they relieve themselves is unkind and unfair.

Proper Identification: If your pet gets lost, having proper identification is the key to a happy ending. Start with the basics such as a safe collar and a tag that contains all of your current contact information. In addition to an ID tag, microchipping your pet is advisable because there’s always a chance the collar will fall off. A combination of these forms of ID will go a long way to reuniting you and your beloved pet.

Spaying or neutering: Sterilizing your pet prevents a host of health problems, complicated pregnancies, and reduces the number of homeless animals.

Comfy Quarters: If a pet bed looks flat, buy new ones. Make sure there are no potential hazards, unsafe toys, exposed cords and/or wires that your pet can get to. Secure safety gates, repair loose screens and remove any poisonous plants.

Training & Socializing: Ensuring your pet is well trained and socialized makes for a happy pet and pet parent.

Mt. Pleasant Hospital for Animals & Pleasant Paws Pet Center

We are proud to be an AAHA Certified Hospital Did you know we have a sister facility also in Newtown, Pleasant Paws Pet Center? Founded in 1977, Newtown’s preeminent Mt. Pleasant Hospital for Animals melds old world values with the latest and most sophisticated high-tech medical equipment and standards. At Mt. Pleasant, we inspire hope and contribute to veterinary health and well-being by delivering the finest care to every patient by means of our integrated clinical practice and education. We concentrate on your whole pet, adhering to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and personal responsibility worthy of your trust. Find comfort within our warm and welcoming environment and in a space that makes your pet feel relaxed. Check out all that we have to offer !

Dr. Rakesh Vali, DVM Veterinarian

Dr. Vali… a/k/a Dr. Rock…was born in India and raised in Connecticut. He received his DVM from Ross University and did his clinical work at the University of Illinois. His journey began at Mt. Pleasant Hospital for Animals in 2003 working alongside Dr. Brian Silverlieb as an associate. He took ownership of the hospital in 2010. Since his leadership, Mt. Pleasant has grown to a new height of compassionate care for our patients. Now open his dream facility, Pleasant Paws Pet Center has all your pet needs under one roof! From dog daycare, luxury overnight boarding, grooming services, veterinary care as well as holistic medicine and canine sports rehabilitation.

While he is particularly known for his canine reproduction and surgical expertise, Dr. Vali performs a broad spectrum of diagnostic testing and soft tissue surgery for his general practice. His extraordinary skills and intuitive powers regarding veterinary medicine and surgery have won him intense loyalty throughout the community. His practice thrives because of the unquestionable confidence and passion with which he treats each and every animal.

Dr. Vali is consistently sought out for his expert advice for various canine reproduction related issues. He has received advanced training in artificial reproduction and is certified in Trans cervical Insemination by Minitube America. He has been involved with breeding and showing Great Danes and Labradors and has many champions to his credit. His passion and talents for high quality veterinary care has awarded him the highest recognition within his profession. He has a number of published articles, as well.

Dr. Barbara Mangold, DVM Veterinarian

Barbara graduated from the University of Maryland in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. She attended the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine where she was awarded her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1990. Barbara continued her clinical training during a 13-month internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston. After working in private practice in Connecticut for two years, she followed her passion for zoo and aquarium medicine and completed a 3-year residency in zoo medicine at the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo. After her residency, she worked for Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom for four years then returned to the Bronx Zoo for another three years. In 2003 Barbara returned to Conecticut and is currently the consulting veterinarian for the Maritime Aquairum in Norwalk. She also works as a part time clinical vet at South Wilton Veterinary Group and Brewster Veterinary Hospital in Brewster, NY.

- NOW HIRING VETERINARIAN POSITION -

Adorable Pets Veterinary Center

Our Mission at Adorable Pets Veterinary Center “We strive to extend the quality of your pet’s life through preventive care and treating illness with state of the are integrative veterinary medicine and compassion.

What makes us different: extended hours on Saturdays and Sundays, comprehensive nutritional counseling, companion laser therapy, alternative therapeutic treatments that include Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs and an integrative approach to combining eastern and western medicine.

Animal Hospital of Putnam is a full-service small animal veterinary clinic. We are committed to providing quality veterinary care for pets at every stage of life. We also have dedicated Boarding and Grooming staff with over 60 years of combined experience caring for your pets.

Our services and facilities are designed to assist in:

• Routine preventative care for healthy pets

• Early detection and treatment of disease as your pet ages

• Complete medical and surgical care as necessary during your pet’s lifetime

We understand the special role your pet plays in your family and are dedicated to becoming your partner in your pet’s health care. We treat your pet as we would our own. Our goal is to practice the highest quality medicine and surgery with compassion and an emphasis on client education. Our veterinarians Dr. Jennifer LaPierre and Dr. Christine Previe are committed to providing personal attention to the unique concerns of each individual pet owner.

Within our site, you will find information about our practice philosophy, the services we offer, and an extensive library for you to search for additional pet care information.

Please  contact us at  (860) 866-4765 or (860) 928-1931 to schedule an appointment!

860-554-5588

Email: contact@adorablepetsvet.com

1721 Saybrook Road

Haddam, CT 06438

Hours: Tuesday- Friday: 8am-6:00pm Saturday: 8am-5pm |Sunday: 9am-4pm Monday: Closed

Companion Animal Hospital of Cromwell

East Brook Animal Hospital

Companion Animal Hospital has been caring for pets and their owners for over 30 years, since Dr. Barbara Hess founded the hospital in 1989. As a family-owned practice, they pride themselves on personalized, friendly care, quick responses, and short-wait times. Serving clients and their pets, namely dogs and cats, from a wide surrounding area conveniently located right off Interstate 91, including the towns of Middletown, Cromwell, and Berlin. In addition to dogs and cats, Dr. Hess and Dr. Mel have special interest in providing care to smaller mammals such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters and other small pets. As the daughter of the hospital owner, Dr. Mel grew up working as a veterinary assistant at Companion Animal Hospital. She is trained and skilled in veterinary acupuncture and integrative medicine. As an exceptional mother and daughter doctor duo team, they are able to offer a variety of services ranging from pet wellness, vaccinations, spay and neuter, dental care, surgery, sick pet hospitalization, diagnostics, preventative health care, acupuncture, and medical grooming. You’ll come to recognize their technicians and support staff members that are more like family at the practice including Carrie who has dedicated over 30 years along with Tara, Lauren and Sarah who have put in a combined 30 years. The patients adore these ladies and vice versa!

Conveniently located in Mansfield Center, Connecticut. East Brook Animal Hospital is a full-service companion small animal veterinary hospital. The compassion, understanding, care, exemplary work ethic and the affection we show for all our patients are first priority! We are committed to insuring excellent veterinary care for your pets. Our skilled team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians and client service representatives are trained to provide you and your pets with the latest and greatest in breakthrough techniques and advancements. East Brook Animal Hospital has proudly served eastern Connecticut for over 50 years. As animal lovers and owners, ourselves, we understand your pet is an irreplaceable member of your family, which is why we aim to educate owners throughout the entire treatment process. East Brook’s daily mission is to provide compassionate medical veterinary care for companion animals and select pocket pets. Our veterinarians offer wellness and sick pet visits, core and lifestyle tailored vaccinations, and comprehensive preventative care for your pet. We proudly offer in-house consultations with our resident behaviorist, cutting edge laser therapy, digital and radiographic imaging, soft tissue surgery, and much more. Dental care is important to us, and more importantly to the health of your pet, we also offer core dental cleaning, dental x-ray, and oral and periodontal surgery. For your traveling needs, our veterinarians are Level 2 USDA accredited and can help to prepare pets for domestic and international travel.

East Brook offers primary and advanced veterinary medical care for your pet companions, vaccinations, wellness exams, dentistry, and much more.

143 Storrs Road Mansfield Center , CT 06250 860.456.1759

www.eastbrookanimalhospital.com

Sarah Fischer MDVM | Dr.Cara Spagnoletti Dr.Jean DeNapoli | Dr. Laura Aylesworth

Northeastern Veterinary Care Center

At Northeastern Veterinary Care Center (NEVCC), we provide high-quality care with a hometown vet feel.

Located at 144 Whitehall Avenue in Mystic, Connecticut, NEVCC occupies a historic site boasting a long history of local veterinarians dating back to 1953. After purchasing the property in January 2017, Dr. Dianne Beal and her husband, Clayton, embarked upon the ambitious redesign of the facility to incorporate the latest breakthroughs in design and technology, all focused on improving efficiency and enhancing the experience for both our clients and their pets.

Animals have always been a central part of Dr. Beal’s life and her goal has been not only to serve her clients and their pets, but her community as well. After a career in research she returned to school to follow her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She obtained her DVM from Iowa State University and completed a portion of her training in the United Kingdom, attending the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Following graduation, Dr. Beal completed a small animal internship with a heavy focus on emergency medicine at Regional Veterinary Referral Center in Springfield, Virginia, and has worked in small animal practice both in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Dr. Beal has a soft spot for her older patients and a special interest in dermatology.

Our clients and their pets are part of our family, and our goal is to provide personalized attention with compassion, kindness, and respect. Our staff follows the principles of Fear Free® veterinary practice: strategies aimed at lowering stress levels for all our patients, delivering high-quality care in a positive, nurturing environment.

We are happy to announce that NEVCC has resumed in-clinic visits for clients! Due to ongoing pandemic concerns, we do require all guests, regardless of vaccine status, to wear masks covering both mouth and nose and ask all to hand sanitize upon entering. Please note that due to physical constraints, we are limiting one client to an exam room with their pet(s). And for those who prefer the convenience of curbside appointments, just call the clinic upon arrival and we can certainly accommodate. Unfortunately, we are still unable to resume our housecall service, but look forward to doing so in the future!

Powder Ridge Veterinary Hospital

We offer the best care for pets of all ages, meeting the unique needs of families and their pets from kitten and puppyhood into their senior years! We are a family owned and operated business located in Middlefield, CT. We strive to provide quality, individualized care to each and every patient and their owners. We strongly support client education and encourage a team approach between our veterinarians and pet owners when creating a diagnostic/treatment plan that balances the pet and family’s unique needs.

We offer a variety of services including Wellness Exams and Vaccinations, Sick and/or Urgent Same-Day Visits, Small Animal Dentistry, Radiology and Ultrasound, Surgical Services including spay, neuter, mass removal, bladder stone removal, splenectomies, cherry eye repair, and more!

Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8am to 5:30pm and Saturday 8am to Noon. Visit our website www. powderridgevets.com or call our office for more information, (860) 349-9107. Doctors Michael, Albin, Falbowski, Daly, and Bedarf and all of us at Powder Ridge look forward to working with you and your furry family members!

144 Whitehall Avenue • Mystic, CT 06355

(860) 980-3047

Hours of Operations:

Monday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

• Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday: By appointment only

Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

• Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

375 Baileyville Rd, Middlefield, CT 06455 (860) 349-9107

Canine Smiles

We want to see your canine smiles! Visit www.ConnecticutDog.com to submit your pet’s photograph.

Allie

Bailee

Ace

Alvin

Piper

Gunny

Bruno

Gracie

Poppy

Fox

Douglas

Copper

Nestled in central New Hampshire, tucked within the beautiful lakes region sits The Inn on Golden Pond. This charming Bed & Breakfast is owned and operated by the Salmon Family. Innkeepers Erica and Mike have three lovely children and two rescue pups. As parents to both children and dogs, they know how important it is for folks to find a getaway that is family-oriented and pet-friendly with all of the upscale amenities but with a feeling of home.

The Inn on Golden Pond offers a total of nine guest rooms and suites, while six of those rooms are dog friendly. Each guest room has it’s own private en-suite full bath that is fully equipped with 5-star luxury linens, spa like bath towels and accessories. In addition, every room has it’s own personally controlled thermostat for heat and air conditioning, a flat screen smart television and a Keurig machine with a fine selection of coffee for you to feel most comfortable while you unwind and relax.

Wake up to a scrumptious breakfast in the main dining area or request to have it delivered to your room. Breakfast, is made fresh to order with eggs that are gathered from the resident chickens on the property. Even your pampered pup can enjoy his morning meal from the doggie breakfast menu with a choice of Woofles, Pooched Eggs, or Chew-Cuterie.

After a filling meal to start the day, guests can take in the fresh air and natural surroundings. Because the area provides a beautiful backdrop for all four seasons, there’s so much for guests to see and do regardless of when they come to visit. However, with the warmer months ahead, since the property is situated just a two-minute walk from Little Squam Lake, guests can enjoy the private beach with or without their pup. The property provides you with the necessities for the lake such as towels, toys, kayaks and life jackets.

Other activities on property can range from s’mores and campfire night to a parent date night so the kids can have a pizza and movie party while parents enjoy dinner out or some alone time. The spacious main living room has a large picture window, a wood burning fireplace and large flat screen TV’s for movies or sports. The library is a quiet space off the dining room that has books and a seating area. The outdoor portion of the property offers patios with two fire-pit areas, a gas grill to cook on, a large wrap around screened-in porch with rocking chairs and a porch swing, lawn games, a children’s play set, farm animals to feed and pet, in addition to seven acres of privately owned, beautifully maintained grounds to enjoy. Even your dog can romp around safely within the 5,000 square foot on-site fully fenced dog park or at the on-site and nearby scenic public hiking trails that are pet-friendly.

As a rather quiet popular tourist destination, Squam Lake is widely known as the filming location for the movie On Golden Pond. The surrounding lake towns provide shopping, theatres, art galleries, and restaurants. The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center offers lake tours by boat, allowing visitors the opportunity to learn a little bit more about the geographical area. By taking a scenic road trip to the White Mountains, which is just a little ways north or by venturing down a little to Lake Winnipesaukee, visitors can explore a little bit more of what the state has to offer.

The Inn on Golden Pond is truly a wonderful destination for all families, especially ones with children and/ or pets. To book your stay, please visit their website www.innongoldenpond.com or call 603-968-7269.

Mike, Erica, Charlie, Chase and Fiona

Photos provided by: The Inn on Golden Pond

Spring

Butter Pecan is a 2-year old, 45 pound mix from Puerto Rico. She is shy and skittish with new people, so she will need a calm quiet home with people who are willing to be patient and earn her trust. Butter Pecan does well with other dogs and would benefit from having another dog in the home to help her come out of her shell. She will need slow and steady socialization work to help her feel more confident. Cover Photo Credit: Max England Article and photo provided by: Animal Welfare Society

If you or someone you know is interested in adopting Butter Pecan, please contact:

Animal Welfare Society

8 Dodd Road New Milford, CT 860-354-1350

www.aws-shelter.org

Butter Pecan Brutus

Brutus is a neutered male Staffordshire/Mastiff mix who is approximately 6-years old. Can you believe this sweet, lovable hunk has been waiting for a forever home for over 5 years! Brutus is obedient and extremely loyal. He desperately needs a breed experienced owner where he will be the only dog in a low traffic adult household so that he can decompress from the shelter life. He would also love to play with his ball in his very own fully fenced yard. Brutus walks nicely on leash and he knows some commands like sit, down, paw, and stay. Brutus is a loyal boy who needs a chance to bond with someone. Could that someone be you? Article and photo provided by: Ashley Massimo

If you or someone you know is interested in adoption Brutus, please contact:

Woodbridge Animal Control

135 Bradley Road Woodbridge, CT 203-389-5991

woodbridgeanimalcontrol@gmail.com www.woodbridgect.org

Fling!

King is a Pit Bull Terrier mix born in 2015. He is a great medium energy house trained dog, Although he has good leash manners, and loves his walks he would appreciate a fenced-in yard for off leash play. King is crate trained and would be best as an only pet with no children. King prefers adults and older teenagers. His best characteristics are that he’s affectionate, loyal, friendly, playful, brave, independent, funny, and is a couch potato who loves kisses! This sweet, loveable hunk is best with a family or person who has experience with bully breeds. Article and photo provided by: The Simon Foundation

If you or someone you know is interested in adopting King, please contact:

The Simon Foundation 120 Rescue Lane Bloomfield, CT 860-519-1516

www.thesimonfoundation.org

King Elle

Hello Elle! Meet our special needs sweetheart, an 8-month-old distemper survivor who lives to the fullest despite her limitations. Elle is completely deaf, has some balance issues and is on medication for seizures. Thankfully her medicine regimen has been working wonderfully! Elle loves other dogs and is getting better at reading visual cues. Elle loves walks and sleeping in. Elle’s perfect home will have someone who understands that she’s a little different but still a happy-go-lucky pup. Elle will be seeing a neurologist soon, will likely continue lifelong medication, and will always have some swagger in her walk. Article and photo provided by: Anastasia Freccia

If you or someone you know is interested in adopting Elle, please contact:

Lucky Dog Refuge

36 Pulaski Street Stamford, CT 203-434-1402

www.luckydogrefuge.com

LivingROOF Homes forDogs!

In larger urban cities you’ll find that many buildings offer rooftop gardens for a variety of reasons, but mainly for environmental benefits. The roofs of these buildings incorporate grass or plant life in an area that would be otherwise left as a useless and vacant space. The tops of buildings and houses that have been waterproofed and then are covered by soil, plants or grass with drainage and irrigation systems built in are called “green roofs.”

The “living roof “ was a concept developed centuries ago. There are a number of European countries that promote green roofs such as Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Hungary, and the United Kingdom, to name a few. In fact, for some countries it is encouraged for builders to install green roofs. Although the reasons vary for each country, the main concept remains the same: to keep a sustainable environment. There are quite a few cities in the United States that have taken this concept and applied it to their local buildings. These cities have also offered incentives for builders to apply green roofs to existing buildings and to the new ones being built. With the growing popularity of the green roof concept, why not apply the same idea to a doghouse for our pets?

There are many benefits for having a green roof for your dog’s house, not just for your dog but also for you, especially if you have a backyard garden. Such benefits for your dog includes keeping the doghouse cool in the summer and providing insulation during the winter months. For the environment and your yard, plants and grass can help with any drainage and irrigation issues by absorbing rainwater, it helps clean the air as it filters out pollutants, it creates a natural habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife and it allows those with

a green-thumb to express a personal sense of creativity in their own backyard. You can’t get much more green than that!

With some savvy research skills you can find ready-made green rooftop doghouses for sale on your computer that could be delivered right to your door. Although having such backyard luxuries may seem out of reach for some pet owners, there is always an alternative way to obtain your very own custom built green roof doghouse for your beloved pet. By building your very own version of a green roof doghouse, you can keep money in your wallet and enjoy time well spent in the garden and alongside your family dog.

By constructing a doghouse on your own, you have the ability to configure the walls and ceiling to accommodate the size of your pet. This also gives you’re the opportunity to be creative with the overall design of the structure. You’ll need a good quality wood, such as a red cedar, that can withstand the typical weather elements of the northeast. Use only non-toxic products that will maintain the concept of an eco-friendly doghouse but that will provide a safe and healthy environment for your dog. There are many eco-friendly paints or stains, caulking products, and beeswax for waterproofing on the market.

You’ll find the main difference in the build will be with the roof. A typical pitched roof of a doghouse is more difficult to accommodate for a green roof, which would be better flat. Shape the roof deep like a flowerbox, and then slightly slope it. The slope will provide proper drainage for the water to run out. Next, drill a couple of holes on the downside of the sloped roof box so that you can fit bamboo or another natural spout for drain-

age. Arrange the spouts so that they stick out a few inches so that the water is able to drain out away from the actual structure of the house itself. Use caulk around where the spout comes out and all around the sides and top of the doghouse. Once that is done, cover the roof with a couple of layers of melted beeswax, or use a similar all-natural product, then add some gravel to help with the drainage.

Before you start planting, paint the doghouse with eco-friendly paints or with a stain color of your choice. Choose a color that will compliment your house, deck, backyard shed, planters you have in the yard or flowers that you have in the garden. Prepare the roof for planting. Cover and glue the roof with a landscape fabric. Cut the landscape fabric so that it’s slightly larger than the size of the roof itself but large enough so that the soil can’t get underneath it. You can now lay down about 4 - 5 inches of a lightweight organic potting mix or planting soil. Be mindful of your dog’s heath and safety by choosing your favorite non-poisonous plants. To see what plants are considered toxic or non-toxic, visit the ASPCA website.

Like any other garden, provide regular garden maintenance to your green roof doghouse. Frequently check for any leakage that may occur, especially after heavy rain or snow and ice melt. Congratulations, you’ve made a beautiful, environmentally safe green haven for your dog and yard. We know that you’ll enjoy the green roof on

Somany of our local rescue organizations and animal shelters are overwhelmed with homeless dogs that need to find their forever families. This great need is, in many ways, due to the large number of returned pets from animal adoptions that took place at the start of covid-19. People are moving, going back to work, taking vacations, losing their jobs, suffering from either financial and/or medical hardships along with a variety of other reasons causing the uptick in returned dogs to shelters across our state. The combination of the many new dogs routinely coming into the shelters, along with the overwhelming animal surrenders, our local animal shelters and rescue organizations depend greatly on the generosity, love and support from volunteers, donators, and adopters.

To bring awareness about this matter to our pet communities, this issue contains information about some of these animal shelters and rescue organizations. With thanks to the support of dog loving local business owners, Connecticut Dog has put together this editorial feature that will continue to be included in each issue of the magazine going forward where these and additional animal welfare facilities will be featured.

As you turn through the following pages, please be mindful of the animal shelters and rescue organizations located within your own community and think about ways that you can help make a difference in the lives of abandoned, abused, neglected and homeless animals.

Animal Welfare Society, Inc.

8 Dodd Road New Milford, CT 06776 (860) 354-1350 www.aws-shelter.org

The Animal Welfare Society, Inc. (AWS) was founded in 1965 as an independent, non-profit, non-destroy animal rescue organization. AWS originally only served the communities of Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Milford, Roxbury and Washington, CT. Our shelter was built in New Milford in 1991 and renovated and expanded in 2019. Our mission is to offer refuge to homeless and abandoned dogs and cats and place them in loving, responsible homes. Each year hundreds of animals are rescued by AWS from our local communities, throughout our state and from high-kill facilities outside of Connecticut. Some are turned over to us because their owners have become ill, died or are in a family crisis. Others are found as strays or are abandoned. We partner with our local and state animal control officers on abuse and neglect cases and work with reputable rescue organizations instate and beyond.

Sponsored by: Barkery Boo’tique

BARC-CT

857 Post Rd #235 Fairfield, CT 06824 ct.barc@gmail.com

BARC-CT is a 501(c)3 nonprofit animal advocacy + rescue organization that exists to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome unwanted dogs from within our community and throughout Connecticut. BARCCT focuses on rescuing animals and providing them with medical care and access to trainers and behaviorists in order to help them make a full recovery regardless of what they have endured.

We rely solely on dedicated volunteers, including fosters who take rescued animals into their home and provide them with the care and nurturing they need. The generosity of donors provides funding for the many needs of the animals such as vetting, boarding, training, and general care.

Sponsored by: Posh Paws Salon

•

Connecticut Humane Society

Dog Star Rescue

12 Tobey Rd, Bloomfield CT 06002 contactus@dogstarrescue.org

www.dogstarrescue.org

CThumane.org

800-452-0114

Whether it’s providing resources so pets can keep their homes, or being a safe haven for critters with nowhere to turn, the Connecticut Humane Society (CHS) serves vulnerable pets across the state. Founded in 1881, CHS is the oldest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization in Connecticut. CHS has long focused on homeless pets, veterinary care and adoptions, but also has programs making it possible for pets to keep their families: the Pet Food Pantry, reduced-fee Fox Memorial Clinic, traveling wellness clinics, behavior assistance, and crisis foster homes. CHS is the leading resource in the state for companion animal welfare, enriching the lives of families and communities through adoption services, medical care, education, and prevention of cruelty. As an independent nonprofit located in Newington, Waterford and Westport, CHS receives no ongoing municipal funding and isn’t associated with national animal welfare groups. The pets rely on the generosity and support of donors.

Sponsored by: The Bark Easy Grooming Salon

Dog Star Rescue, based in Bloomfield, CT, is a non-profit organization that places stray, abandoned, shelter, and owner-surrender dogs of all breeds and ages into qualified, caring, lifelong homes. We work closely with shelters in the South as well as New England states to save the lives of loving and loyal dogs who have lost their way and often find themselves on death row. With adoption events every week and new dogs arriving weekly as well, we have saved more than 4,000 dogs’ lives, giving them the second chance they deserve. Our 100% volunteer-based organization includes passionate dog lovers who work together to find qualified applicants and care for our dogs during their stay with us.

Sponsored by: Keating Agency Insurance

Friends of the Bristol, CT Animal Shelter

Our office dog, Agent, big Dog Star Resuce supporter and fan, especially when there is BBQ

your

www.keatingagency.com

www.friendsofthebristolanimalshelter.org

Our non-profit was formed in 2014 and was incorporated as a CT non-profit in February 2016.

Our goals are:

1. Help Bristol Animal Control get all their animals quickly out of the pound by moving them to reputable rescue groups whenever possible.

2. Help reduce the number of feral cats in Bristol by following TNR procedures (trap, neuter, release) and adopting them out when possible or returning them to the wild in safety.

3. Because we do not have our own facility, we rely heavily on good rescue groups to take dogs and cats in need of home. When we are not able to d accomplish this, we post tem for adoption on our Facebook pages, accept applications, ensure the applicant has no history of animal abuse, do meet/greet with potential adopter and any current pets , do a property ownership search on line, and do a home visit to verify their address. We have the animals vetted prior to going to their new home.

Sponsored by: Paws N Claws

Animal Caregiver Over

30 years Experience

PAWS - N - CLAWS

SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER are coming Plan ahead for pet care

Call/text Sara @ 860-681-8958

Walking

• Overnight Pet Sitting In Your Home

• Horse Sitting

• Pet Taxi

• Pet Travel Nanny

• Medication Administration

Orally or injections

• House Checks

• reptiles, livestock, aqua, birds

/PawsNClawspetsitting&dogwalking

Lucky Dog Refuge

The Little Guild

The Woof Gang Rescue

285 Sharon Goshen Turnpike

36 Pulaski Street

Stamford CT 06902

(203) 434-1402

Info@luckydogrefuge.com

Lucky Dog Refuge was founded by a mother-daughter duo in early 2020. Since June of that year, Lucky Dog has successfully placed 400 dogs with loving families, and we are just getting started.

Lucky Dog is a safe haven for dogs from dire backgrounds. We focus on the dogs most in need of saving: those who have been abandoned, are starving, injured, sick, and in immediate need of help. We take them in, rehabilitate them, provide housing, vetting, training, and extra doses of love.

We are a rescue that focuses on dogs with medical needs because we want to alleviate the suffering of as many as possible and show them how happy life can be. Whether at our physical site in Stamford, Connecticut or with one of our terrific fosters, every dog we commit to is guaranteed love and a bright future in the forever homes they so deserve.

Sponsored by: Choice Pets

West Cornwall, CT 06796

www.littleguild.org

The Little Guild is a 501(c)(3) founded in 1960, it’s the only full-service animal shelter in Northwest Connecticut. The Little Guild goes well beyond taking care of the daily and medical needs of the animals. Highly successful adoptions are achieved through individualized training and behavior assessments, playgroups, learning activities, temperament testing, socialization, appropriate exercise and mental stimulation. These sustained efforts yield one of the highest save rates nationally for a no-kill shelter. In 2020, we had an astounding 100% save rate. The Little Guild offers animal education programs and services for the community throughout the year, including free dog training classes and vaccination clinics. We also raise money to support no-cost neuter and spay services for low-income pet owners, as well as supply a pet pantry of cat and dog food, cat litter and pet supplies made possible through donations by the community.

Sponsored by: The Dog & Cat S’Paw

860.268.2289

We are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit foster-based rescue in central Connecticut, whose mission is to save dogs at risk from municipal pounds/animal controls, from owner surrenders, and from unwanted litters. We are 100% volunteer-staffed and we rely on fosters to keep our dogs safe while we find them suitable forever homes, as we do not have a shelter or kennel facility. We do adoptions at monthly events and by appointment. We are 100% reliant on donations and fundraising to cover veterinary care and supplies.

Sponsored by: Manchester Pizza

QUINCY

Torrington

Sponsored By Quincy has been with Army’s Legacy for over 1.5 years. He’s currently in boarding and NEEDS a foster or adopter. He’s a 2.5-years old Mastiff pit mix, 115 lbs., dog selective, older animal savvy kids only.

EVANDER

is a 1.5-year old wire haired terrier mix that was abused and lost his leg. Evander will need a very specialized home where the people are patient, kind , loving and consistent. Evander really likes other little dogs. But he needs a home without any cats or children.

BREE

Bree is an 8-month old puppy born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia. This won’t prevent her from living a full, long life. Aside from her genetic condition, she’s like any typical puppy. She loves to play with toys, steal shoes

860-489-4231

torringtonah@yourvetdoc.com

Sponsored By

Paul’s Custom Pet Food

Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter branfordanimalshelter.org

CASHEW

Cashew is a 2-year old, Male Lab mix of 49 lbs. He is looking for a Foster or Adopter. Cashew is very dog friendly (absolutely NO cats) good with kids, good on a leash, housebroken and so very well mannered in the home. Cashew is moderately energetic, he likes to play and go for a walk- but he would adore snuggling up with his person.

203-488-8824

www.happytailsbranford.com

great dogs come to

Sponsored By

The

860 912-2910

beCAUSE 4 PAWS www.because4paws.org

ADOPTIONS 28 • Spring 2023 | Connecticut Dog

www.paulscustompetfood.com

A Life Dog Rescue janine@changealifedogrescue.org

Sponsored

MR. MAGOO

Ozzy is a chocolate lab at 45lb. and 11-months old. Hunter is a hound at 45lb. and 1.5-years old. They are super sweet and playful. Great with everyone!

Sponsored By Veterinary Associates of Westville

Pack Leaders Rescue packleadersrescuect@gmail.com www.packleadersrescue.com

RUGBY

Rugby is a 1-year old lab/pug mix. He’s a happygo-lucky little guy with a zest for life. Selective with dogs, no cats or kids.

MR. MAGOO

A special needs boy. He is completely blind, suffers from degenerative disease, osteoarthritis, heart disease. He will show you love that will break your heart and make you want to take him home.

Sponsored By Veterinary Associates of Westville

860-646-5068

www.manchesterglass.net

Sponsored By

Pooch Palace Resort

The Animal Haven 203-239-2641

CAPTAIN

Captain is a calm and very sweet 2-year old staffordshire terrier. Must be the only dog and no young children.

203-387-6648 www.westvillevet.com

Sponsored By Pawtero

The Little Guild 860-672-6346 www.littleguild.org

BONES

I am a 60 pound Pit Bull with a lot of energy. I love my black kong bone and take it everywhere with me. I am good with other dogs with proper introductions, good with all people but would do better in a home with children above the age of 12.

332 Norfolk Rd. East Canaan, CT www.poochpalaceresort.net

Sponsored By

Pawesome Pets

Where the Love Is wwwwherethwloveis.org

JACK

Jack is a year and a 1/2 old silver Labrador retriever mix. This is a breed they’re doing in the down South as a hunting dog, they’re mixing the weimaraner with the Labrador retriever to make a more athletic silver versatile hunting dog. Jack is very sweet, gets along with dogs and cats but he is energetic! So an active lifestyle with strong leadership would be best for this

203-553-1727

Sponsored By Salvation is the Lord

Where the love is Animal Rescue www.wheretheloveis.org

GEORGE

George is a 3 to 4 year old, 50lb sweetie that is eager to find his furever home.He loves hanging on the sofa, low key sniffy walks, treats, and sweet talking.To learn more about this precious pup please contact Aileen at aileen.l@poainc.org

311 Washington Ave North Haven, CT 06473 (203) 234-6787

Sponsored By

Hebron Veterinary Hospital

TLC SWEET SOULS RESCUE Laura.dorr11@gmail.com 203 942 4008

MAPLE

Maple is a 2-year-old female cattle dog mix, full grown at 60 pounds. She is spayed, vaccinated and microchipped. She is also extremely smart, bossy, obedient, energetic and thrives on routine. She should live somewhere with a fenced yard, no cats or toddlers, and either be the only dog or live with a calm male dog around her size. She has the strong prey drive of a cattle dog and needs structure and discipline.

Hebron Veterinary Hospital

Protectors of Animals aileen.l@poainc.org www.poainc.org

860-228-4324 www.hvhct.com

Woof Gang Rescue www.woofgangrescue.org/adopt

Download and listen by visiting: www.salvationisthelord.com

Sponsored By

Mutt 860-432-4221 www.themellowmutt.com

Thesweet-faced, lovable Labrador Retriever is America’s most popular dog breed. Labs are friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited companions who have more than enough affection to go around for a family looking for a medium-to-large dog. The sturdy, wellbalanced Labrador Retriever can, depending on the sex, stand from 21.5 to 24.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 55 to 80 pounds. The dense, hard coat comes in yellow, black, and a luscious chocolate. The head is wide, the eyes glimmer with kindliness, and the thick, tapering ‘otter tail’ seems to be forever signaling the breed’s innate eagerness. Labs are famously friendly. They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike. But don’t mistake his easygoing personality for low energy: The Lab is an enthusiastic athlete that requires lots of exercise, like swimming and marathon games of fetch, to keep physically and mentally fit.

Labrador Retriever

Labs4rescue, Inc.

P.O. Box 955

Killingworth, CT 06419

https://labs4rescue.com

Labs4rescue is a volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing a new life for rescued or displaced Labrador Retrievers and Labrador Mixes.

Bo is a big goofy boy who will need an active owner who can handle a big dog. He is good with other dogs and loves to run so he would be good for a runner. He is 2 years

Cletus is a sweet young dog around 8 months old. He is submissive to older dogs and shy with people. He wants to learn and needs the opportunity to shine.

Gabby is sweet and affectionate and loves to cuddle and give little kisses. She greets people she knows with incredible excitement as she wiggles and jumps for joy.