A True Delight For Bagel Regulars

By Nancy K. Crevier

James and Cathy Smarella and their family were heartbroken when a hit-and-run driver killed their dog, Shep, last Christmas Eve. So were many of the Bagel Delight customers who had come to know Mr Smarella and his German shepard, who were regular, year-around fixtures at the Church Hill business.

In recent days, though, Newtown regulars to the bagel store have been delighted to visit with the newest Smarella family member, Millie.

Millie is a 3½-year-old mixed breed dog, whose deep brown eyes set into a wide and friendly face remain devotedly upon her master. She was adopted the end of January from DAWS in Danbury, said Mr Smarella. “She picked us. The whole family had to meet her, and when our son, Matthew, sat down on the couch, she jumped right up in his lap and started licking his face.”

“We think she is boxer, springer spaniel, Dalmatian, a little bit of everything. Everybody sees something different when they look at her,” Mr Smarella said. The family purposely chose a dog outside of the shepard breed, not wishing to compete with Shep’s memory.

It was apparent that the medium-sized black and white dog had had some training, said Mr Smarella. “She knows the basic commands, like come, sit, her name. She has a real calm personality. She doesn’t bark, except when someone comes in the yard.”

“The first day [we owned her] she went to Bagel Delight with me,” Mr Smarella said. “[Eunice and the Bagel Delight staff] told me I couldn’t come back unless I brought her with me. She already knows what side of the car to get into and gets in along with all of the kids. I just open the door to the truck for people who know me and let them pet her.”

Millie’s true test will come with warm weather, when Mr Smarella prefers to sit at one of the outside tables at Bagel Delight and pass the time of day with other customers as they come and go. “How will she act when we finally get to sit down outdoors?” wondered Mr Smarella. “Will she pull or sit still? We’ll have to see.”