After Seven Years Of Fundraising—

CAN Makes Its Contribution

To Local Animal Facility

By Kendra Bobowick

An April wind tugged at the large check in Virginia Jess’s hands last Tuesday morning.

Holding a poster-size image of a $235,000 check that Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN) presented to the town to support the town’s new animal control facility, Ms Jess, president of the organization, gathered on April 3 with First Selectman Pat Llodra and CAN board members outside the new building, which is nearing completion. The new facility is located at the end of Old Farm Road, off Trades Lane below the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard.

“We have been working on this for seven years, we are proud,” said Ms Jess. She proudly presented the check to the town on behalf of all the residents, volunteers, and children who made donations and helped raise funds for a new animal control building.

With plans to display the oversized check, First Selectman Pat Llodra said, “We can put it up [in the new building] to demonstrate [CAN’s donation] to everyone.” The opening date and ribbon cutting both “are getting close,” she said. She is looking at June for a “celebratory event” to open the building for business, but before the animals are relocated from their current location. “The most exciting thing is when we move the animals over.”

“Everything will be new,” said Ms Jess, who is eager to leave the old kennels and cramped office space behind. Thinking similarly, Mrs Llodra said, “We won’t be taking anything with us but the staff and animals. The new building with features such as heated floors in the kennels shows respect for the safety of the animals.”

A dedication will take place when the facility opens. Last year officials chose to name the pound after the late Brian J. Silverlieb, DVM. According to Ms Jess, a longtime friend and associate, “Dr Silverlieb may have done more to make Newtown nicer for animals than anybody. And there may have been no one more passionate about improving the conditions under which the town’s cast-off and abandoned pets were forced to live after being impounded.”

The new building was designed by Jacunski Humes Architects of Berlin. The entire project is estimated to cost $1 million, with a $750,000 contribution from the town, the CAN fundraising, plus private donations.