Dogs To The Rescue

DANBURY — The Danbury Library Junior Department will be hosting two very special guests during spring vacation week. On Wednesday, April 21, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, Firefighter Captain Scott Shields and Theodore, his rescue-dog-in-training, will present “Dogs to the Rescue!’ along with members of the Danbury/New Fairfield Women’s Club who will give child safety tips at the Danbury Library. Children in kindergarten through fifth grades, parents, caregivers, and animal lovers are invited to attend.

Captain Shields, formerly from Greenwich, will present a program on the important work conducted by canine search and rescue teams. Captain Shields is currently the director of marine safety for the New York City Urban Parks Search and Rescue Team.

Captain Shields will share his experiences with his former rescue partner Bear, an 11-year-old golden retriever who assisted in the rescue efforts on 9/11. Bear was one of the first canines to begin searching the debris, working 18 hour days. Unfortunately, while working at the site, Bear suffered an injury, which became cancerous, and he died a year later.

Captain Shields, along with Bear’s official biographer Nancy West, will talk about their book entitled Bear: Heart of a Hero. Copies of the book will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting The Bear Search and Rescue Foundation and the library’s teen program.

Additionally, Paul West and Peggy Dougherty from the Danbury/New Fairfield Women’s Club will show a video about Connecticut rescue dogs and do a program entitled “Lost in the Woods,” so suitable for children.

The program is free of charge and registration is not required. For additional information contact the library’s junior services department at 797-4528.