June is not only Dog License Month but also National Adopt A Cat Month. That makes the month kind of a celebration of our furry friends, who bring so much joy to our lives but can, on the flip side, often be the targets of neglect and abuse by less than scrupulous pet owners.

With the deadline to license dogs coming up on June 30 for the coming year, June is dog license month in many municipalities. Dog license registration for Newtown is located online at newtown-ct.gov/town-clerk/pages/2025-dog-license-information. It can also be done by mail by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope with a check made out to the Town of Newtown to the Town Clerk’s Office, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT 06470.

In person, the following documentation is required: If first time dog is being licensed — copy of spaying or neutering certificate and current rabies certificate, or check rabies expiration on last year’s license to be sure you are up-to-date with rabies vaccinations.

As part of dog license month, Newtown names its “#1 Dog,” an annual tradition in Newtown, decided by what dog gets the dog license with the number “1” on it, picked by random lottery.

According to nationaldaycalendar.com, “National Adopt a Cat Month in June encourages us to remember our feline friends when considering a new pet. Also known as Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, it’s a time to learn the cat-friendly ways to prepare your home for a new fur baby, how to know which cat is best for you and how to care for your feline friend.

“Shelters are full of cats and kittens in need of forever homes. These feline fur babies come with as many personalities as they do colors and coats. They curl into our hearts and will just as quickly remind us they decide who they love. Whether they were born in the shelter, surrendered or abandoned, 3.4 million find their way to a shelter.

“When considering the adoption of a furbaby, take your time. Each shelter animal will touch your heart, so be sure to find a life-long love.”

One place to look for that “life-long love is the Newtown Pound at 3 Old Farm Road. Hours for adoption are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 3 pm, by appointment only.

Dogs and cats may be surrendered to Newtown Animal Control based on the discretion of the Municipal Animal Control Officer and space availability at the time. A one-hundred dollar ($100) surrender fee is required along with all medical records.

Another place to find a new friend is the Catherine Violet Hubbard Butterfly Party. This free, family-friendly festival with mega pet adoption event will take place on Saturday, June 7, 12-4 pm at the Fairfield Hills Campus, Keating Farms Avenue.

Held in honor of Catherine Violet Hubbard, a first grader who lost her life on 12/14, the event celebrates her enduring love for all animals. Catherine’s Butterfly Party has grown into one of Connecticut’s most anticipated community gatherings, drawing over 12,000 attendees annually.

The butterfly party will include a mega pet adoption event featuring over 25 animal rescue organizations with more than 200 adoptable animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and many more. There will be educational exhibits with wildlife, farm animals, amphibian and reptile ambassadors, and K-9 demonstrations.

However, when deciding whether or not to bring an animal into your home and make another creature’s life dependent on you, it should always be remembered that a pet isn’t a toy or an object, but a living being and a potentially years-long commitment. Do not adopt a pet if you think you may no longer want it in the future. There is currently an epidemic of abandoned pets all across the state and country, to the point that the Board of Selectmen recently looked to reform its Animal Care and Control Advisory Board.

The purpose of the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board is to provide support and guidance to the Municipal Animal Control Officer (MACO) and the Assistant Animal Control Officer in the review, development and implementation of the animal care and control policies and practices to be recommended to the First Selectman and Board of Selectmen for their approval and adoption.