To the Editor:

It is said that every dog has its day and Saturday, May 31st was certainly one of those days as Newtown Park and Bark held its 5th Annual Strutt Your Mutt. For the first time, the location was the newly opened dog park.  Dogs of all sizes cavorted without incident, enjoyed contests, played in kiddie pools, experienced an agility course, and “strutted” their stuff.  The oft requested dog park, now a reality, is located on Old Farms Road.  Offering a totally off leash experience for Newtown’s dogs, there’s even a smaller play area for diminutive or “mature” dogs that may not be up to the speed of their canine counterparts.

Newtown loves its dogs and many businesses are so generous to them.  The Park and Bark committee thanks, Mt. Pleasant Hospital for Animals, Newtown Veterinary Services, Contented Critters LLC of Bethel, Invisible Fence of Newtown, Petzercise of Newtown, and Sandy Hook Sole Sisters for the gifts of their time and talents.  Our furry family members and their humans left with all kinds of goodies in their treat bags, compliments of these businesses.  A very special thank you to Officers Figol and Hayes and K-9, St. Michael for their amazing demonstration ~ one that always awes the crowd.

Gratitude is in order to Park and Bark Committee members, RoseAnn Reggiano, MaryAnn Viesto, Kathryn and Roo Simonds, Brenda Keane, Kim and Pete Jaeckel, Jim Loring, Janice Butler and Benay Yaffe.

Many, many thanks to everyone who made this a “pawsitively” wonderful event.  We are so grateful to all the families and their four legged friends who joined us.  There are still a few additions to be made, so please continue to visit the park and see what surprises await.

Thank You and Woof!

Roseanne Loring

Newtown Park and Bark Committee

9 Cobblestone Lane, Newtown                   June 3, 2014