New Pound Is Waiting

For Land Deed

By Kendra Bobowick

“I don’t know, I just don’t know,” said Virginia Jess, Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN) president. She wants to know when the town will see the deed for land at the end of Trade’s Lane and down to the right on a designated parcel. The site set aside for a new dog pound sits near the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard and the military’s canine training unit.

CAN has the money, the support, the ideal location, and pro bono donations including the architectural design work for the new pound, but no deed to the land. The state has promised the parcel to Newtown, but the deal is still missing a piece.

“It’s just a matter of that piece of paper,” Ms Jess explained. First Selectman Joe Borst spoke with State Representative Julia Wasserman about the paperwork on Friday, June 27, which she will continue to pursue in Hartford as she has done in the past. Her efforts will resume in mid-July when she returns from traveling. “It’s her number one priority,” Mr Borst said.

Where does the new pound sit on the first selectman’s list of priorities? “I want to move ahead with this as fast as we can,” he said. He also noted the list of haves, and have-nots, indicating that both the town and privately raised funds are in-hand, but the deed is not. Speaking candidly he said, “Apparently, things don’t move too fast at the state level…” He also indicated, “The land is ours,” and “as soon as the land is squared away,” work on the new pound can begin. The state has already cleaned the site, which is a viable parcel already equipped with sewer and water connections, he said.

Former first selectman Herb Rosenthal, now a selectman, recalls that the parcel slated for a new pound is one of several pieces of land that the state conveyed to Newtown “that we never got the deeds for,” he said. While the conveyance and plans for a pound are approved, “We have to own it,” he said. He also confirmed that Ms Wasserman  would seek the deeds at the state level. “She’ll pursue closings on the properties [that] we’ve requested many times,” Mr Rosenthal said.

As recently as last month CAN received more than $700,000 in funds through the town’s capital improvement plans to add to its own $150,000 from private fundraising efforts. With roughly $900,000 in funds, Mr Borst said, “Hopefully we can build the pound.” He knows the dog owners will be happy. “There is a big population in town that love their pets.”

In past years the conditions at the pound, located behind the town’s transfer station, have become cramped and run down. Animal control officers and canine advocated have campaigned for a new pound and residents and town officials responded.