Canine Advocates Planning A Family Event At Fairfield Hills

By Shannon Hicks

Last year the dog pound at Newtown had a beagle that was, in the words of Canine Advocates of Newtown member Virginia Jess, “a terror.”

“He was tough. He barked at everyone and no one could get near him,” said Ms Jess. “He was cute, but nobody would adopt him. Then Michael Dran came along and they got along.”

That dog, named Benny, recently celebrated his first birthday of being adopted by Mr Dran, who has worked “consistently” with him, said Ms Jess. “Now everybody loves him. Michael was patient and consistent with him, and it has paid off.”

It’s that kind of success story that keeps Canine Advocates of Newtown, a group of volunteers who provide daily walks and socialization for dogs at the Newtown pound, dedicated to its mission. Lately the group has also been working to raise funds to have a new, updated dog pound built in town and to that end a family event has been planned for this weekend.

CAN will offer “Keep On Truckin’ with Canine Advocates,” which will offer events for all at Fairfield Hills on Sunday, August 5, from noon to 5 pm. Attendees should use the main entrance to the campus, off Wasserman Way. Among those participating will be Mr Dran, who plays an Iorio brand accordion with a sound system that sounds like he’s being backed by a small orchestra.

“It’s a unique system,” said Mr Dran, who will be providing much of the music for Sunday’s event. “There’s really not many like this around here. People will be very surprised.”

The afternoon will also offer a large touch-a-truck event featuring a police car, the DARE care and a police canine car, a fire truck, ambulance, and search and rescue vehicle. Baro the police dog will be offering demonstrations. There will also be two Army trucks, a dump truck, backhoe and trailer. A motorcycle and car show will be presented as well.

Brookside Farm will have baby goats and alpacas on site. From 3 to 5 pm, new Newtown resident Joanna Hehir will have her service dogs Lucy and Gandollf on hand.

Information will be available on the child identification program CHIP, there will be at least two photographers (Michelle Belknap and John Tucci) showing their work, massage therapy and reiki demonstrations, face painting by Sandy Hook resident Sally Lynn MacDonald, air brushing by Robert Lee Harris (who recently created a mural for the current dog pound), a temporary tattoo booth, an inflatable bouncing station, and other displays and vendors.

United Fire Company of Botsford will be running a refreshments booth (not Hook & Ladder, as had been previously announced).

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Proceeds will benefit the CAN Building Fund for a new pound for Newtown. For more information about this special event or Canine Advocates call Virginia Jess at 426-5327.

“It’s supposed to be a nice day weatherwise, and we’re going to have a lot of stuff going on,” said Ms Jess. “I think people will be surprised at how much we have happening.”