Date: Fri 03-Apr-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SUZANN

Quick Words:

dog-pound-pets-animals

Full Text:

Efforts To Curb Stray Pets Are Paying Off

(with cut)

BY SUZANNA NYBERG

The Newtown Dog Pound has 20 cages and 19 of them are empty.

Animal Control Officer George Mattegat attributes the decrease of stray dogs

ending up at the pound to both Connecticut's Animal Population Control Program

(APCP) and the use of invisible fences.

"We no longer see puppies dropped off on the side of the road," said Mr

Mattegat, who can remember finding a litter of puppies in a box on Route 25.

Pound keeper Pat Anzellotti agrees that the six-year old APCP law has had an

impact on decreasing the overpopulation of dogs and cats. "It is an excellent

law," she said. "Before, people could pay us $5 and take a dog."

Enacted in 1992, APCP provides for the sterilizations and vaccinations of dogs

and cats adopted from municipal pounds. After selecting a pet, the new pet

owner must complete an adoption certificate and make a $50 deposit. If the

animal is taken to a participating veterinarian within 30 days, APCP provides

for sterilization, two presurgical vaccinations and refunds $20 to the owner.

All those seeking to adopt a pet must participate in the program.

Both Mr Mattegat and Mrs Anzellotti also credit invisible fences with helping

to reduce the stray dog population. "The fence keeps dogs from getting out of

a yard and it also keeps other dogs from getting in," Mrs Anzellotti said.

Frank Ribaudo, director of APCP in Hartford, is gratified by Newtown's success

story. He credits many animal control officers in the state for selling the

program and giving pound animals a greater chance of adoption. "Historically,

pounds were the last place that people went for a pet," said Mr Ribaudo,

noting that in a disposable culture animals, too, get thrown away.

"Unfortunately, the order was pet stores, breeders, newspaper ads, and then

the pound. Now people think of pounds as their first choice."

APCP spent $500,000 spaying and neutering animals during fiscal year 1995-96,

a sum Mr Ribaudo believes is a testament to the program's popularity among

state residents. "If we're spending money, we're serving the pounds," he said.

Spreading The Word

Connecticut and three other states -- New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York

-- are the only states to have such a program; Mr Ribaudo, who has spoken on

this issue at national conferences, would like to see the word spread.

APCP's budget, funded through a six percent surcharge on unsterilized dog

licenses, will expand this year when commemorative license plates are offered

for sale. Similar to Save the Sound license plates, these plates, designed by

Connecticut artists, will feature a mixed breed dog. A mix breed is most

likely to end up at a pound. The license plates will cost $50, of which $35

will go to APCP.

People who would like to give a stray dog or cat a home have other resources

in town to which they can turn. Equipped with a kennel with indoor and outdoor

runs, Newtown Animal Welfare is able to provide direct care to animals. They

have raised litters of puppies and kittens as well as provided medical care

and grooming. President Fran Hendrickson of Newtown has fed many a nursing

kitten and rubbed the belly of many a pup.

"People have worked long and hard to get people's consciousness up," she said.

"While we'll never be out of business, it is great that the problem is not as

tremendous as it once was."

Currently, seven cats and three dogs await adoption from this shelter; their

number is 426-5177.

A TEAM Effort

Aside from other municipal canine shelters and the Connecticut Humane Society,

many independent rescue organizations in the state offer dogs and cats for

adoption. Tait's Every Animal Matters (TEAM) in Westbrook maintains a list of

animals available for adoption.

TEAM also operates the state's only mobile feline spay/neuter clinic,

providing needy pet owners and those caring for cat colonies with affordable

services. For a fee of $35 per cat, a TEAM veterinarian will spay or neuter

the animal and give vaccinations against rabies, distemper, and respiratory

infection. TEAM does not go door-to-door; Newtown residents wishing to use the

service must call the office, book an appointment, and go to the nearest TEAM

location.

"This is high-tech sterile assembly line spay and neutering," said TEAM

Spokesperson Donna Sicuranza. "Cats are checked in at nine and are ready to go

home that evening. A fast-acting anesthetic wears off quickly and a reversal

shot may be given so that cats are not groggy. The sutures do not need

removal." More than 8,500 cats have been spayed or neutered on the unit in one

year.

TEAM wants to expand the spay/neuter service to include dogs, but to do so

would require a different unit.

TEAM's database serves as a statewide resource that answers animal welfare

questions ranging from pet adoption to injured wildlife. The toll-free number

is 888/FOR-TEAM.

Many regional residents operate their own independent animal rescue

organizations.

In Shelton, Paula Pryor's refuge, Dogs Dance, offers abused or abandoned dogs

a homelike environment and obedience training to prepare them for adoption. As

Ms Pryor works with city pounds, many of which are routinely overburdened with

animals, she has not noticed a lag in her business. Unlike many adoption

groups, Ms Pryor does a thorough screening of prospective owners; she asks for

references, including one from a veterinarian, makes a home visit, and follows

that visit up once the dog is adopted.

"Dogs need to be trained, but people need to be educated," Ms Pryor said. To

contact Ms Pryor, call 203/929-7254.