Don’t Punish Baro

To the Editor:

As a concerned animal lover, I am pleading with the powers that be to let Baro, Newtown’s police dog, remain at home. He is 7½ years old now, which is considered a senior in the life of a German shepherd. He has served this town well, and has gone above and beyond what was required of him in the line of duty. He is an intelligent, loyal, obedient, loving, caring, protective member of society and his family. Baro is to be placed (if he hasn’t been already) in a kennel for one to three months, retrained, and returned to service. Baro is getting old, and he is slowing down. Is it really worth it for the town to retrain him for such a short period time he will be able to serve? If he were a human police officer he would be able to resign and retire with dignity.

Baro has lived with the same family his whole life. He is loved and taken care of by the family and their children. These small children have had Baro in their lives since their birth. He is to be going from having the run of a house, playing with children, sleeping on the bed, to a cage, and not understand what he did to deserve this. Baro deserves better.

Baro shouldn’t be punished because his partner is being accused of wrong doing. He is not a piece of property to be thrown in a cage as if his life and feelings don’t matter.

Oh, and by the way, he was not paid for or trained using our tax dollars. He was bought and paid for using the profit from asset forfeiture. As a matter of fact, he has saved us money by not pulling in a salary as a human officer would have.

Please see it in the best interest of Baro and in your heart to let Baro out of a cold cage and into a warm home with a family. If it can’t be his family than let it be another caring family.

If other caring animal lovers agree, then please write on Baro’s behalf to your selectman, The Bee, the police chief, the commissioner, and anyone else who might help Baro. As an officer of the law and a canine companion he deserves to be treated better by those he loves and served.

Thank you!

Vicky Maresca

80 Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook                        November 26, 2010