A 13-Year-Old

Lists His Reasons For Helping

As Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN) continues to solicit financial and volunteer support from residents in its efforts to relocate the dog pound, heartfelt sympathies leave strong impressions on organizers including CAN’s Virginia Jess.

She has noted that the children in town have “been tremendous and wonderful.” One young man brings the ongoing efforts down from a lofty financial level — a goal of $500,000 — to the simple affection he feels for animals.

Responding to The Bee’s search for comments regarding fundraising for the pound was 13-year-old Steve zVon expressing his reasons for helping CAN. He wrote:

My name is Steve zVon, and I am 13 years old. I started helping at the dog pound in December of 2004. Before that, we used to bring dog biscuits to the pound. Then my mom, Jackie zVon, started to walk dogs for Canine Advocates. While she was walking every Saturday, I would be in the office playing with the dogs or out in the pen with them. I also helped out at the Tercentennial Celebration, and at the Flea Market at Reed Intermediate School. I wrote a newspaper article for the Reed Patriot Press last year about the pound. This year as part of the Middle School Interact Club (junior Rotary), we sold CAN bracelets to students at the school dance.

I am an animal lover, and I have two dogs: Molly, a Border Collie, and Checkers, a rescue dog from North Shore Animal League. I enjoy helping the dogs at the pound because they can’t help themselves, and the dog pound is in horrible shape. The people who work at the pound make it as nice a place as possible under the circumstances. It makes me feel good to know I’m helping.

Sincerely, Steve zVon

Currently housed in a building behind the Newtown landfill, the pound’s location is considered undesirable by many. The facility also draws criticism from animal advocates.