Dog Park Plans Advance, Fundraising is Ongoing

With the May 19 approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission for a dog park property, which includes plans for the new Municipal Shelter, also known as the dog pound, supporters are one step closer to achieving their goal of opening the park this summer.

In anticipation of needing funds for the park, more than 100 dogs and their families descended on the Fairfield Hill’s campus for the 2ndannual “Strutt Your Mutt”  on May 21.

Presented by Newtown's Department of Park and Recreation and sponsored by Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals and Canine Training and Behavior Sciences, the proceeds will benefit the soon-to-be built "Park and Bark" dog park.

Vendors, who were scattered about the field area, sold everything you could need or want for your dog including training, food and supplies, doggie day care and veterinarians. Wickless Candles whose owner, Oscar Nunez, is new to Newtown contributed 20-percent of the profits from the sale of his products to the dog park.  

Along with sponsoring the event, Mt. Pleasant Hospital and Canine Training and Behavior Sciences contributed the cost of the T-shirts sold at the park and recreation booth manned by Amy Mangold, the department director.

The High School's Animal Concerns Club sold packaged wild bird seed with the proceeds going to the dog park and food vendors provided everything to satisfy the attendees, from hot dogs and hamburgers to the Meat House’s scrumptious Philly cheese-steak sandwiches. 

New to the event was The Animal Center's Dog Adoption Program booth with some wonderful dogs looking earnestly for their forever families and handled by Layla Nichols, director of dog adoption program, and Animal Center Director and Dog Park Committee member, Monica Roberta.  

Even the sun cooperated. After endless days of rain, the sun continued to shine through the whole morning allowing the dogs to happily parade around and compete in a slew of contests, including best dressed, best kisser, longest and shortest tail, fastest eater and best trick, keeping the crowd applauding and the dogs occupied. 

Toward the end of the day’s activities, the more than 100 dogs lined up for their 2K walk with their families – everything from chihuahuas to Irish wolfhounds and Great Danes as well as a bevy of beautiful mixed breeds.

Adding to the benefit “pot” were the 23 raffle baskets donated by the park and recreation department, and assembled by Teresa Viesto, which helped raise the more than $5,000 collected at the event for the new dog park.

Entertainment was provided by Pam Peterson's Jump Rope Team, followed by an amazing demonstration of sheep herding by Sarah Murray of Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals and her border collie, Maeve.

Newtown’s K-9 Police Officer Felicia Figol educated the crowd on the amazing talents of Baro, followed by an fantastic controlled “hit” by Baro on  Newtown Police Officer Matthew Hayes -- until the rains came ending a fabulous day of fun in the sun for the dogs and their partners.

Kudos to the Park and Bark Committee and specifically to RoseAnn Reggiano, the assistant director of the park and recreation department and the event's director.

Although the group has collected more than $18,000 to date, donations are still needed.  The cost of fencing at the park alone is $50,000. Anyone wishing to donate $5,000 will have their name memorialized on a plaque on a piece of the fencing surrounding the park.