A New Animal Control Facility Takes Shape

By Kendra Bobowick

Standing on January’s frozen ground are the beginnings of a new animal control facility that will house dogs and cats awaiting adoption.

“It’s exciting!” said First Selectman Pat Llodra this week. “This is a big deal.” Town staff, officials, and animal-loving residents and volunteers have maintained efforts in past years to raise both funds and support for a new pound. “We’re getting there,” said Public Works Director Fred Hurley. “It’s actually going to happen.” Already adding its shape to the landscape is a stone façade alongside bare plywood walls. The project began with a ceremonial groundbreaking in August 2011.

The new building on Old Farm Road off of Trades Lane near Reed Intermediate School will replace the current dog pound at the Newtown Transfer Station.

Ms Llodra had hoped to see the building finished by December of 2011. “I thought it would be so nice to give animals and [animal control] staff a wonderful Christmas present.” Instead, she and Mr Hurley have refocused on a finish date for this spring.

“Knock on wood,” Mr Hurley said. “As long as we get the roof on and sealed from weather we’ll have a better idea of when we’ll finish.” Town crews did the initial site preparations, and Baybutt Construction is the construction manager. Already completed is underground utility work and plumbing, which all needed to take place before pouring a concrete slab.

Despite the challenging sloped property where the state had recontoured its lot with fill, the project is “looking very positive,” Mrs Llodra said.

New Pound, New Policy

Accompanying the new pound will be a new euthanasia policy for the animals kept there.

Still working on final language, Mrs Llodra said, “It’s not to promote it, but to carefully define conditions when the approach would be used.” She described just two cases when euthanasia would be considered: medically compromised animals with no other remedy, or if an animal cannot be rehabilitated socially.

She stressed, however, “We’re very strongly committed to adoptions.”

Noting that the town needs to look at long-term goals for the facility and its staff, Mrs Llodra also explained that the new building is no longer just a pound, and will house cats, and cannot be a shelter, which keeps animals permanently.

The Board of Selectmen will review the euthanasia policy — now in draft form — at upcoming meetings.

A dog-walker policy is also now in place.

She and the Board of Selectmen also need to arrange a dedication ceremony, Mrs Llodra said.

Last year officials chose to name the pound after the late Brian J. Silverlieb, DVM. According to Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN) President Virgnia Jess, a longtime friend and associate, “Dr Silverlieb may have done more to make Newtown nicer for animals than anybody. And there may have been no one more passionate about improving the conditions under which the town’s cast-off and abandoned pets were forced to live after being impounded.”

The new facility was designed by Jacunski Humes Architects of  Berlin. The entire project is estimated to cost $1 million, with a $750,000 contribution from the town, and roughly $237,000 from CAN fundraising, plus other private donations.