Since being deeded 34.4 acres of property nearby the Newtown Park and Bark dog park and The Brian J. Silverlieb Animal Control Center in September 2014, plans for The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary (CVHAS) have continued to develop, said Jennifer Hubbard.

The CVHAS is the focus of The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, which was created in memory of Catherine Hubbard, one of 20 first graders killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, December 14, 2012. Catherine was the daughter of Jennifer and Matthew Hubbard.

Until last month, CVHAS had partnered with The Animal Center of Newtown, a local cat rescue/foster program. That partnership has been dissolved, said former Animal Center Vice President and CVHAS volunteer Harmony Verna, but there remains a mutual respect between the two organizations.

Ms Hubbard acknowledged that the scope of the CVHAS, encompassing a refuge for adoptive animals, a learning center, a community garden, trails, and areas for contemplation is huge.

“I don’t think any of us understood the magnitude of what we were taking on,” she said. Separating allows both organizations to do what they do best, and to continue to support each other as they are able.

Ms Verna added that there is “a great respect between both parties. We both want to help animals. It’s a wonderful thing,” she said.

The CVHAS has spent a great deal of time this winter working with groups in town concerned about the future impact of the CVHAS on the property deeded to it.

“We’ve spent time understanding their concerns and how to minimize their concerns,” said Ms Hubbard. The biggest fear she understood opposition to have was that the CVHAS would just clear cut the land, “and not be thoughtful about how we would use it; that we would move forward too quickly,” she said.

There was great concern over the placement of a large concrete pad and sculpture last fall at the CVHAS site, but care was taken, she said, that it did not exceed size allowed nor infringe on the wetlands nearby.

Ms Hubbard is excited that the University of Connecticut Department of Invasive Plants will be working with CVHAS to identify and manage invasives that have snarled portions of the 34 acres. The five-year plan, she said, will include coordination of work parties.

“Our goal for this year is to re-establish the existing property. We’re not closing the property to anybody. People might notice work to revive the natural landscape,” said Ms Hubbard. A sign posted at the property will ask people to use care and caution while there, and to abide by local leash laws.

Architects are working on master site plan and elevations for the town, to see how best to proceed.

Also this winter, CVHAS inaugurated the Children’s Advisory Board, made up of ten area children in grades 2 through 5, who were chosen because they encompass qualities valued by CVHAS: acceptance, determination, and compassion.

 “They are our compass to see that we stay focused on the innocence of the sanctuary, and continue seeing the sanctuary through the eyes of a child,” said Ms Hubbard. From meeting minutes and financing to programming, everything is vetted through this young group, she said. The Advisory Board will always be made up of young children, she added, with the possibility of forming a teen board as this first group ages out.

An Educational Component

Moving forward, said Ms Verna, CVHAS will be working with not only The Animal Center, but other animal rescue groups in the tri-state area. There is a desire to collaborate with animal shelters in the tri-state area and support those efforts. Because many rescue groups are made up of a small number of volunteers, CVHAS would like to be a resource that can ease the burden of care these volunteers encounter.

“As the Animal Sanctuary, we could put together a list of people willing to foster, or host a food drive for them, or create a food bank for rescues. The resources we have now include a social media presence, as well as the property,” said Ms Hubbard.

To ascertain how CVHAS can best be of use, the group invited animal rescue groups from the area to meet with them at Edmond Town Hall on Tuesday, April 28. The meeting gave area animal rescue groups an opportunity to find out about CVHAS and to express what kind of assistance would be most useful. Approximately 35 people representing a dozen groups from around Connecticut gathered that evening.

“What we heard was that they wanted a sense of community,” said Ms Hubbard, “which is exciting for us. We can help with that.” The meet and greet also gave animal rescue volunteers a chance to brainstorm with like-minded people, she said, and created an opportunity for collaboration between rescue groups.

“Education was a huge component of what is needed,” Ms Hubbard said, particularly in lower income communities where spay and neuter assistance is not readily available. The other issue that seemed critical, said Ms Verna, is that of fostering animals.

“If [CVHAS] could create a foster network, that seems to be an unmet need,” she said.

CVHAS also hosted a conference call the following Tuesday, May 5, for rescue groups unable to travel to Newtown, with numerous call-ins from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. What differed in this response, Ms Hubbard said, was the need for “feet on the street,” for the placement of animals out of state. Having trusted and vetted people willing to do home visits would be very helpful to rescue groups.

How CVHAS will respond to the information gathered at the two events will take time, as they consider the best approach, Ms Hubbard said.

“For these people to take the time for the meet and greet was a huge thing. We want them to see we’re committed to supporting their efforts, through careful consideration,” said Ms Hubbard. The response could be anything from facilitating additional meet and greets, to the creation of useful social networks

 “We don’t need a building to offer opportunities for a neutral space to meet adoptive animals. We can help start finding home for animals, and give people a place where they can feel comfortable. It all goes back to the importance of the children, people, and animals in partnership,” Ms Hubbard said.

Special Events

On Saturday, May 9, CVHAS hosted Andrew Mangold, forest gardener and permaculture expert, to lead .a nature walk at the Sanctuary property

“Our goal is find ways to connect with the community even without a brick and mortar structure,” said Ms Hubbard in the public invitation to the nature walk.

CVHAS is equally excited for a planned meeting on May 13 with science specialist teacher Jill Bracksieck and school children from Middle Gate Elementary School. The children on Wednesday are expected to release Monarch butterflies raised in the classroom on the Animal Sanctuary property.

“It will be neat to see school kids up there. They’ve seen how butterflies grow and now [the butterflies] can be where they can thrive,” said Ms Hubbard.

The Hubbard’s daughter was an animal lover, from the smallest insect to the largest mammal. The first of many animal programs to come from CVHAS is scheduled for Saturday, June 6. Catherine’s Butterfly Party will be a festival event, from noon to 4 pm, on the green in front of NYA Sports & Fitness Center at Fairfield Hills.

“It is our answer to Catherine’s wish every year for an ‘all the animals party,’ and it will become an annual June event,” said Ms Hubbard.

A “Super Adoption Day” will headline the party, with programs from the Magic Wings Butterfly Conservancy and Audubon Bent of the River in Southbury, birds of prey seminars, music, vendors, art activities, and more scheduled. All ages are welcome to attend this free party, and learn more about The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.