Date: Fri 10-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

No-1-dog-Maxwell-Plouffe

Full Text:

Maxwell Gets Top Billing Among Newtown's Dogs w/ cut

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Ray and Joan Plouffe didn't buy a house when they moved to Newtown 18 months

ago. They brought one with them.

The Poverty Hollow Road couple came to town from Stamford and managed to move

an antique home down from Massachusetts, piece-by-piece. The Plouffes also

brought along their beloved springer spaniel, Maxwell, age 3, who this week

was crowned Newtown's Number 1 Dog by Town Clerk Cindy Simon.

The good-natured canine seemed to take the award in stride as he posed for

photographs outside Edmond Town Hall Monday. Maxwell seemed more concerned

with the well-being of Jessica, the Plouffe's eight-month old daughter, who

had been suffering from an ear infection over the weekend.

"He's so good to her. He loves to lick her face, sometimes too much," Mrs

Plouffe joked.

The annual contest, sponsored by the town clerk's office, is an incentive for

people to comply with state regulations and license their dogs by June 30.

Maxwell's name came up in a random drawing. Three prizes, donated by the staff

at the town clerk's office, were given out to the town's top dog - Pedigree

dog biscuits and dog food, and a free rabies vaccination next year.

The Plouffes were ecstatic about the idea that Newtown actually crowns one of

its dogs, helping them to fall further in love with the town they say they

have enjoyed so much.

"We're very, very happy here," Mrs Plouffe said. "And now to be the owner of

the Number 1 dog... that's the best thing. We got a real charge out of it."

Mr Plouffe, a partner in the law firm, Bai, Pollock & Coyne, PC in Bridgeport,

purchased land in Newtown seven years ago with the intention of building on it

someday. When he stumbled upon the old home (circa 1770) in Massachusetts, the

attorney had a brainstorm.

"I thought, `Why not bring this historic house into this historic town,'" he

explained. The rest is... what else? History.

Does Maxwell have his own antique dog house?

"Nope, he sleeps in our room," Mrs Plouffe said.

So far, 1,400 Newtown dogs have been licensed in the town clerk's office, but

there are many others out there, according to Mrs Simon. She urges all dog

owners to drop by town hall for a new license.