Pet Stamps Raise Funds

For Dog Pound

By Kendra Bobowick

The latest sign of the ongoing effort to build a new dog pound in town comes in the self-adhesive form of a stamp. One resident has come up with an idea to add to the bottom line. Gene Rosen, who volunteers for the Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN), is also in support of the organization’s continuing campaign to raise funds for a pound.

“A new pound would be great,” he said. “It would get [the dogs] away from the dump.” Currently the dog pound is located directly behind the Newtown dump off Route 25. Mr Rosen, who has an active hobby of photographing wildlife, opened a folder containing sheets of stamps with bluebirds, butterflies, dogs, cats, and more. He often photographs pets, for example, and sends the image out to a company that prints stamps.

This week, flushed with the holiday spirit, he decided to combine the stamps with an effort to collect funds and make a contribution to CAN. For the gift-giving season he is looking to make a trade with residents wishing to support a new pound. In exchange for a donation he will photograph their pet and make arrangements for printing and delivery to their house with no charge other than the $20 for production and shipping. The $20 buys a 20-stamp sheet of 39-cent stamps.

“This is all with the hopes of collecting for CAN,” he said. He can be reached by email at erosen2@earthlink.net.

The fundraiser for a new dog pound has been going on all year and has garnered more than $80,000 for the building fund. Canine Advocates President Virginia Jess said, “It’s great to see something everyone supports.”

All the feedback she has received regarding the effort she started nearly one year ago has been positive, she said. “I know it’s something everyone is looking forward to.”

Companies, individuals, children, and civic organizations have all lent support.

From children who give her the money they requested in lieu of gifts for birthdays to the sizeable contributions including the roughly $10,000 from the Lions’ Club Duck Race and $8,500 that a wine tasting at McLaughlin’s Vineyard brought in, Ms Jess said the community has widely supported the fund drive so far. She is hoping to raise as much as $250,000, which she hopes the town can match. Earlier in the year she began selling magnets that are light blue and round and displayed on many cars in town. Local shops helped promote the magnet sale.

Most recently she has seen a spark among civic organizations.

“Suddenly a lot have come forward with a couple hundred here or there,” she said. She anticipates another donation next week.

A collection is planned for this Saturday at Lexington Gardens from 10 am on. Visit the Canine Advocates of Newtown on their website at www.canineadvocates.org.