Dog Days Of Summer Welcomes Pets,

Owners To Benefit Dog Park

By Kendra Bobowick

“It helps that I am a big dog lover,” said Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano. She touted the upcoming Dog Days of Summer/Responsible Dog Ownership Day set for September 12. “Bring your dog, bring a leash, come and enjoy the day,” she said Monday. “I think it will be a lot of fun.”

The event showcases dogs, includes therapy dog handling demonstrations, but is meant primarily as a fundraiser for a new dog park in Newtown. The Parks and Recreation Commission has on its wish list a dog park where pets can run free in a fenced-in area. “You have no idea how many times people ask, ‘Don’t you have someplace fenced for the dogs to run?’” Ms Reggiano said, and she is working on it.

“To me, this [event] is the kick-off to raise enough money to do the park.” Once an effort pursued by former commission member Melissa Eigen, Ms Reggiano has now “taken it under my wing.”

Between 1 and 5 pm at Fairfield Hills by the Mile Hill South pavilion, Ms Reggiano, the Parks and Recreation Department, and other sponsors are “reaching out to our community.” The day, which includes events for dogs such as best kisser, look-alike, largest dog, smallest dog, Frisbee toss, obstacle course runs, best hot dog catcher, and more will keep pets and people entertained.

A recent press release welcoming the public on September 12 states, “Community support is the backbone of this event.” All proceeds and donations will benefit a new dog park, to be located at Fairfield Hills in the vicinity of the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard and the location where an eventual new dog pound will be built. The event does not include an entrance fee, but relies on tax deductible contributions. One hundred dollars or more includes the contributor’s name on a Dog Days T-shirt. Contact Ms Reggiano at Roseann.reggiano@newtown-ct.gov. No aggressive dogs, please.

Event sponsors also include the Bethel 4H Club, Mount Pleasant Hospital for Animals, and Canine Training Behavior of Wilton.