Canine Advocates Keep On Truckin’ Toward New Kennel

By Andrew Gorosko

Amid perfect August weather, musician Michael Dran of Bethel sat atop the front steps of Newtown Hall overlooking the Green at Fairfield Hills on Sunday, August 5, playing sprightly melodies on his electronic accordion accompanied by his synthesizer.

Mr Dran provided the musical backdrop for a family event sponsored by Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN). The advocates held its Keep on Truckin’ fundraiser there as part of its longstanding drive to attract funding for a new municipal animal shelter.

CAN members say the current animal shelter off Ethan Allen Road is woefully inadequate and needs to be replaced with modern facilities more suitable for holding impounded animals, including dogs and cats.

Keep on Truckin’ provided a variety of exhibits and demonstrations at the Green, which is bordered by Newtown Hall, Woodbury Hall, and Shelton House.

Among the many exhibits and displays were the town police department’s canine unit, headed by Canine Officer Andrew Stinson and his German shepherd Baro. Officer Leonard Penna assisted with demonstrations of Baro’s prowess.

Motorcycle Patrol Officer Steve Ketchum displayed the police department’s new black-and-chrome Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, which he uses in traffic patrol work.

Also shown was the police department’s elaborately decorated DARE car, a Chrysler PT Cruiser that is used to promote the police department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program that is taught to fifth graders.

Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighters were on hand to display their aerial ladder truck, a large fire truck that holds a maneuverable, extensible ladder that reaches upward 105 feet.

Hook & Ladder volunteer firefighter brothers Dan and Chris Gindraux demonstrated their ladder-climbing skills by suiting up in full uniform and climbing all the way to the top of the extended ladder parked on the west end of the Green.

Botsford firefighters, with their new command vehicle parked nearby, operated a refreshments stand at the Keep On Truckin’ event.

Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue (NUSAR) had its various aquatic equipment on display on the north side of the Green.

Fergus, a friendly 7-year-old male bloodhound that NUSAR uses for its search work, was on hand to greet visitors.

The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps also displayed equipment at the event.

Virginia Jess, CAN president, said this week, “Everyone who came was very pleased with the event.”

The event raised about $2,000 toward the creation of a new municipal animal shelter, she said.

A new animal shelter is expected to cost about $1 million, of which CAN is seeking to raise $500,000. So far, CAN has raised about $120,000, she said.

The new 3,700-square-foot shelter would be constructed at Fairfield Hills, near the US Army National Guard’s military dog kennel.

Ms Jess said that people interested in donating funds toward the animal shelter project may send checks to Canine Advocates of Newtown, Inc, at PO Box 236, Newtown CT 06470.

The group’s website is www.canineadvocates.org.