Animal Control Facility Open for Business: Just Don’t Call it ‘The Pound’

“Shelter Our Strays,” the nonprofit that spearheaded fundraising efforts for the new Greenwich Animal Control facility, hosted a well-attended open house this afternoon.

Despite a brewing rainstorm, the facility, located next to North Street School, was overrun with past and present selectmen, state representatives, animal lovers and a generally curious community. The rain held off until moments before First Selectman Peter Tesei cut the ribbon and the crowd made a mad dash for shelter and refreshments.
 
The gleaming new North Street facility replaces what was a deteriorating cinderblock building adjacent to the Bruce Museum, where cats, dogs and a parade of both domestic pets and wildlife shared cramped quarters for decades. That building, an un-air-conditioned 1957 eyesore, is now relinquished to the dustbin of history. Though that was probably the last thing on the minds of guests.

The project was funded by $750,000 in private donations.
Between cooing over adoptable dogs and cats, and marveling at the safe, clean, sound proof, state-of-the art digs – about a half dozen cats in their “condos” and seven dogs in pens with adjacent runs that can be divided in two by dropping a partition – visitors swapped stories and met with town leaders. The dedicated three-person staff – Suzanne Carlin, Stacy Remeor, and Bill Petersen – kept their concerned eyes trained on the animals the entire time.
 
Fortunately, the image of a “dog-catcher,” invariably a burly, menacing type who scowls at cowering dogs, is an anachronism. To anyone who enters the facility, it is obvious that the staff love the animals and the animals respond well to them. What is not readily apparent is how the staff goes above and beyond the requirements of their jobs.
 
For example, Suzanne Carlin, whose has a background in wildlife rehabilitation, has been known to take home stranded baby raccoons to feed at all hours with a rubber nipple attached to an eyedropper. Normally, in these situations, the animal control staff outsource care to wildlife rehabilitators, but when that is not an option, they do it themselves.
 
According to kennel manager, Bill Petersen, there are a few misconceptions about what goes on at animal control. “Some people think they can surrender an unwanted pet to us. That is not what we’re here for,” he explained. “We will detain a dog who is picked up after escaping his fence and is waiting for his owner to be retrieve him. We try to find the owner of any stray. Occasionally we can’t and then we try to find a good home.”
 
Officer Carlin added, “In the case of sudden death of an owner, we may care for all manner of pets. We get parakeets, hamsters, rabbits, fish, and turtles, to name a few. They stay in our care until next of kin are located.”
 
On any given day at animal control, the phone rings constantly with reports of roaming dogs, feral cats, cruelty, and stranded wildlife. There is little downtime during work. Plus, all three staff members’ homes are full of adopted creatures.
 
When asked how community members might help out the pets awaiting adoption, kennel manager Petersen said he’s not allowed to take on volunteers for liability reasons, but that all positive word-of-mouth leads to more animals finding permanent homes.
 
Anyone wishing to contribute toward a pool for veterinary care for the animals can donate to “Bruce Museum / Shelter Our Strays” and send it to the Animal Control at 393 North St., Greenwich, CT. 06830
 
To learn about pets available for adoption, visit: http://www.greenwichct.org/policedept/pdAnimalAdoption.asp
To come in to discuss adopting a stray, call ahead for an appointment, 203-622-8299. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.