Greenwich Reindeer Fesatival 2018 one

Your Kids Can See Live Reindeer at Greenwich Reindeer Festival, Starting Nov 23

Download PDF

Each year, children, families and visitors of all ages from Greenwich and beyond have enjoyed the holiday enchantment of live reindeer and Santa in his festive sleigh at the annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village. — an announcement from Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses
This year, as this special event reaches an important milestone, its 10-year anniversary, the live reindeer — Dasher, Dancer and Prancer — will be back again to join Santa, Nov. 23 to Dec. 24, 2018, for the 10th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village at the “North Pole on North Street,” Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, minutes from downtown Greenwich. The cherished town tradition lives on at this expansive nursery where visitors can have their photo taken with Santa, meet the reindeer, ride on the Winter Wonderland Carousel and the North Pole Express Train and enjoy the new Santa’s Village.

Bully Breed Rescue logo

New Canaan Dog Rescue Group: Animal Cruelty Investigation Focuses on Our President

Download PDF

Fairfield police are investigating the deaths of several dogs that appeared to have died in crates inside a home at 37 Prince St. in Fairfield, and the vice president of an area dog rescue group says its president was in charge of those dogs and lived at that address. Believed to have been sent to either a sanctuary or foster home, the remains of the five dogs were found in the care of Heidi Lueders, president of New Canaan-based Bully Breed Rescue Inc., according to a post on the organization’s website by Vice President Chris Antolini. — This article previously was published by NewCanaanite.com. Alerted to an investigation at the familiar street address, members and volunteers with Bully Breed “all immediately began cooperating with local police and detectives,” Antolini said.

Police

Police: Man Reports Dog’s Bite, Dog’s Poop, Sharp Words With Woman Holding the Leash

Download PDF

A man leaving his store on the 300 block of the Post Road saw a small dog defecate on the property last Tuesday afternoon, and that developed into a dispute with the woman walking the dog, which led to one of her two small dogs biting the man, he told police. Darien police gave this further account of the incident, including accusations not proven in court:

The man reported the incident to the Darien Police animal control officer at 2:12 p.m. He said the dog was 25 feet into his property when it defecated. He immediately approached the woman walking the dogs and told her to clean the mess. She refused. The two argued.

Search for Lost Dog Takes Bizarre Twist: Organization That Owns Her Says ‘Foster Mother’ Has Custody of Canine

Download PDF

Seldom, and just possibly never, has a fairly typical search for a lost dog taken such a bizarre twist: The owner, nonprofit Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue Inc. says the “foster mother” who took in Lambsy seems to have the dog in her possession, but hasn’t paid for the pet. In a social media post late on Friday afternoon, the New York state-based nonprofit said the canine had been brought into “a 24-hour vet[erinarian] clinic in Cheshire, Conneciticut at 5 a.m. this morning by her foster [owner].” The dog was “heavily tick infested.” [Darienite.com is not going to name the Darien woman that Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue Inc. says still has the dog and hasn’t been in touch with them. Since many posters have been put up around town for the dog, and we’ve found quite an interest among our readers, we wanted to provide this update.]

The organization says the “foster mother” in Darien
“took this dog home on a foster-to-adopt basis but lost her within three days.

Lambsy lost dog Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue

Lost Dog, Tilley Pond Park Area — Have You Seen Lambsy?

Download PDF

Lambsy, a 30-pound, short, beige/buff-colored dog, was lost near Tilley Pond Park in Downtown Darien a week ago, according to Abandoned Angels & Cocker Spaniel Rescue. The organization brought her to the U.S. only two days before her “foster mom” lost her in Darien. The dog is from Cyprus, where she’s used to warmer weather, so she’s been exposed to unaccustomed cold (unless somebody let her in). If you have any information about her, you’re urged to call 347-580-0488. Lambsy “is undoubtedly terrified, cold, and hungry,” and she’s “also likely in need of medical care,” according to Abandoned Angels Cocker Spaniel Rescue., which is helping to try to find her.

K-9 Argo Police Dog Darien Police vest

Kids, Meet Darien Police K-9s Kenny and Argo on Thursday at Darien Library (Registration Required)

Download PDF

Kids between ages 8 and 12, get your parents to register you for this event this coming Thursday at Darien Library: 

Have you ever wondered how K-9 dogs help police officers? See a demonstration from Kenny and Argo and their police handlers at Darien Police Department to find out more about these amazing dogs and what they do in Darien! Check out their continuing adventures at their own Instagram accounts. Argo is darienpd_k9argoand Kenny is k9_kenny. This event is for kids ages 8 to 12.

Dog https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beagle1.jpg

Your Dog License Renewal Was Due in June — Fines Start in November

Download PDF

Beginning Nov. 1, 2018 citations will be issued to any dog owners found delinquent of renewing or obtaining a dog license. — an announcement from Darien police

Dog licensing is due every June 1 to 30. Licenses can ONLY  be obtained or renewed through the Town Clerk’s Office at Darien Town Hall. Renewals can be completed annually through the mail during the month of June. A current rabies certificate also is needed to obtain the license.

An image of a fawn deer (Odocoileus species) cropped down to put more focus on the fawn itself. This version: minor (levels) edit of orig pic by Elfer https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fawn_in_Forest_edit.jpg

AAA: The Time You’re Most Likely to Hit a Deer Is NOW Thru December: Here’s How to Avoid It

Download PDF

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) estimates there were more than 4,000 deer strikes in Connecticut last year, most of which went unreported. In fact, October, November and December – deer mating season — are the peak months for crashes in the Nutmeg State, according to a AAA Northeast crash data analysis, with more than three-quarters of the crashes occurring between outside daylight hours. Deer crashes are most prevalent weekdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., during the evening rush. — an announcement from AAA Northeast, this region’s affiliate of the American Automobile Association

“Drivers need to be especially vigilant at dusk,” says Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast’s spokeswoman. “Deer present dangers to you, to your vehicle, and to themselves so it behooves everyone to be prepared since such crashes can be costly, even deadly.”

According to the UCONN Crash Data repository, deer strikes contributed to fatal crashes in each of the past two years.

Another New Canaan Cougar Seen — ‘Credible’ Report, Police Say

Download PDF

A New Canaan woman on Monday saw a mountain lion while walking her dog in the northern part of the town, and New Canaan Police are classifying her report as a credible cougar sighting, the third in 2018. Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section, called for residents in the area of Briscoe and North Wilton Roads to check surveillance videos for images of the animal. — This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com. “We have had enough sightings that we believe are credible and people just need to always be alert,” Halm said. “We do live in the woods.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Long Island Sound

Fourth Long Island Sound Sea Turtle Found Dead After Getting Hit by Boat

Download PDF

A fourth sea turtle has been killed by a boat strike in Long Island Sound – the third such incident in the Milford/Stratford area this summer. A three-foot loggerhead turtle was found on Friday, Sept. 21 washed up at Silver Sands State Park, the apparent victim of an encounter with a boat propeller. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

This was the fourth loggerhead in the Sound killed by boats this summer – an unusually high number. (The others: found on Long Beach in Stratford July 15 and Aug.

Hedgehog Named Darien Nature Center

And the DHS Senior Who Won the Darien Nature Center’s Hedgehog-Naming Contest Is …

Download PDF

Darien High School senior Gaby Highton has won the Darien Nature Center’s recent naming contest. Highton’s suggestion beat out nearly 40 others that were submitted via Facebook and Instagram.  

— an announcement from Darien Nature Center

Darien Nature Center’s new hedgehog is a one-year-old African pygmy hedgehog that the Nature Center adopted from Tamara Sevigny, the owner of Southeastern CT Hedgehogs & Sugar Gliders in Lyme. Sevigny is a USDA licensed breeder and member of the International Hedgehog Association. Fun fact!

Loggerhead turtle by Ukanda on Flickr via Wik Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Loggerhead_sea_turtle.jpg

Third Sea Turtle Found Killed by Boat in Six Weeks: Maritime Aquarium Urges Caution

Download PDF

With a third sea turtle killed by a boat in six weeks in Long Island Sound, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk again is urging boaters to slow down and be aware of these endangered animals. — an announcement from the  Maritime Aquarium

A dead loggerhead sea turtle was found on Wednesday, Aug. 29 on Long Beach in Stratford with apparent propeller slashes in its shell. This death follows similar fatal boat strikes of loggerheads discovered off Norwalk’s Sheffield Island on Aug. 9 and in Stratford on July 15.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Long Island Sound

Maritime Aquarium Asks Boaters to Beware of Sea Turtles After Two Killed in Long Island Sound

Download PDF

With two sea turtles killed in Long Island Sound by propellers this summer, The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is asking boaters to slow down and be aware of these endangered animals. — an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

A dead juvenile sea turtle – believed to be a loggerhead – was found Aug. 9 near Norwalk’s Sheffield Island by staff of the Norwalk Seaport Association. The turtle had three obvious propeller gouges up its approximately 20-inch-long shell. On July 15, a loggerhead was found in Stratford, dead from a boat strike.

Little Brown Bat

Rabies Found in Bat Captured a Mile North of Darien

Download PDF

A bat captured Aug. 1 inside of a home on Tommys Lane in New Canaan has tested positive for rabies at the state laboratory, according to officials in the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department. Residents of the home on Tommys Lane, about a mile north of Darien, were advised to seek medical advice. Their dog received a rabies booster and is being observed for 45 days. — This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com.

Dr. Philip Putter Spot On Veterinary Hospital and Hotel Dog Flu Canine Influenza

Dog Flu Arrives Here: Get Fido Vaccinated and Until Then, Away From Canine Friends

Download PDF

Dog kennels have been closing in Stamford as a jump in dog flu cases has hit the area, and veterinarians are urging dog owners to get their pets vaccinated and have them avoid other dogs. And it’s not just canine influenza — kennel cough, which is also super contagious, has been going around. Dr. Philip Putter, owner of Spot On Veterinary Hospital and Hotel in Stamford said  it’s not just one illness or the other. “It’s everything,” Putter said. “It’s by location.”

He said two strains of flu — H3N2 and H3N8 — are confirmed to be spreading rapidly in the local area.