Darienite - News for Darien

Darienite (https://darienite.com/category/animals/page/4)

Animals

Animals

K-9 Argo Police Dog Darien Police vest

Darien Police Dog Argo Gets Gift of a Protective Vest

By David Gurliacci | July 20, 2018

A nonprofit organization has donated a protective vest to Darien Police Department for Argo, one of the department’s two police dogs. The vest, donated by an anonymous sponsor through the nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s Inc., can help protect Argo from bullet or stab wounds. The charity, headquartered in East Taunton, MA, was set up to provide protective vests for police dogs in law enforcement and similar agencies across the United States. Since it was started in 2009, the organization has provided over 3,000 protective vests in 50 states, through private and corporate donations. The vests are valued at a total of $5.7 million.

Animals

man and dog suspected in New Canaan attack on dog

After Dog Attacked, New Canaan Police Seek Help Identifying Suspected Aggressor Dog and Owner

By MICHAEL DINAN | July 17, 2018

New Canaan police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the owners of an off-leash dog that, police say, attacked and gravely wounded a smaller canine in New Canaan last week, and left the scene. The attack took place in the back of South School, near Crystal Street (about a mile north of Darien), at about 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the Police Department’s Animal Control section. — This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com

A man and woman had been with the aggressor dog, a shepherd-type breed, when it attacked a mini-golden doodle who was on leash, Halm said. The pair were asked for contact information but declined to give it and left, she said. Though police have some footage of the man from area surveillance cameras (see above), no information on their vehicle’s make or license plate could be seen, she said.

Animals

Yappy Hour 2018 at Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens: Something to Bark About!

By GREENWICH FREE PRESS | July 11, 2018

Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens in North Stamford invites those who are owned by dogs (and guests of those who are owned by dogs) to enjoy a social affair at the second annual “Yappy Hour” at the “Bark”lett on Thursday, July 19 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Guests and their furry four legged friends can mix and mingle while enjoying complimentary beer and bites. After a very successful launch this past June 21, Yappy Hour will continue at the Bartlett this summer.

Beer and bites were enjoyed by locals and their dogs and people expressed an interest in making this a regular feature event at the Bartlett. Based on popular demand, a new Yappy Hour date of Thursday, July 19 was added. Aug.

Animals

Cat Found on Talmadge Hill Road

Is This Your Cat? Found on Talmadge Hill Road, Just Over Border from Darien

By MICHAEL DINAN | July 10, 2018

New Canaan police are seeking the owner of a black-and-white cat found July 4 on Talmadge Hill Road, which runs close to that town’s border with Darien. Believed to be male, the cat is in good condition and has no microchip, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section.

He was hanging around near a Talmadge Hill Road resident’s home and taken in on Independence Day. On July 6, the cat bit that individual, believed to be in a playful manner, Halm said. The cat is being quarantined at New Canaan Veterinary Hospital, she said.

Animals

Einstein bunny Peter Lyon Darien Nature Center sponsor an animal

Give Your Graduate a Gift to Remember: Sponsor an Animal at Darien Nature Center

By DARIENITE.COM | June 6, 2018

Graduation season can be a challenging time for thoughtful gift givers — how do you mark such an achievement with creativity and meaning? Here’s one way: Consider sponsoring an animal at the Darien Nature Center in honor of your graduate. Honorees receive a congratulatory email announcing your unique gift, mail updates about their adopted pet, are invited to schedule one-on-one playtime, and are recognized with signage in the Nature Center Zoo Room. — an announcement from Darien Nature Center
“It is a gift that shows social consciousness and celebrates the graduate’s love for the natural world,” said Nature Center Executive Director Leila Wetmore. Alicia Lyon of Darien recently sponsored an animal in her son Peter’s name.

Animals

New Canaan Police Department patrol car in Darien

Police: Darien Dog Poop Perp Brought to Justice in New Canaan With Video

By MICHAEL DINAN | May 11, 2018

Police on Wednesday fined a Darien man $136 after he was caught on video flinging his dog’s poop under a set of bleachers at Waveny Park. At about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, the man could be seen walking his leashed Springer spaniel at Waveny on the large soccer and softball fields, according to police. ____________

— This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com. ____________

He was carrying what looked like a child’s snow shovel and could be seen scooping up after his dog and then tossing the waste under a set of bleachers alongside one of the fields, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. The videographer — a local woman — caught the man’s license plate, and when police tracked down and confronted him, he was apologetic and confessed, Halm said.

Animals

Mountain Lion via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Radio-collared_Mountain_Lion.jpg

Credible Report of Mountain Lion About a Mile from Darien Border, New Canaan Police Say

By MICHAEL DINAN | April 27, 2018

New Canaan police say they received a credible report Thursday of a mountain lion sighting on Marvin Ridge Road, which is about a mile northeast of the northeast corner of Darien. The 7:30 a.m. sighting of the cougar crossing a backyard comes about three months after the last one and just a few houses away, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. ___________

— This article originally was published by NewCanaanite.com. The sidebar below has been added by Darienite.com. ___________

Halm is calling for all homeowners in the area of 250 Marvin Ridge Road above Nursery Road to check surveillance cameras so that police can get at least one visual confirmation.

Animals

Maritime Aquarium Sleepover Family 2018

Sleep With the Fishes and More at Maritime Aquarium Friday to Saturday

By Darienite.com Staff | April 4, 2018

You can sleep with the fishes — and the sharks, sea turtles, jellies and other creatures — on Friday, April 6 during a fun “Family Sleepover” at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. This night of special access is open to children age 5 and older with an accompanying parent or caregiver over age 18.

“‘Family Sleepovers’ let parents share with their children a deeper, more immersive Aquarium experience than is available during a typical visit,” said Aquarium spokesman Dave Sigworth. “Plus, it’s a more memorable, more personal experience because we cap capacity at 100 participants, and those 100 people have the whole Aquarium to themselves.”

______________

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

______________

After check-in at 6 p.m. and a tasty dinner, Aquarium educators fill the evening with a fun- and fact-filled behind-the-scenes tour, an IMAX® movie, snacks and more. “Lights out” is at 10:30 p.m. Participants sleep in sleeping bags (BYOSB) throughout the Aquarium galleries.

Animals

Francis Bruno mug shot

Darien Police Dog Kenny Helps With Norwalk Drug Search

By David Gurliacci | March 16, 2018

After Norwalk police saw a 38-year-old man selling drugs, then saw him commit several motor vehicle violations, they stopped him and, with the help of Darien K-9 Kenny, found 48 small bags of cocaine in his car, Norwalk police said. Norwalk police gave this further account of what happened, including accusations not proven in court:

A surveillance operation was conducted the night of March 15 in the area of Taylor Avenue in Norwalk, when they saw Francis Bruno selling drugs. After Bruno got in his car and drove away, police stopped it in a parking lot at 497 Connecticut Ave. That’s when Norwalk police were visited by Darien police dog Kenny and his canine officer. Kenny indicated the presence of a narcotic owner in the vehicle, which was searched and yielded 24 grams of cocaine in powder form, packaged in 48 separate bags, each with 1.15 or 3.7 grams of the narcotic.

Animals

Maxie lost Wheaten Terrier

UPDATE: FOUND! [Have You Seen Maxie? Last Spotted Friday]

By David Gurliacci | March 10, 2018

Update: 5:49 p.m. — Maxie has been found. “Thanks to all the wonderful people in Darien Maxie was returned to us safe and sound this afternoon!,” her owner, Susan Wilson said in a Facebook comment. “A huge thanks to Jim Metzger for finding Maxie and loving her until we got there,” she wrote in another comment late Saturday afternoon. Original article:

Maxie, a 10-year-old white Wheaten Terrier, has been missing since Friday afternoon. She was last seen in the area of Ox Ridge Hunt Club at the intersection of Ox Ridge Lane and Middlesex Road.

Animals

Terrence Burns arrest Animal Cruelty Darien PD 10-12-17

Darien Man Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty, Gets Suspended Prison Sentence

By David Gurliacci | March 9, 2018

The Darien man charged with animal cruelty after a golden retriever died while in the care of his pet boarding business entered a guilty plea Friday and was given a suspended jail sentence and put on probation for two years. Terry Burns, 44, was also fined and agreed to donate $1,000 to a humane society. Part of the conditions of his probation are to not work in any job with animals or with the treatment or care of animals. He also will be evaluated by a psychiatrist or psychologist. The father of two young children apologized in court to the New Canaan woman who owned the retriever.

Animals

MTA police dogs

13 MTA Police Canines Get Explosives, Anti-Terrorism Training

By David Gurliacci | February 16, 2018

Thirteen canines and their handlers, Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officers, graduated from the MTA Police Department’s explosives detection and anti-terrorism training at a ceremony held in late January at Grand Central Terminal. ___________

— This article is a version of one in the MTA “Mileposts” newsletter. ___________
Most of the dogs are young German Shepherds and Belgian Shepherd mixes. A dog’s sense of smell is 3,000 to 5,000 times stronger than the human nose, which comes in handy for following scents untraceable by humans. Each canine forms a deep, emotional bond with his or her police partner.

Animals

Mimi Gammill Betsy Animal Cruelty Case Terry's House of Pets

‘My Sweet Girl Was Truly Special’: Woman’s Court Statement on Puppy Killed in Darien Man’s Care

By MICHAEL DINAN | February 5, 2018

A New Canaan woman in a forceful statement on her experience last summer of learning that her 13-month-old puppy had died in the care of a Darien man found by police to be operating an non-registered kennel is pushing for justice officials to deny him a special form of parole. Burns, owner of the now-shuttered Terry’s House of Pets, requests that he be denied “accelerated rehabilitation” or ‘AR’ in order to send a message “there are severe consequences” for mistreating animals. “My heart is broken after losing my Betsy but Mr. Burns’ crimes are much bigger than just her death and the consequences he must face should reflect that,” Gammill wrote in her statement, published in full below. ____________

— This article previously was published by NewCanaanite.com. ____________

Burns appeared in state Superior Court in Stamford on Friday in connection with an animal cruelty charge brought by Darien Police in October.

Animals

Mountain Lion via Wikimedia Commons via Flickr https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Radio-collared_Mountain_Lion.jpg

You Don’t Like Canada Geese? New Canaan Seems to Have a Mountain Lion

By MICHAEL DINAN | January 30, 2018

Town officials said on Monday that they received a credible report of a mountain lion sighting in New Canaan earlier this month. And not far from Darien. The Jan. 16 sighting on the eastern end of Nursery Road (just north of the Merritt Parkway and about a mile from the northeast corner of Darien) came in from a man who described a tail three feet long — a physical characteristic that distinguishes the cougar from smaller felines, such as bobcats — and saw the animal directly in front of his car. ____________

— This article previously was published by NewCanaanite.com.

Animals

Lost Dog Rachel Nusslein family

Remains of Miniature Pinscher Found — Was Missing in Northern Darien Since Early December

By David Gurliacci | January 17, 2018

The body of Rachel, a miniature pinscher missing from a home at Hollow Tree Ridge and Crooked Mile roads since Dec. 3, was found on Saturday by a neighbor on Sherry Lane, about 1,400 feet to the north, the dog’s owner said. Rachel

“We feel blessed to have her body returned home,” Paula Nusslein said in an email. “I know many people never find their pets. The idea of never knowing what happened to them is haunting. She will be cremated and we will spread her ashes.”

Events Calendar