On January 20th our own Jimmy Gonzalez visited Beardsley school to speak to the children about animal safety, bite prevention, and dealing with wildlife. As always Jimmy had a blast! He will be trying to schedule more visits with the school in the near future. 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO RAY & LISA FROM THE NATURAL PET OUTLET FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS OF FOOD FOR OUR DOGS AND CATS!

3380 Fairfield Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06605 • 203-334-0829

YOUR PETS!!

1. Keep pets away from antifreeze solution, and quickly clean up any antifreeze spills. Antifreeze is deadly even in very small amounts.

2. Do not leave your pets outdoors unattended when the temperature gets below freezing. Pets that are mostly indoors need time to get used to cold temperatures. Watch out for ear tips! They are especially susceptible to frostbite.

3. Short-coated dogs should not go outside without a coat or sweater in very cold weather, except to use the bathroom. Small dogs with short coats are especially vulnerable to cold!!

4. DON'T LAUGH! Some dogs may need boots in freezing weather. If your dog lifts up his paws, whines or stops during its walks, they may be telling you that it's too COLD!

6. If your pet walks on salted sidewalks or streets, be sure to wash his paws after your walk. Salt is very irritating to footpads. KEEP THEIR PAWS CLEAN!!!!

7. Many animals are less active during the winter, and don't as many calories as in the warmer months. Reduce your pet's diet during the winter, to avoid excessive weight gain. Consult with your veterinarian about the right winter food portions.

8. Many cats prefer to spend their winter days indoors; but be careful if your cat likes being outside. Don't let it out in freezing weather, and be sure they have a warm place to go if it does spend a lot of time outdoors. If you can just keep them inside!!!!

9. Dog houses MUST have straw inside (make sure you replace it if it gets too wet) and there should be a cover on the entrance to prevent wind from getting in. Check the dog house for water leaks. IF the temperature gets too coldjust bring them inside.

               NOT A DOG HOUSE                                         DOG HOUSE

10. Check water bowls for FROZEN water do not use metal bowls but even if you use a plastic bowl water can still freeze!!

11. Watch when turning on your engine's during the winter months. Animals will sometimes crawl up inside your warm engine to keep out of the COLD!

                                   TREAT YOUR PET WITH RESPECT!

Sometimes common sense is not so common.

PSA time again....Take a listen!

3 to choose from.

On August 12,2011 Jimmy and Crew trekked up the hills of Camp Aspetuck to speak the Girl Scouts about Animal safety, the responsibilities of owning a pet, and dealing with wildlife. The group of girls that we met were truly brilliant. I honestly could not believe how well-mannered and courteous each and every girl was. The staff was very welcoming and professional. 

On May 14th 2011, Chief Animal Control Officer Jimmy Gonzalez as a member of the CTSART team was asked to volunteer for the ASPCA in Memphis, TN. The ASPCA disaster response team assisted in Tennessee and worked with the Memphis Animal Services and the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County to establish an emergency shelter to prepare for severe flooding. Jimmy was also asked to assist the ASPCA in Pemiscot County, Mo., to assist with the sheltering of hundreds of displaced animals because of flooding. While on deployment Jimmy also assisted the ASPCA Field Services team in three different states to assist in the operation of emergency animal shelters to over nine hundred animals. Jimmy completed an assessment of damage from a Tornado impact area and prepared and was deployed as a dual target field rescue team that completed three mission assignments in under 12 hours in two states.

On June 11th 2011 Chief ACO Jimmy Gonzalez was asked by the ASPCA to assist in Joplin, MO. On May 23, the ASPCA deployed to Missouri to lead emergency sheltering efforts of animals displaced by the tornado. Working closely with the Joplin Humane Society, nearly 850 animals have since been rescued—with more than 200 beloved pets reunited with their families.

MAY GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE OF JOPLIN.

Lillian Millemaci Andersen, age 77, of Bridgeport, passed away on October 19, 2010 at St. Vincent's Medical Center. Her memory will be cherished.

Thank you Lillian! We will never forget you!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

Drop by the shelter and pick up one of these posters which was recently designed by Jimmy Gonzalez. We are looking for people to volunteer their time by posting these up in locations where people will view them. Please understand that they weren't cheap to make so they should be posted at places where they will make a difference. We are looking for bulletin boards at supermarkets or offices, schools, etc. They are 11x17, so they are a nice size. The dog in the box is real!! He was abandoned at the old shelter wrapped in this box. Turns out he had a severed spine and had to be put down.

Jimmy chose this picture because it truly moved him. He had been carrying this picture on his phone for years of a reminder of how thoughtless and careless people could be. We aren't just looking for potential adopters but "GOOD, CARING, & RESPONSIBLE ADOPTERS!!"

On Wednesday January the 27th at 7pm we were once again invited on "Lillian's Corner" on Public access Channel 88 (Channel 77 in other local towns). It was a little more serious than our first show and quite a bit more informative. Thank you to Lillian Anderson and to Francisco & Ricky for doing all the prep work.

Thank you to Lillian Anderson,Ricky Mestre, & to all of the staff that made us feel so comfortable.

  

Lillian & Melissa  

WICC 600 &

BPT ANIMAL CONTROL?

Chief ACO Jimmy Gonzalez recently recorded some PSA's (Public Service Announcement's) at WICC 600. To hear one of them click on the link.

PSA 1 

PSA 2

PSA 3

PSA 4

         Back 2 School !!

Our school tours have been very fun and a total success!

 
This morning (2/24/10) Chief ACO Jimmy Gonzalez was invited to speak at Cesar Batalla School to the 1st and 2nd grade which surprisingly consisted of about 250 students. The topic was "Bite Safety" It was a lot of fun for the sutdents and for the Jimmy.

 (check out pics at Memories 3 )

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We also had the pleasure of welcoming a visit from Bassick High students and Harding High students together to check out the animals and to talk about animal safety & awareness.

(check out pics at memories 2)

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On October 21st Melissa Kuian and myself had the pleasure of speaking in front of the 8th Grade and Kindergarten class at Read School. I really had a blast talking to these kids. They were well behaved and very receptive to our Animal safety and care presentation. For Pics Check out Photos on our Memories 2 link (Scroll down about half way)

We would like to Thank Anne Curcio and her students from Bassick High School for coming by today for a tour of the shelter. It was truly a pleasure to have them visit! To see photos of their visit. Please check out our Memories 2 link on the left.

We wanted to Thank Westlund Auto Body for letting us place our new banner on there fence.  

          We're on NPR!! LISTEN! 

   (click on logo)

Once-stray pooch has new job as therapist

     Of all their many traits, dogs are perhaps most appreciated for their attribute of giving unconditional love. Some canines, however, are more openly affectionate than others, and one stray found wandering along Bridgeport's Boston Avenue was especially demonstrative in showering others with true puppy love. Now, the dog, known as RC, has a full-time job doing what he loves best at the Brighton Gardens assisted-living facility just off Long Ridge Road in Stamford. RC is a medium-sized, 6-year-old pooch, and based on his appearance, it's been awhile since anyone in his lineage has had AKC papers. No one knows what "RC" stands for. "If he were a little dog, the residents might fall over bending over in their chairs to pet him," said Marcy Puklin, a geriatric care manager at Brighton Gardens. "He's also sufficiently large so that people won't trip over him." RC patrols the halls and common areas where most needy clients reside, in what is known as its Reminiscence Neighborhood. They are in the winter of their lives, their memories in bits and pieces. "Some of the residents have really adopted RC, and they really think that he's their dog," said Natalie Cohen, a staff member. "We had this one guy, Frank, who was really grouchy and withdrawn, but since RC arrived, he's a new person. I've really seen a change in the residents Puklin and her friend, Julie Loparo of Westport, a volunteer at the Westport animal shelter, found RC at the Bridgeport animal shelter after searching shelters in Stamford and Westport for a new therapy dog to take up residence at the facility. They're quick to recommend animal shelters to families in the market for a dog. Many of the dogs up for adoption, they note, are house-trained, and RC even had a repertoire of a few tricks. He'll shake hands, sit, stay and lie down on command. He still needs to work on the instruction for "roll over," though -- he stops at the half-way point and begs for a belly rub. "He's a nice, sweet dog," said Brighton Gardens resident Florence Bronk. "He's wonderful, you couldn't ask for a better dog," said Frank Richert, another resident.  "The shelters are just filled with great dogs," Loparo said. "Therapy dogs in elder-care facilities have become a nationwide trend. A lot of the residents grew up with dogs, and when they see RC, it's like they're kids again." "He's not afraid of walkers and wheelchairs," Puklin said. "He's really well- behaved, too. He knows not to enter the dining room while they're eating. From day one, he knew where the doors were." She also said that RC remains calm when the Alzheimer's and dementia patients become agitated, as can happen from time to time. Both RC and Brighton Gardens' other therapy dog, Benjie, a male, chocolate Shar-Pei, have short hair, so allergies have not been a problem. "RC was in the shelter from the middle of October until we pulled him out in January," Puklin said. "He's a awesome dog. He's even better than I expected him to be. He was just sitting there everyone passing by, and the staffed loved him. But it was a municipal shelter -- what could they do?"  A flyer on the Bridgeport shelter's bulletin board said that RC was "the best dog in the world" and that he was the staff's favorite canine. But because he was older, large and a little overweight, no one wanted him. RC, along with Benjie, stay at Brighton Gardens full time. Benjie is a orphan from a busy corporate couple who's travel schedule made it impossible for them to keep the animal at home. Ed See, the Brighton Gardens executive director, brought him to the facility as its first therapy dog in early 2008. "We had one gentleman who sat by the fireplace all the time ---- wouldn't speak to anyone," See said. "After the dogs came, well, he's like a little kid again." 

Bridgeport Animal Control thanks A Hand For A Paw for providing us with fundraising bracelets. Be the first on your block to ROCK one of these!! Only a $3.00 donation!!