Town debates if strays need new shelter home
NEW CANAAN — Questions had been raised about the suitability of the New Canaan Animal Shelter before it became the temporary home for five puppies seized from a home on Butler Lane owned by Catherine “Cassie” Palmer, a Greenwich resident, after she was arrested on three counts of animal cruelty.
The Police Commission discussed alternatives and the viability of the shelter, which is located in an old incinerator building at 139 Lakeview Ave. On Feb. 17, First Selectman Kevin Moynihan asked the department to consider it.
The 800-square-foot animal shelter at the Transfer Station compound dates to the 1950s and was repurposed in 2008, according to the 2017 Building Evaluation Report.
“It is adequate. It is really a decision that the town and the town’s people want to make, to replace it or find another alternative,” Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm told the commission.
“It can be better and I believe that is what the public wants,” Halm told Hearst Connecticut Media.
Selectman Nick Williams called the shelter “a dump in a dump,” back in October 2019. “I know it is a challenge to find the right spot given that everybody loves animals in town including myself. I think we want to do the right thing with them,” said Police Chief Leon Krolikowski.
He said he was exploring the option of asking local veterinarians for help. Krolilowski gave a summary of activity in the shelter over a three-year span.
An average of 47 animals a year were brought to the facility between 2017 and 2019. During that span, 98% of the animals stayed in the facility for 24 hours or less, the chief said.
This winter, the shelter had more use than usual when 12 puppies were seized after Palmer surrendered to New Canaan Police in November 2020. Police said she was running an illegal pet store.
The dogs included two adult dogs, five near-newborns and five older puppies from different litters. The five older puppies were kept at the shelter until Feb. 10, after the courts granted permission that they were to be released to new homes.
“Who knew a neglect case could actually exist in New Canaan?” Halm asked.
They were cared for well at the shelter, Selectman Kathleen Corbet told Hearst.
“Those dogs were treated with tremendous care and compassion by our New Canaan Police Animal Control and many wonderful volunteers,” Corbet said.
The dogs were cared for by animal control and volunteers, including members of the Community Emergency Response Team, taking shifts from early morning to late evening, Halm said.
Krolikowki said he spoke with a local veterinarian to see if the town could board animals in his facility if needed, but did not think it was appropriate to share details. He did, however, say that the veterinarian proposed a “very reasonable per diem.”
“I don’t have a final number. I can’t discuss that until I get something in writing. But that could be an option if the shelter isn’t working for us,” the chief said “Other communities have different ways that they impound animals. Darien I believe uses an animal hospital and other communities have their own shelter that might be more up to date than our is.”
“Since 98 percent of the time the animals are at the facility 24 hours or less, do you think this shelter is inadequate for the little time of use this shelter does get?” Chairman of the Police Commission Paul Foley asked.
Krolikowski said that the use of the shelter is adequate, although it is not used for long periods of time or consistently. He said there is room for improvement.
“I would suggest we continue down that path to get a local vet to shelter and what that would cost,” Foley said. “I am not in favor of going out and spending a lot of money on something that I don’t think is much of a problem we are trying to solve. We certainly want a safe environment for any animal that is there.”