Charity helps elderly care for pets during coronavirus crisis

NEWTOWN — It was bad timing when 74-yearold Milton Williams’ beloved dog, Sugar, developed trouble breathing.

Not only was Williams struggling to pay for surgery to repair Sugar’s collapsed trachea, but Williams had no way to transport her to the veterinarian. The coronavirus crisis had rendered the Danbury man homebound.

“My dog is my pride and joy. She is my life,” Williams said. “If I didn’t have her, I don’t know what I would do.”

Then Williams heard from other seniors about a Newtown charity that helps the elderly who are struggling to care for their pets with donations of pet food and veterinary care.

The charity, founded to perpetuate the animalloving spirit of slain Sandy

Hook first-grader Catherine Violet Hubbard, stepped in to pay for Sugar’s veterinary bills and dog food.

The girl’s mother, Jennifer Hubbard, is the executive director of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, which runs animal stewardship programs on a 34-acre site in Newtown.

“We’re humbled our

support is offering comfort during this time of uncertainty,” Hubbard said in a news release. “(It) will remain steadfast in providing assistance for as long as needed to keep our most vulnerable safe at home with their

beloved pets.”

The charity, which is raising $10 million to build a veterinary clinic and a multipurpose education house on the sanctuary grounds, has donated 14,000 pet food meals to seniors in need as part of

its Senior Paw Project.

The charity has also donated 3,800 pounds of pet food, to Bethel Community Food Pantry, FAITH Food Pantry of Newtown, Jericho Partnership in Danbury, New Milford Social Services,

Greenwich Housing Authority, Nunnawalk Meadows, Newtown Social Services and Danbury Housing Authority, according to a release.