The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
After owner dies in Sherman fire, community finds homes for 20 animals
SHERMAN — A September fire left 20 animals — 19 dogs and a chicken — without a home. Their owner, 76-yearold Richard Genalski, was killed in the fire.
Taking in that many animals and finding new homes for them promised to be a challenge for the Regional Animal Control in New Milford. But the situation was complicated by the condition of the animals.
“The dogs were tied up outside all over the yard and under stuff, and it was a real terrible situation for the animals,” said Curtis Read, the Bridgewater first selectman and chairman of the Regional Animal Control. He added that a lot of the dogs “were starving and hungry.”
In a communitywide effort, with the help of multiple organizations and individuals, as of Dec. 8 all 19 dogs — and the chicken — have been placed with rescue groups or found permanent homes. The last to be placed was Jasper, a brown and white coonhound, described as “lovable but rough around the edges.”
Gina Gambino, an officer
with Regional Animal Control, said the dogs’ path to adoption was “tough.”
“This was one of the biggest cases of placement that the organization has handled in quite awhile,” she added.
Organizations involved with the rescue and funding for the care of the dogs, which were mostly coonhounds, included the Connecticut Humane Society in Newington, the Animal Welfare Society of New Milford, the New Fairfield-Sherman Animal Welfare Society, and Northeast Coonhound Rescue.
The chicken was placed by Gambino’s friend who has a farm.
While being cared for, the dogs were given services such as spaying, neutering, dental treatment and parasite testing. Some that came into care with existing conditions had surgeries.
“They had to be treated before they were released for adoption,” Gambino said.
Jasper is now in foster care through Northeast Coonhound Rescue in Massachusetts. Gambino said because Jasper was “the toughest case, he really tugged at my heartstrings.” Gambino said it’s very common for people who work with Northeast Coonhound Rescue to expect those dogs to come from rough and “outdoor tie-out situations.”
Placing Jasper with this organization “was probably the best medicine, the best remedy and the best avenue for him, so we really did open up new avenues in the shelter by reaching out to a group that was so closely appropriate for him.”