On Sunday, New Canaan will see hundreds of town residents and their dogs descend on a cordoned-off portion Cherry Street for an annual, grassroots community event that organizers say is designed to celebrate our unconditional love for four-legged family members.
New Canaan Dog Days—presented by our town’s owner-on-site pet store, Village Critter Outfitter, and local business Aetheria Relaxation Spa, both on Cherry Street—runs 12 to 3 p.m. on June 8.
Hello ultra-comfy Max, a Bichon who was adopted (owner surrender) at 9 months old by Village Critter Outfitter owner Shirleen Dubuque. “He is 16 1/2 years old and still going strong,” she says. Contributed photo
It benefits a pair of animal-focused nonprofits: STARelief, which provides life-saving pet food, veterinary care and medications to families in need with the goal of keeping pets out of shelters and in their homes; and PAWS, which rescues dogs and cats, offers shelter, takes care of medical issues and provides adoption services.
Locally based event sponsors include New Canaan Veterinary Hospital, Bankwell, Fern’s Pet & House Sitting and NewCanaanite.com.
From 2013 New Canaan Dog Days, presented by Village Critter Outfitter and Aetheria Relaxation Spa, both on Cherry Street. Contributed
To preview the event, we connected with Fern Pessin, who produces it, as well as Shirleen Dubuque, owner (and owner-on-site) of Village Critter Outfitter and Beth McCarthy of Aetheria Relaxation Spa. We talked about its history, her own personal pet history and what attendees can expect this weekend as well as what locals can do to support it.
Here’s our exchange—the final note I’ll include here is that other than the photo of Fern herself, the shots are of Dubuque’s own pets, as you’ll see from the caption info. We look forward to seeing you Sunday.
New Canaanite: Let’s hear about you a little bit. Shirleen was kind enough to give us some info once about her own pet history. Talk to us about yours. How many pets do you have? What are they? What about growing up? We animal people can’t get enough of this stuff, so don’t hold back.
Fern Pessin
Fern: I grew up with a beagle/German shepherd mutt and had an adopted Lhasa Apso for seven years as an adult. I am now a pet sitter and spend my days and nights in other people’s homes watching their pets. I’ve sat for dogs, cats, chickens and fish! I have a blog where I share my “Adventures in Pet Sitting.”
Talk to me a little about the history of New Canaan Dog Days. How many years has it been running, how did it start and what has year-over-year participation looked like?
Oreo, one of Village Critter Outfitter owner Shirleen Dubuque’s several rescued pets.
Fern: This is the fifth New Canaan Dog Days. Beth McCarthy of Aetheria Relaxation Spa and Shirleen Dubuque of Village Critter Outfitter, both New Canaan retailers, established New Canaan Dog Days in 2009 as an annual family-friendly “FUN-raiser” to raise awareness and much-needed donations for local animal charities.
Shirleen: New Canaan Dog Days is—in essence—a celebration of the unconditional love our four-legged family members contribute to the lives of their human companions. We feature exhibitors offering an array of information about the care of your pets, fun contests and activities, a cooling station to keep your pet hydrated, and new and exciting features each year.
Duke the Airedale, who was rescued from the Stamford pound at about 2 years old. Duke is now 11 years old, says Shirleen Dubuque, owner of Village Critter Outfitter on Cherry Street in New Canaan. Contributed photo
I love the categories of events, and I see we’ll all be treated to a pet/human fashion contest. This is the kind of thing that we “dog people” just love to do, the kind of thing that connects us with our pets and with each other as a pet-loving community. And we have a big one here. What is it about New Canaanites and dogs? How would you characterize the way the residents of our town feel or care about dogs?
Fern: I believe New Canaan is a family oriented community and our pets are as much a part of the family as are children and parents! Healthy food, preventive medical care, eco-friendly products, comfortable beds and blankets and toys that amuse and keep a pet’s mind challenged would describe most homes with pets in the area.
Shirleen Dubuque, an on-site owner at Village Critter Outfitter on Cherry Street in New Canaan.
PAWS and STARelief are both beneficiaries of the event, and I’ll include information on them in this write-up. Talk to me about your fundraising goals for this year through New Canaan Dog Days and about some ways that dog-lovers in New Canaan can help support the cause.
Fern: There is no actual cash number we are trying to reach but each year we try to outdo the previous year. While this year is no different in that way, we added a pet food and supply drive to help the beneficiary non-profits with needs their constituents have for which they would normally have to allocate hard earned funds. If we can collect items that the pets need, then the funds the non-profits raise can be used to pay for medical services and other critical needs.
New Canaan Veterinary Hospital with well-loved Señor, the Chihuahua puppy found abandoned in downtown New Canaan two months ago. Though he’s been adopted out to a local family, he remains at the Vitti Street facility for daycare. You cay say “Hello” to Señor on Sunday, June 8 from 12 to 3 p.m. at the New Canaan Dog Days. He’ll be at the vet hospital’s booth. Credit: Michael Dinan
Many of us are looking forward to saying “Hi” to Señor, the hard-luck Chihuahua who has found a loving home with a lot of help and support from New Canaan Veterinary Hospital. What are some other major highlights that attendees can expect to find at the event? For people who are on the fence about whether to go—and just by the way, it’s meant to be an absolutely gorgeous day—what’s the one thing you want them to know they’d be missing if they missed New Canaan Dog Days this year?
Fern: Bandilane will be doing an agility and obstacle course demonstration with one of their trained clients. Many people look forward to seeing the Great Danes that attend. We have lots and lots of Golden Retrievers and little dogs. Bully Breed Rescue, Greyhound Rescue and CT Humane Society will be in attendance in addition to PAWS with some of their adoptables and STARelief.