Animal 411

New Canaan Police: 50 Bobcat Sightings in 2024

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New Canaan Police say they received 50 reported sightings of bobcats in 2024, down from 66 in 2023 though that’s likely just because residents are growing more accustomed to seeing the normally reclusive felines. Another bobcat sighting, on Lambert Road, came in on Tuesday. Animal Control Officer Sean Godejohn said residents shouldn’t approach the animals. They are naturally wary of people “and pose little threat to public safety or health,” according to Godejohn. 

Bobcats are a top-predator in Connecticut that feeds on rabbits, woodchucks, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, voles, white-tailed deer and birds—and sometimes unsupervised domestic animals such as small livestock and poultry, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Godejohn noted that “unprotected pets and livestock” are at risk with a recent rise in reported sightings.

Animal 411

Police: Stolen Bulldog ‘Poppy’ Safely Returned to New Canaan Family

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Police confirmed Tuesday that the dog left inside an SUV stolen Feb. 2 from downtown New Canaan has been returned. Poppy, a 2-year-old French bulldog, “has been found and safely reunited with her owner,” according to a press bulletin issued by New Canaan Police Lt. Marc DeFelice, the department’s public information officer. The Range Rover, left running with the dog inside, was stolen around midday that Sunday from Main Street near East Avenue, police have said. The vehicle is still missing, DeFelice confirmed. 

It isn’t clear just how Poppy was found.

Animal 411

Dog Quarantined, Returned to Rescue After Biting Incident

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A Hickok Road mixed-breed bulldog underwent a 10-day quarantine at home last week after attacking another dog in the neighborhood. The aggressor dog, Winnie, escaped her residence on the afternoon of Jan. 15 (a Wednesday) and attacked a black Labrador retriever, causing lacerations to one ear and a leg, according to an incident report obtained through a public records request. 

She “was bitten multiple times all over and required stitches,” according to the report, written in part by Officer Carlos Prado and in part by Animal Control Officer Sean Godejohn. She underwent care at Cannondale Animal Clinic. The victim dog’s owner also was bitten on his right hand during the altercation, which required bandaging but not medical care, the report said.

Animal 411

New Canaan Dogs Quarantined After Biting Delivery Man

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Two New Canaan dogs are undergoing quarantine after biting a delivery man on Cheese Spring Road last week. On the morning of Dec. 2, New Canaan Police received a call from a Yonkers, N.Y. man saying that at about 4:45 p.m. the prior day (a Sunday) he’d been bit on Cheese Spring at Knollwood Lane. He was making a delivery when “two dogs bit him on both his legs,” according to an incident report obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. The delivery man went to the Norwalk Hospital ER for treatment, according to the report, written by Animal Control Officer Sean Godejohn.

Animal 411

New Canaan Animal Control Frees Hawk Snagged in Chicken Coop [PHOTOS]

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Police on Wednesday night freed a red-tailed hawk that had become stuck in a southeastern New Canaan chicken coop. Authorities were notified of the problem on Buttery Road at about 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 20, according to Officer Sean Godejohn, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. “The hawk presumably flew into the coop to get a chicken and got stuck,” Godejohn said. The bird was not injured, he said.