Allyson Halm

Baby Goose Plunges to Death at Transfer Station

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A baby goose fell or leapt to its death at the Transfer Station last week, after hatching in an undetected nest on top of a former incinerator building there, officials say. Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm and New Canaan firefighters responded to the Lakeview Avenue facility shortly after 12 p.m. Friday, when a deceased gosling appeared just outside the structure. Asked about the incident, Halm said the father goose could be seen nearby with two goslings that survived the jump down under his wing. Town officials had not been aware that Canada geese were nesting atop the building, Halm said. “I was suspicious that they were up there, but it was so high, I didn’t think it was possible,” she said.

Animal 411

Dog Bites Child on Elm Street

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A local dog bit a juvenile on Elm Street on a recent afternoon, prompting authorities to issue a 10-day quarantine for the animal, records show. At about 4:45 p.m. on March 31 (a Friday), a curly brown-haired dog lunged as two kids ran by a man walking up Elm Street, according to an incident report obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. Shortly after the incident, the juvenile discovered that they’d been bit, drawing New Canaan Emergency Medical Services and police to the scene, the incident report said. It wasn’t clear at the time whether the dog in question was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination, according to the incident report, written by NCPD Officer Rodger Hamilton. The juvenile’s family declined medical treatment, the report said.

Animal 411

PHOTOS: Dog Days 2023 at Nature Center

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Hundreds of dog lovers visited the New Canaan Nature Center on Sunday for what has grown into one of the community’s favorite annual events. Dog Days New Canaan, sponsored and organized by Pet Pantry Warehouse, was held on a clear, warm day on the grass field next to the Visitors Center. “Absolutely fantastic today,” Ari Jacobson, vice president of Pet Pantry said as hundreds of dog owners leash-walked their four-legged companions through the activity-filled field. “Couldn’t have asked for a better day with the weather. New Canaan Nature Center is hosting us again.

Allyson Halm

Animal Control: Officials Rescue Goose Entangled in Fishing Line [PHOTOS, VIDEO] 

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Following the rescue of a Canada goose this week, the head of New Canaan Animal Control is urging residents who fish to make sure they’re not leaving fishing line around ponds. 

With invaluable help from Chris Santopietro of Geese Relief, New Canaan Control Officer Allyson Halm said a goose that had become entangled in a line during the April 15 fishing derby at Mill Pond—and was unable to fly as a result—finally was secured on Tuesday on a nearby property. Officials were able to free the goose of the fishing line and the bird flew away on its own (see video above), fortunately uninjured, Halm said. “We know this is a very well-attended and important event but we do want to emplhasize that fishing line is one of the serious killers for our widlife that reside around ponds,” Halm said. She added, “The officials that organize the event are conscientious and they were aware of the goose that got hooked at the derby. They tried to free it but the line snapped.”

Halm said that over the following 10 days, she received several calls from concerned residents about the goose with a fishing lure visibly stuck to it.

Allyson Halm

New Canaan Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm To Retire

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The head of Animal Control in New Canaan for the past eight years, Officer Allyson Halm, is set to retire this summer, officials say. The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved the hiring of Sean Godejohn as her successor in the New Canaan Police Department position. A graduate of Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury, Godejohn holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Naugatuck Valley Community College, according to his resume. He’s worked since 2015 as animal control officer for East Haven, and did the same job in Waterbury before that, his resume said. Halm is to remain in her position during a transition period, she said, and will retire around mid-July. 

Asked how she’s feeling about that prospect, Halm said, “I am working on it.