Allyson Halm

Cat Bites South Avenue Man

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A New Canaan man sustained injuries that sent him to the emergency room last month from a cat with a biting history, documents show. The South Avenue resident at about 1:42 p.m. on Oct. 1 (a Saturday) phoned police to report being bitten by a cat known to local authorities as “Link,” according to Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm. The cat had been hanging around the man’s property for several days and “appeared affectionate,” according to an incident report obtained by NewCananite.com through a public records request. At one point the man “began to pet the cat and the cat bit him on the right wrist,” the report continued.

Animal 411

New Canaan Animal Control: Coexisting with Black Bears

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With the recent black bear attack of a 10 year old child in Morris, Conn., New Canaan Animal Control wanted to take this opportunity to restate some of the basic guidelines for coexistence with bears. Black bear sightings are becoming more common in New Canaan year round so the more we know about them the safer we can be. Black bears are the least dangerous bear species in North America, and there have been only 67 fatal attacks by black bear on humans in the last 120 years. They generally avoid interactions with humans and retreat from conflict. An important fact is that a bear’s sense of smell is seven times greater than a bloodhound.

Animal 411

New Canaan Animal Control: Look Out for Increased Deer Activity This Fall

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The head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section is urging residents to be aware of increased wildlife activity this fall. With the mating or “rutting” season approaching, Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm said residents should be aware of deer on the roads and woods. “Keep an eye out for wildlife that is being displaced,” Halm told NewCanaanite.com. “There will be a lot more road crossings, for sure.”

Halm said four deer were spotting crossing Marvin Ridge Road on a recent morning and that “the anxiety level rises in the wildlife” this time of year. 

Part of the reason is that the archery deer-hunting season is underway. 

“There will be hunters in tree stands,” Halm said. The shotgun-rifle-revolver season for deer-hunting on private land runs Nov.

Allyson Halm

Animal Control: Dog Abandoned at Irwin Park Re-Homed; Found Cat Adoptable Next Week [UPDATED]

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Update Sept. 2

The cat impounded earlier in the week has been returned to her family. “Cali” had been missing since July 25, Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm said. Original Story

A young black Labrador retriever mix that appeared to have been dumped in Irwin Park on Aug. 13 is being adopted through a reputable rescue organization, officials say. 

The estimated 3-year-old female dog is “very, very sweet,” according to Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm.

Allyson Halm

Animal Control Roundup: Goose Struck by Car, Dogs Attack Woodchuck

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The Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department last month issued a $136 infraction summons to a Stamford man who has repeatedly allowed his dog to roam off-leash at Waveny. The ticket was finally issued on the morning of July 6, when Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm saw the Rhodesian Ridgeback off-leash again near the area formerly known as the “cornfields.” The man has had multiple warnings in the past, police said. Here are other recent animal-related incidents in New Canaan:

Last Monday, a motor vehicle struck and killed a goose on Pocconock Trail. The call originally came in from a passerby as an injured goose but the animal was dead when police arrived on scene, officials said. The motorist who struck the goose wasn’t the person who contacted authorities. 

A sick raccoon was dispatched recently after trapping itself inside a Metro-North Railroad power grid apparatus off of Pine Street, near the train station downtown.