Animal 411

Abandoned Puppy ‘Ruby’ Is Adopted Out of New Canaan Animal Control

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The Vizsla-pit bull mix puppy found abandoned on the side of the Merritt Parkway earlier this month has been adopted by a Trumbull man who works in town, officials say. ‘Ruby,’ as the approximately 6-month-old female was named by the New Canaan Police Department Animal Control unit, was spayed Wednesday and soon will go live with her forever home, a family with four kids, according to Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt. Asked what it was like when Ruby met her new dad, Kleinschmitt said: “She loves him. Loves him. She didn’t want to leave him.”

The kids have been down to the shelter to meet Ruby, and she’ll head home with the new family on either Saturday or Sunday, Kleinschmitt said.

Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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Planning officials on Tuesday night approved the site plan for a proposed new Post Office on Locust Avenue. Following concerns about traffic circulation around the proposed structure at 18-26 Locust Ave., the applicant updated the site plan so that one-way traffic comes in from the east side of the building and goes out on the west side. Conditions of the Planning & Zoning Commission’s approval include changes to lighting in front of the proposed building and looking into ways to create more parking spaces than the 27 currently approved (some nine of which would serve Post Office customers, officials say). It isn’t clear just when construction would start on a new building—the Post Office has sent a 10-year lease to the project’s developer that now is under review. ***

Congratulations to NCHS trainer Diane Murphy on being recognized by the Connecticut Athletic Trainers Association as “Secondary School Athletic Trainer of the Year” 2015.

Animal 411

New Canaan and State Police Rescue Abandoned Puppy on Merritt Parkway

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Police on Thursday rescued a female Vizsla-pit bull mix puppy from the side of the Merritt Parkway after the animal apparently had been abandoned there. The puppy, who is estimated to be about five or sixth months old, was spotted at about 11:13 a.m. on May 14 on the wrong side of the guardrail in the southbound lane, just south of the Exit 37 overpass, according to Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt. “She could have turned around and went other way,” Kleinschmitt said of the dog that Animal Control officers have named ‘Ruby’ because of her red coloring. “She is a doll,” Kleinschmitt said. If the puppy goes unclaimed—and nobody has reported a missing dog yet that fits Ruby’s description—then she will become property of NCPD and will be show-able to prospective owners toward the end of next week, after undergoing vaccinations.

Animal 411

Owner of Dog Who Attacked Woman at Waveny Appeals Restraining Order on Animal

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The owner of a Darien dog on whom New Canaan’s animal control officer put a restraining order after the German Shepherd bit a woman in Waveny is appealing the order, officials say. The bite occurred last June, when on a back trail of the public park, a the dog lunged at, latched onto and tore open a New Canaan woman’s arm as she walked past, according to a police report. Under the terms of a restraining order immediately put into place, the dog is required to wear a muzzle whenever it’s off-property, to be leashed with nothing longer than a 6-foot leash and to stay at least 10 feet away from humans, according to Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt. In addition, the dog—seven months old at the time of the attack—is required to stay in the state, Kleinschmitt said. The victim suffered 3-inch tears on her upper arm and forearm, as well as abrasions and bruises, police have said.

Animal 411

Dog-on-Dog Attack on Avalon Drive West; Deceased Cat on 106

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Police say a Rottweiler-mixed breed dog ran out of its Lakeview Avenue condominium last weekend and attacked a poodle. The Rottie mix at about 12:02 p.m. on April 26 had been sitting inside on a couch and the door was open because the Avalon Drive West unit was having some work done following water damage, according to Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt. The poodle, also a mixed breed, was being walked by its owner, who also lives in the complex, when it was set upon by the Rottie, according to a police report. Both dogs are up-to-date on their shots, police said, though the Rottie had not up to that point been licensed with the town. Since the attack occurred on community property at Avalon, the Rottie that got out cannot be considered “roaming” (an infraction offense), police said.