Animal 411

‘He’s Eating Well’: New Canaan’s Pet Pantry Feeds NCPD K-9 Dog Apollo

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Since the New Canaan Police Department acquired its new K-9, Apollo, one year ago, and especially since the German shepherd dog started working at the July 4 Waveny fireworks, the animal has assisted in drug arrests, pursued burglars, trawled the high school for narcotics and searched for missing people. The dog works up a healthy appetite doing all that work, and requires a nourishing, nutritious diet to stay sharp, according to K-9 Officer David Rivera. And since Apollo started in the job, his food has been 100 percent provided for by a local business: Pet Pantry on Grove Street. “It’s very convenient. It’s awesome,” Rivera said from outside the business on Monday that he visits regularly to pick up Apollo’s Orijen-brand food.

Business

Pet Valu To Open on Forest Street

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Pet food, treats, toys and accessories provider Pet Valu is planning to open in the new retail-and-residential development ‘Heritage Square’ that’s taking shape on Forest Street, officials say. The business is the second of two retail shops, together with Embody, that will fill out the street-level at the development, and is slated for an opening in the late spring or early fall, according to Pet Valu Marketing Manager Ally Homa. (The two shops will share more than 30 parking spots between them.)

Pet Valu will become the second pet store to operate in New Canaan, together with Pet Pantry on Grove Street. We had a chance to put some questions to Homa about the company and its plans—see our full exchange below. Asked for her thought’s on Pet Valu’s imminent arrival in New Canaan, Laura Budd of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce said she’s proud that New Canaan could attract a national business such as this.

New Canine-ites

Coltrane the Black Lab: Doesn’t Know What a Mid-Life Crisis Is

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Here’s our new installment of “New Canine-ites,” where we profile our local dogs. Last week, we ran into a pair of Labrador retriever puppies (prepare to saw Awww). This week, we take a look at 10-year-old black lab Coltrane, a New Canaan resident since age three months. Coltrane often can be visited right at work with his dad, town resident and New Canaan Bicycles owner Lou Kozar. Kozar laughs to recall what it’s like to travel to a client’s house in the summer with Coltrane: Homeowners lovingly offer use of their pool to the dog (while Kozar himself sweats out a repair in the sun).