Town resident Arianne Kolb started coming to the Pet Pantry’s annual Dog Days New Canaan when she got Odie, her Shih Tzu, three years ago.
Arianne and Odie Kolb at Dog Days New Canaan, held May 4, 2024 in the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
She calls it one of New Canaan’s “best community events.”
“It’s so wonderful to see everyone come together,” Kolb said Saturday from an area near the popular lure course at Dog Days, held at the New Canaan Nature Center under clear, sunny skies. “We share our love of dogs and you meet the most wonderful people, wonderful dogs and everybody is so generous. I just love that my dog, who is extremely picky, gets all these freebies and samples.”
Adopt-A-Dog’s tent at Dog Days New Canaan, held May 4, 2024 in the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
Hundreds of dog lovers leash-walked their four-legged family members during the five-hour event, picking up samples from vendors and free ice cream at the “Dog Pawlor” and participating in activities including the lure course, bobbing for tennis balls and cooling off in the new “Splash Park.” Dog Days is a fundraiser for Adopt-A-Dog, which currently is listing 23 adoptable dogs.
Brothers Adam and Ari Jacobson of Pet Pantry were both in attendance for Dog Days, which has been running in New Canaan for at least a dozen years and has been comfortably held at the Nature Center for the past few.
L-R: Adam and Ari Jacobson of Pet Pantry, at Dog Days New Canaan, held May 4, 2024 in the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
“The community we’re operating in, in New Canaan, is a very family-friendly, family-forward small feeling and we love to pay it forward a little bit,” Adam Jacobson said. “We feel blessed and humble to be able to serve the New Canaan community and this is our way of showing our thanks and appreciation for it.”
The community appreciates it.
First time attendee Deepak Suldhal of New Canaan attended Dog Days for the first time, with his five-month-old Labrador retriever, Scrabble.
Sketch artist at Dog Days New Canaan, held May 4, 2024 in the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
“He’s enjoying it, so I’m enjoying it as well,” Suldhal said.
Among the vendors providing information for dog owners were New Canaan Police Animal Control Officer Sean Godejohn and Community Impact Officer Nice Vartuli.
Godejohn said he there to field questions from attendees “and also there’s dogs here so it’s good for me to be here and I can address any issues that arise before they get too bad,” he said.
L-R: New Canaan Police Animal Control Officer Sean Godejohn and Community Impact Officer Nicole Vartuli at Dog Days New Canaan, held May 4, 2024 in the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
Vartuli said that for her, the Dog Days event doubled as a mini “Coffee with a Cop” (the next one will be held 9 to 11 a.m. on May 18 at Dante’s Café in the New Canaan YMCA.
“We have coffee for the public if they want to have a cup of coffee and conversation with us,” Vartuli said. “It’s another way for us to be out here.”
The lure course at Dog Days New Canaan, held May 4, 2024 in the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
Ari Jacobson said the Nature Center setting is ideal for such a fun, family-friendly event.
“You can’t ask for anything more beautiful,” he said. “It’s a gem in New Canaan. The sponsors that come out, Adopt-A-Dog, just the overall event itself is a huge draw. I think there’s a lot to offer the people here. What better way to spend the day than with your family and your animals on a beautiful day?”