A new day for dogs at Westport animal shelter

An addition is being built at the Westport Animal Control facility for man's best friend.

Nine runs -- connected to the facility's kennels -- are taking shape. The project is being funded by Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA), a nonprofit organization established in summer 2008 to provide care and shelter to animals in the Fairfield County area.

The work being done at Westport Animal Control is the group's first major project.

"It's always been a place of great heart," said WASA President Julie Loparo.

However, it has helped Westport Animal Control out in numerous other ways in the past, such as purchasing a washer and dryer, helping to pay veterinarian bills, walking dogs and covering the cost for dogs to be spayed and neutered.

Kathleen Suchy, the secretary at Westport Animal Control, said of WASA's help, "It's fantastic. It's been a big help."

The biggest help of all, however, are the outdoor runs, projected to cost a minimum of $30,000. These runs aren't replacing old ones -- they're the first runs the facility has ever had. Animal Control Officer Peter D'Amico said the runs will allow the dogs to get exercise and fresh air even when there are no volunteers. A pull of a string will open a guillotine door that allows a dog to go from inside to outside.

"A dog has to have physical exercise and it also has to have nourishment to its psyche," D'Amico said.

He added that the runs will also help him with his job. "It's like I'm going from nine kennels to 18 kennels," D'Amico said. Presently, when a dog's kennel has to be cleaned, he or she has to be put in an empty one. However, with the new runs, the dog can be temporarily put outside, and the empty kennels remain usable for any stray or abandoned dog that might be brought to the facility.

"By having the outdoors runs, all I have to do is raise the door and let them hang out there until I clean," he said.

Even in this current cold weather, a typical dog can spend an hour or two outside. In the summer, there will be no limit to how long the dogs can be left outside.

Loparo said she and others formed WASA when the shelter was "in really bad shape" and the town was discussing appropriating $700,000 or $800,000 for a new building or partnering with the Connecticut Humane Society.

Figuring the town likely wasn't going to realistically fork over that much money for a new structure, and not wanting to see the Westport Animal Control Shelter, a no-kill shelter, join forces with the humane society, WASA was born.

"We wanted Animal Control to remain an independent facility," Loparo said.

Ultimately, Westport Deputy Police Chief Dale Call agreed to a $95,000 renovation project with the understanding that WASA would come up with the funds for the outdoor runs.

Money for the runs has been raised through various fundraisers, including Top Dog shows in 2009 and 2010, as well as an event last year in which pets took photos with Santa. While those supporting WASA know their money pays for dogs to be spayed and neutered, among other things, Loparo said the runs project is great "because people like to see something that's tangible, they like to see where their money is going.

She added, "Someone can drive by and say `I contributed to that building.' "

Stamford-based V&H Fences is doing the work. A seven -man crew was hard at work Wednesday doing its best to ignore the bitter weather. Progress is further along on the street side of the building, where there will be five runs. Cement partition work is close to complete. However, on the other side, it's largely the framing work that has been done. The backside of the building has only four kennels, as one of the kennels, some time ago, was turned into an isolation/quarantine area to service dogs that get sick.

Victor Gonzalez, owner of V&H Fences, said the work began three weeks ago and it will likely conclude in two weeks.

The drainage system work for the runs already is finished, according to D'Amico.

WASA is selling a Top Dog calendar to help raise additional funds for the project, extra cosmetic work that Gonzalez recommended to make the building look nicer. The $20 calendar features the winners from the WASA-sponsored photo/essay contest that took place in September.

Loparo said WASA is already halfway toward its goal of selling 150 calendars.

"We're very pleased with that," she said. "I think we're ahead of the game, and hopefully for the holidays and Christmas, it will take off a little more."

The calendar went on sale on Black Friday. The Top Dog calendar is being sold at Earth Animal, 606 Post Road East. Orders also can be placed by e-mail at wasa1@optonline.net. However, this coming weekend, it can be bought right on Main Street while people are doing their holiday shopping.

A table will be set up in front of Vineyard Vines on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about WASA, visit www.westportwasa.org or e-mail wasa1@optonline.net.