Dog Food Pantry available to help pet owners

By Gregory A. Scibelli - Staff Writer
Windsor - posted Fri., Jul. 29, 2011

From left to right: Debbie Sampson, Animal Control Officer Brian Davis, Diane Logan, and Betty Sribnick. Photos by Gregory A. Scibelli

It’s all about the animals for Windsor resident Debbie Sampson. She does not want credit. She does not want recognition.  She just wants to keep animals in their homes, safe and out of the pound.

Due to the economy, there has been a dramatic increase in the surrendering or abandonment of animals. Windsor Animal Control Officer Brian Davis has been responding to many calls from residents who want to surrender their animals because they can no longer afford to feed them.

“When I started to hear that, it just broke my heart,” said Sampson, who owns a pair of golden retrievers. “I just felt like I had to do something to help these animals stay in their homes.”

Sampson, along with resident Diane Logan, founded the Friends of Windsor Animal Care and Control.  Their main role has been to collect dog and cat food, but they are starting out slow and have many goals, including to provide affordable health care for the animals.

So far, the group has done several food drives, some of which have garnered a great response.  Now, there are organizations and individuals calling, who want to volunteer.  The Friends have a board of directors, and they are planning events.

“It’s wonderful to see this, because these animals deserve to be able to stay in their homes,” said Davis.
Sampson’s biggest goal currently is to get the word out about what the Friends are trying to do, why they are trying to do it, and what the real facts are about animal control and their function.

“A lot of people are really afraid to call the animal control officer when they don’t have food or can’t afford shots or licensing,” said Sampson.

Davis said no resident in Windsor should be afraid to call for assistance. “I am here to help,” said Davis.  “I am not here to come and take their dogs or cats away.”

The group is currently advertising upcoming collection events as well as a fundraiser at Dom’s Eatery on Aug. 12.  All information can be found at www.friendsofthewindsordogpound.blogspot.com.

Sampson is hoping the movement to help animals will continue to take flight and the Pet Food Pantry will become a place that receives regular donations. So far, Sampson and Logan have completed 17 confidential deliveries.

The deliveries are done in such a way so as not to embarrass or offend those who are requiring assistance. “This can be a very sensitive thing for the people involved,” Sampson said. “Some people are unemployed or are having job issues. They are on fixed incomes or they even have those big oil bills to deal with from last winter.”

Deliveries are done quietly, and names are not given out. There is even a confidential phone number and e-mail address offered by the Friends. Pet owners in need of food can call 860-249-9463 or e-mail friendsofwindsoranimal@yahoo.com.
Cats are also being addressed through this effort, even though current animal control laws do not lend themselves to be “cat-friendly.” One volunteer, Betty Sribnick, has been working with an organization called Alley Cat Allies and is advocating for the safe movement of cats in the community. Her work also includes helping to get more cats spayed.

“By doing that, we are preventing female cats from putting out litters of 8-10 kittens and making the problem of homeless cats even bigger,” said Sribnick.

Residents can contact the Friends to reach Sribnick for help with cats.

Prior to beginning the Pet Food Pantry, the group has also successful lobbied the Windsor Town Council to get a new dog pound, and funding was approved in the fiscal year 2012 budget.The current dog pound is located at 69 Mechanic St. and is looming toward demolition as the town is seeking to sell the property and develop it into housing.

Windsor had proposed the idea of joining into a regional agreement with Windsor Locks for a community dog pound, but Sampson vehemently disagreed. “We have more than 2,800 dogs licensed in our town,” said Sampson.  “Windsor Locks has just 1,100 dogs licensed and has a part-time animal control officer. We need our own facility.”

Sampson complimented the Town Council, Town Manager Peter Souza and Assistant Town Manager Emily Moon for working with the Friends, listening to their concerns and ideas and ultimately funding a new facility.The town is still exploring options and locations for a new facility, and one is expected to be named in the next few months.