What follows is a summary of recent calls fielded by the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department.
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A Buttery Road woman phoned police at about 1:45 p.m. on Jan. 19 to report that a fox had entered her home with her two dogs after the pets had been let out into the yard.
The fox lay down in the mudroom and started playing with one of the dogs’ toys, according to a police report.
The woman took her dogs, a golden retriever as well as a puppy, out of the room and closed a door to ensure the fox could not get deeper into the house.
Asked about the incident, Officer Allyson Halm, head of Animal Control, said it’s abnormal for a fox to behave in such a way, and that it could indicate early-stage rabies or that the animal has been fed by a human.
The fox left the house before police arrived.
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A woman walking her dog on Laurel Road became startled and fell down when she saw a one-year-old Australian shepherd charging toward her, off of his owner’s property, as she walked past on the afternoon of Jan. 27, police said.
The Aussie’s owner emerged from the home, apologized and collected his dog.
The woman went to police to issue a written statement regarding the incident.
Because the Aussie had no history, Halm issued the animal’s owner a written warning for nuisance dog.
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Firefighters were called to the Laurel Reservoir off of Ponus Ridge around 9:45 a.m. Thursday on a report of a deer in distress. Arriving, they found that a doe had become stuck on the ice after the animals legs splayed out from under it, officials said. Ultimately, Stamford firefighters used the New Canaan side of the Aquarion water body to access a rescue point, officials said. They pulled the deer off the ice and brought her to the woods.
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Finally, Animal Control on Jan. 13 issued a $92 fine to a Benedict Hill Road woman for allowing her dog to roam.
While investigating a separate matter, an Animal Control officer came upon a Ridgeback-type dog off-property and barking in a neighbor’s driveway, according to a police report. The officer impounded the dog, which had been photographed while roaming in the past, its owner warned about letting the animal loose.
Our Animal Control team and the Police and Firefighters are our animal’s heroes! Thankfully, they are kind and caring and forceful when they need to be. Cheers for each one! Animal Lovers….please keep your pet safe indoors and outdoors.