Animal 411

New Canaan Residents Report Finding Seven Bats in Bedrooms

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Residents reported finding seven bats in the bedrooms of local homes last week, according to officials in the Animal Control section of the New Canaan Police Department. Five of the bats were located and sent to a lab in Rocky Hill, but two could not be found upon the arrival of a professional, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the section. Three of the five bats found tested negative for rabies, and results for the remaining two are pending, she said. The families living in the homes where the bats could not be located for euthanization and testing are going through their rabies vaccines, Halm said. “You don’t know how long the bat’s been in the house,” Halm said.

Animal 411

Two Skunks Unintentionally Caught in Traps

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Two skunks were caught in animal traps, one of which had to be euthanized, this week. Animal Control Officer Jillian Bosch received a call from Hoyt Funeral Home on Main Street about a skunk stuck in a trap on July 29. The animal appeared to be struggling and suffering upon Bosch’s arrival. She was able to remove the animal from the trap, but the baby skunk was having trouble breathing and had to be euthanized, Officer Allyson Halm said. Halm was called to a similar situation on Southwood Drive on Aug.

Animal 411

Meet Allyson Halm: New Canaan’s New Animal Control Officer

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New Canaan Animal Control recently brought on a new officer, Allyson Halm. Born and raised in Greenwich, Halm is familiar with the Fairfield County and New Canaan area. Before joining the staff in New Canaan, Halm worked with Greenwich Animal Control for 12 years, then became the CEO of Adopt-A-Dog of Greenwich for seven years. Halm is excited to take on the position at New Canaan’s Animal Control. Here’s our exchange.