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(in loving memory of Jack O’Malley – a beloved pet and family member)

There is one best place to bury a dog.

If you bury him in this spot, he will

Come to you when you call – come to you

Over the grim, dim frontier of death,

And down the well-remembered path,

And to your side again.

And though you call a dozen living

Dogs to heel, they shall not growl at

Him, nor resent his coming,

For he belongs there.

People may scoff at you, who see

No lightest blade of grass bent by his

Footfall, who hear no whimper, people

Who may never really have had a dog.

Smile at them, for you shall know

Something that is hidden from them,

And which is well worth the knowing.

The one best place to bury a good

Dog is in the heart of his master.

(author unknown)

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When I stayed in Westport, Officer D’Amico called me Roddy, and I hear I was listed on Westport Now and other places as Pooh Bear.  Both names are fine but I have chosen to be called Handsome.  One cannot fight destiny, it seems…

In any case, I have attached pictures of me for your reference.  I am still learning to be a dog; it’s a long process, and I have so much catching up to do.  While I am still leery of strangers, I have finally learned to trust my family and sometimes just walk up to them and give them a nudge to say hi.  They seem to like it a lot.  And I love running in the water at the beach (in the off-season only, I know), and have only warm memories of living at Westport Animal Control.

Without the patience, hard work and love – there, I said it – of Officers D’Amico and Saponare, not to mention all the shelter volunteers, I might not be here today.  I cannot thank you all enough for everything you have done for me.

Love,

Handsome Mozier

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Congratulations to the winners.  Featured here are the top finalists.  In addition, the following dogs will be included in our WASA fundraising calendar which will be available soon:  Ringo Hickson, Cody Haberstroh, Lillie Rosenkrantz, Floyd Daffan, Lucy Bergmann, Molly Ashman, Chloe Longacre, Sandy Griffin, Sandy Reitano and Bernie and Joba Marden.

For those dogs that didn’t make the calendar this year, your family knows that no contest will ever determine their Top Dog.  It’s you!

 
 
 

OTIS – Westport’s Top Dog

Our rescue dog Otis is intelligent and handsome.  On our daily walks through the streets of Westport many comment he is gorgeous and gentle.  An eighty pound dog with big, sweet, brown eyes.  Otis very similar to the famous “Balto”; striking, majestic and a lifesaver.  In our home for only two days, our non barking dog barked like crazy toward the backyard.  An investigation by the fire department declared an electrical fire outside which nearly ignited the gas line nearby.  We are grateful Otis is good looking, smart and a helpful dog.  Otis is the man!                     – submitted by Sam Hammer

WRIGLEY and SABRINA – 2^nd place (tie)

Our dogs nominate the dogs in the Westport Animal Control as “Top Dogs of Westport”.  Put their pictures in the newspaper and calendar to give them a better chance to get adopted.  They are brave animals.  Without the love, warmth and certainty of a home, life is different.  Our dogs rest comfortably knowing their bowl is full and they are loved, despite health issues.  Home is everything.  Shelter and stray dogs have uncertainty.  They live on hope.  They just want one chance to be adopted.  All the dogs in the Westport Animal Control are truly the “Top Dogs of Westport”.

-submitted by Erika L. Martin

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

JACK – 2^nd place (tie)

The day after Thanksgiving 2004, a Pet Adoption bus is parked in the Pet Smart parking lot.  We decide to take a look.  Families are checking out the many cages with dogs-a-barking.  Except for one..in the bottom right.  Our eyes fall upon a mellow beagle just minding his own business.  We immediately fall in love.  After the adoption papers are signed and we’ve bought enough doggie products from Pet Smart to properly welcome this new fella into our home, we are on our way.  A heart murmer, skin cancer, midnight emergency room trips for what turned out to be “reverse sneezing” (a common beagle affliction), a few ultrasounds, hundreds of miles walked and sniffed and lastly, so much love later, Jack is snoring loudly at my feet as I write this.  A refined gentleman who looks like he should have a martini and a cigar, he has brought so much love and happiness to me in 5 short years.  I beg all who read this to consider adopting/rescuing a dog in need.  Jack came from the streets of South Carolina to our home in Westport.  Hope he thinks it is worth the long journey.

-submitted by Caitlin F. O’Malley

 
 
 

MOCHA – 3^rd place (tie)

She prances like a filly about to take on the Kentucky Derby and parades like a princess ready to assume her throne.  Mocha’s brindle beauty, the Perle Mesta of Winslow Park, greeting all visitors, canine and human alike, with welcoming kisses.  She’ll play “chase” with anyone!  Any hint of showdog past, however, is belied by her winsome underbite and her unceasing search for playmates.  She’s actually a rescue boxer who was confined to a crate for her entire first year of life.  Adopted by the Hageman family, she’s now definitely their Top Dog and Westport is her Top Place.

-submitted by Al and Hope Hageman

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

HALEY – 3^rd place (tie)

To boast of Haley without bragging

Might be a task beyond my reach.

Her head held high, her tail a-wagging

at Winslow Park or Compo Beach,

many remark:  “What grace! What poise!

That jet black dog with white-tipped paws!

What breed is she?  A lab?  A hound?

But I can’t say; she’s from the pound

where, admidst the yapping fray she sat,

head tipped, she silently spoke to me:

“I’m top dog, take me home, you’ll see!”

Nine years it’s been, our routine down pat:

For walks, or food, or to go to bed

She simply sits, and tilts her head.

-submitted by Kerith Harding

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One cold winter evening Sarah, a 5-year-old lab-shepherd mix, was left tied to the doorknob of a local shelter.  Officer Peter D’Amico was dispatched to pick her up.  She wasn’t too pleased to see Officer Peter and transporting her to Westport Animal Control (WAC) was challenging but a challenge that Officer D’Amico has encountered many, many times during the course of his 20-year career.  So, Sarah arrived at WAC scared, cold and sad.

Over the course of a few days and lots of TLC provided by the staff and volunteers, however, she started to reveal her true loving nature.  She was named Sarah after the song “Sarah Smile” because she would greet those she had learned to trust with a big smile (and wiggle).  She was content and happy with the people (staff and volunteers) in her world.  In the course of a few weeks she probably received more love than she had BAC (Before Animal Control).

Unfortunately, Sarah did not show well to potential adopters.  She would bark and show no interest in going to a new home.  She was content at WAC hanging out in the office of her beloved Kathleen (animal control assistant).  Then one day a young couple showed up.  They had been waiting until they were in a suitable home and financial situation to bring a dog into their lives.  Sarah showed a glimmer of interest.  The walk around the “grounds” of WAC went well, and they spent quite some time with her.  They could have filled out the paperwork right then and there and taken Sarah home that day.  Truth be told, that is how it’s done at a lot of shelters but this is Westport Animal Control.  Officer D’Amico wanted to make sure there was commitment on both sides – the potential new family AND Sarah.  For three weeks the couple came back every day and took Sarah for walks, rubbed her belly and gave her at least an hour of quality time.  Sarah blossomed even more with this extra attention.  The day Sarah went home with her new mom and dad was a happy day for all.  She readily jumped into her new car on her way to her new home.

A dog that came into WAC fearful and sad left a happy trusting dog.  Officer D’Amico calls them weekly to check on how things are going and Sarah is doing very well in her new loving world.

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