Dog Days 2023
Wallace Dinan at the lure run. Credit: Michael Dinan
Hundreds of dog fans went to the New Canaan Nature Center on Sunday for what has actually become among the neighborhood’s preferred yearly occasions.
Dog Days New Canaan, sponsored and arranged by Pet Pantry Warehousewas hung on a clear, warm day on the yard field beside the Visitors Center.
Ari Jacobson at Dog Days, held May 7, 2023 at the New Canaan Nature Center. Credit: Michael Dinan
“Absolutely fantastic today,” Ari Jacobson, vice president of Pet Pantry said as numerous dog owners leash-walked their four-legged buddies through the activity-filled field. “Couldn’t have asked for a better day with the weather. New Canaan Nature Center is hosting us again. Another year with Adopt-a-Dog, all of our fantastic vendors. We got the lure coursing, we got the ‘Sniff-Ari,’ beer garden this year, ice cream ‘Pawlor,’ the bone bar. If you’re not here, I don’t know what you’re doing today, but it’s a gorgeous day. I really want to thank all of our vendors for their participation and everybody for coming out on this gorgeous day.”
A fundraising event for the Nature Center and Adopt-A-Dog, the complimentary five-hour occasion saw lots of supplier camping tents lining the boundary of the field, distributing food and other dog-related items, or losing consciousness info on veterinary services and rescue groups. Moved off of the asphalt car park this year to be situated completely on the yard, Dog Days saw dogs cooling down in dubious locations or swimming in a “doggie pool” throughout the day.
Jasper (L) and Vivian Canoro (R) of New Canaan. Credit: Michael Dinan
Fred Canoro and his child Sofia, a fourth-grader at West School, shown up with their English springer spaniel, Jasper, and Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Vivian.
The family came in 2015 and “it was just a lot of fun,” Fred Canoro said.
“They loved the race thing, all the treats,” he said. “It’s nicer today. Last year was really hot.”
Sofia Canoro said, “It’s really fun letting your dogs out to walk around. There are so many other dogs for them to see, which is nice for a change.”
The Pet Pantry “Barktenders” at Dog Days 2023. Credit: Michael Dinan
Pet Pantry staff member and “barktender” Jake Fixel said he and his coworkers were “giving out a lot of fun free samples” to participants.
“It’s going excellent,” he said. “We have everything you’d want for your dog.”
New Canaan Police Department K-9 Apollo was on hand for the occasion, with handler K-9 Officer Sebastian Obandoand Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm. Police advised citizens that licensing is sustainable in June— “Every dog in the state of Connecticut must be licensed,” Halm said — and given out info about existing together with the location’s leading wildlife predators (coyote, bobcat and bear), providing passersby with sample gadgets for hazing and advising citizens about the risks of leaving a dog in a hot car.
