Shelter Pets Care & Comfort Fund

Our civil servants, from police officers to firefighters to parks and rec employees and so many others, keep our community welcoming and vibrant. They keep us safe. They protect our towns, our friends, our neighbors, and our children. They help in so many ways, often behind the scenes, that we may not be aware of. One example is our Animal Control Officers. They protect our furry, feathered friends as well as our families.

Allow us to introduce you to a special group who proudly wear uniforms of blue – AND have hearts of gold – the Middletown Police Animal Control Office and its Animal Control Officers (ACOs).

Uniforms of Blue

Middletown Animal Control has numerous responsibilities and provides important services to the residents of the City. Animal Control Officers enforce the Connecticut General Statutes and City Ordinances to protect the safety and welfare of citizens and animals, everything from roaming or barking dogs, rabies vaccinations, dog licensing, abuse and neglect of animals, animal bites to humans or domestic animals. There’s even more: Animal Control also provides care of injured domestic animals if no owner can be located, handles sick and injured wildlife, captures pregnant cats and kittens born outside, assists with TNR (trap/neuter/release) for feral cats, and provides resources to residents regarding lost pets, low cost spay/neuter services, pet food and veterinary services. ACOs’ hearts (and work) expand beyond the obvious … they care for humans, too.

Animal Control often assists residents who are hospitalized for an extended period with getting their pets to a safe place until they return. When residents pass away and have no family or friends that can take their pet, Animal Control often shelters the pets and either finds them new homes or transfers them to a rescue group.

Unfortunately, Animal Control has had to investigate numerous animal cruelty cases, many related to abuse and neglect and/or hoarding incidents involving dogs, cats, reptiles, rabbits, birds, and one with 50 rodents (hamsters, rats, gerbils, and mice).

Hearts of Gold

The thing that makes Animal Control different from traditional Law Enforcement is that in addition to investigating and arresting perpetrators, the ACOs also care for the animals on a day-to-day basis. They are responsible for documenting medical needs and tracking progress, both in writing and with photos. Beyond medical care, they offer their hearts of gold to the animals with kindness, comfort, enrichment, and attention. Animals never take a day off. And neither do the ACOs, often making trips to the animal shelter on a day off or during a snowstorm. They deserve a heart badge for their commitment!

The Community Foundation is indeed honored that Middletown Animal Control Officer, Gail Petras, reached out to see if CFMC could partner with the kind and generous Middletown residents who want to support her efforts. Working with CFMC staff, the Shelter Pets Care & Comfort Fund was established to assist with providing care above and beyond the City’s basic responsibilities of food, water, housing and immediate medical care. It will allow all animals to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated prior to adoption. Contributions to the Fund will also provide enrichment toys, training resources, and more complicated surgeries which are sometimes unavoidable. It will help to pay for Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) for feral cats which greatly reduces the outdoor cat population. It will also help to provide the most comfortable shelter environment possible while animals are awaiting a permanent, loving home.

The Shelter Pets Care & Comfort Fund has received a warm welcome of woofs, meows, baas, hippity hops, and more from many across Middletown!