Events

4th Annual TAILS Spay Day
A few short years ago TAILS could only dream of sponsoring an event like this year’s 4th Annual Spay Day.  For 2006, with the help of the veterinary and business communities and hard work of our volunteers, we sponsored 140 cat and dog spays and neuters, sponsored several outreach events, had a statewide Spay Day Proclamation declared and hosted our free Pet Care Forum.  It was a resounding success!

Through the generosity of fellow animal lovers we were able to help [X number of cats] domestic cats, [Y number of dogs] dogs and [Z number of cats] feral (wild) cats.  These dogs and cats were owned by indigent individuals, waiting to be adopted in shelters/pounds or living in feral colonies with a caretaker unable to afford the high cost of sterilization.  TAILS was delighted to be able to help make these animals more adoptable, lead healthier lives and to save their future offspring from an unfortunate fate.

To break down the work of our volunteers – which includes veterinarians, local high school groups & even a State Senator – the 140 spay/neuters were sourced from 2 grants, public donations, [X number of veterinarians] veterinarians, 4 pet store visits, multiple TAILS eBay auctions and countless candy bar sales!  Through the Petco grant we received TAILS was, once again, able to co-host the TEAM (Tait’s Every Animal Matters) Mobile Feline Unit’s March visit to Norwalk and spay/neutered 22 cats in a single day.  In addition, the Westport Women’s Club has, again, sponsored the spaying and neutering of 6 animals.

TAILS was also able to reach out to many community members through several Choice Pet Store visits and through our Pet Care Forum.  Choice Pet graciously allowed us to do “meet & greets” throughout the month of March and we were able to promote the importance of spaying and neutering as well as collect monetary and eBay donations.  Additionally, we hosted our annual Pet Care Forum at Norwalk City Hall which brought a volunteer panel of two veterinarians (Dr. John Caltabiano, TEAM, Dr. Michele Lamothe, Broad River Animal Hospital), an animal control officer (Officer Peter D’Amico, Westport) and a pet trainer (Mary Ellen Walsh, The Grateful Dog, LLC) together to field questions from the public.  The event was hosted and promoted by volunteer Ann Karrick who hosts For The Record, a national weekly talk show on i Independent Television, and is also a local radio personality on WEBE108 and WICC600.

Spay Day 2006 Contributors:

Broad River Animal Hospital
Cannondale Animal Clinic
County Veterinary Clinic
High Ridge Animal Hospital 
Norwalk Animal Hospital
Norwalk Veterinary Hospital
Pet Hospital of Stratford
Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM)
Westport Animal Hospital
Choice Pet Supply
State Senator Judith Freedman (R-26th)
Westport Animal Control Officer Peter D’Amico
Dr. Kevin J. Craw
Ridgefield Veterinary Hospital
Rippowam Animal Hospital
Saugatuck Tax Group
Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM)
The Grateful Dog, LLC, Mary Ellen Walsh
WEBE 108/WICC 600
Ann Karrick, radio/TV show host
The Petco Foundation
Westport Animal Hospital
Westport Young Woman’s League
Staples High School’s Animal Welfare Club
Darien High School’s Animal Welfare Club

Rat races in the courtyard brought laughs galore.  Abundant gift baskets being raffled were a great hit, along with baked goods, plants and beautiful beaded jewelry created by Katie Lyness.

TAILS could never put together this wonderful event each year without the help of Dr. Belknap, her tireless staff, and the following local individuals and businesses that generously donated time and gifts:

Janice Pollack (Claire Murray Home)
Canine Fence
Nancy Anderson (Scholastic Books)
Laurie Davis (Laurie’s Glorious)
Dianne de Villiers
Katie and Nancy Lyness
Robin Heidt (A Piece of Work, LLC)
Lynn Prowitt-Smith
Michelina Bakery Claire Coppola (The Well Heeled Pet)
Jane Bell (Pet Portables)
IVX Animal Health
A & S Promotions
Chris Agathos (Wubba World)
Dogswell Treats
Style Living Corp (Celltei)
Boyd’s of Wilton
Village Luncheonette
Keeler’s True Value Hardware
Dr. Belknap, and
Staff of Cannondale Animal Clinic

TAILS Invited To Mitchells of Westport
Mitchells of Westport has been a long time supporter of TAILS allowing us to use their parking lot space for several years for our events and, most recently, inviting us to their The Walk with Harold: Best in Fashion Show event to showcase dogs available for adoption from local pounds.  The event was a great success – both for the featured benefactor St Vincent’s Swim AcrossThe Sound, TAILS and the animals.  Andrew Mitchell and Helene from Mitchells were extremely gracious to TAILS by offering us a generous amount of display space at their event and made ongoing announcements during the show.  Beautiful models with their equally fashionable pooches showed off their outfits on the runway to the great pleasure of the crowd.  Thank you Andrew, Helene & Auden Grogins (Co-Chair) for inviting us!

5th Annual TEAM TAILS Event
TEAM TAILS Walk/Run Team participated in another spectacular year of the Bigelow Community Challenge on September 25th in Southport.  With 10 participants (5 walkers, 2 runners and 3 children participating in the kids races), TAILS was able to raise over $800 to help spay/neuter local animals while having a thoroughly enjoyable time.  Thanks to Longview Fibre, Bigelow Tea and all of our fantastic TEAM Members who made the event so spectacular.  We already look forward to next year!

Yappy Hour a Hit!
Mary-Jo Duffy, owner of Paws Up! dog training held a riotous “Yappy Hour” one Friday evening, inviting clients and their dogs for fun and refreshments, with proceeds donated to TAILS.  Freely racing about from inside the building to the outdoor fenced area, dogs of all breeds and sizes were allowed to be just plain silly with one another, the heck with obedience for one whole night!  Many thanks to Mary-Jo and her staff for putting together such an innovative fundraiser, and to the Paws Up! clients for their generous donations. 

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