Animal Reports: A Cougar Sighting ... Or Was it a Great Dane?

Cat sighting or was it a dog?

Nov. 19, 10:10 p.m. - An operator at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) called in that a Blueberry Lane resident, just off Spring Hill Road, had phoned in at 4:30 p.m. to report a cougar sitting at the end of her cul de sac. The operator said the description sounded more like a bobcat. He said the approximate size was that of a Great Dane dog. 

According to Risko, a wild mountain lion or bobcat wouldn't be sitting around out in the open that time of day. And there's a big difference in size between a bobcat and a Great Dane.

Residents who sight a wild animal need to report it locally to Animal Control so that they can be interviewed and the sighting handled immediately. Animal Control will notify DEEP if necessary.

Bags of Doggy Poo

Nov. 16, 10:04 a.m. - A fed-up Beech Tree Lane resident reported, after a jaunt along Rails to Trails in Monroe, that dog owners using the walking path are picking up and bagging whatever their dogs leave behind, but then they're discarding the plastic bags all along the trail, in the swamp, stacked in piles near the parking lots and even behind trees.

There are no litter receptacles along the trail. And there are no trash collectors on the Parks and Recreation payroll. Hence, according to Animal control Officer Ed Risko, what a dog brings into the park, the owner needs to pack out. Dropping little bags in the park is unacceptable.

State statue 22A-250 (a) is an anti-litter law with a hefty $319 fine for dropping a little bag of doggie residuals on public land. So irresponsible and ignorant dog owners be forewarned.

Owner Comes Forward

Nov. 21 - The Welsh Corgi picked up last week is going home. "Charlie" is really "Hunter" and his owner returned after a lengthy hospital stay to find him gone. She called Animal Control to report him lost and was thrilled to find him already found.

Other dogs found last week included a licensed Golden Retriever found by a Yankee Hill Road resident who called the owner; a chocolate lab retriever sighted on Barn Hill Road; and a beagle mix with its black ragamuffin companion found by a Lois Circle resident. Both were impounded and retrieved by their High Ridge Drive owner.

Reported lost were two Lorraine Drive cocker spaniels who found their way home after a romp around the neighborhood. An older yellow lab mix is still missing from her Holly Place home. She has eye ulcers and needs medical attention. Call Animal Control if you see her.

A Bunker Hill Drive woman was intimidated by a geriatric Doberman when he left his Jenny Ridge Lane property to follow her up the hill. His owner was issued a written warning. It was a case of misinterpretation.  

A very sad story

Nov. 18, around 4 a.m. - A deer was hit on Cutlers Farm Road at Hannah Lane. The driver did not report it. The animal lay suffering on the side of the road until a student reported seeing what he thought was a carcass to police at 7:25 a.m. Animal Control responded and mercifully put it down.

Drivers who hit animals need to report the accident. It's the humane thing to do. There is no fault.

Two other deer were killed by motor vehicles last week as well. 

Thank You

Doris Bolduc of Trumbull reads Animal Reports regularly and delivered boxes of milk bones to the Animal Control facility. They are much appreciated by staff and their temporary residents.

The Monroe Animal Control office and pound is located in the school bus yard at 447 Purdy Hill Road. It’s the small, reddish brown building to the left and is open to the public seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Remember. Monroe’s creatures were here first. Respect them. Enjoy them. And if you need help with them, call Officer Ed Risko at Animal Control (203)452-3760. For an Animal Emergency call (203)261-3622.