Mary Johnson Photo
Mr. Orange.
There have been many “firsts” for Laura Burban, the Cosgrove Animal Shelter’s energetic and creative director.
She thought about them in recent weeks as the shelter celebrated its tenth birthday.
What began with a $100 donation from a group of Sliney elementary school students to First Selectman Anthony “Unk DaRos, asking him to use the money toward building an animal shelter, has become an animal shelter that has achieved recognition across the state.
With the commitment of the town, the help of Branford Compassion Club, grants, and donations, the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, named after the consummate politician and animal lover, was constructed and is now the centerpiece of animal welfare in Branford and North Branford.
The shelter is innovative, community minded and tireless in its effort to place abandoned animals with families.
Woofstock
This week, Burban is busy coordinating the first annual Woofstock (a take-off on the iconic event known as Woodstock), which will take place Saturday, Aug. 24, noon to 8 p.m. on the Branford Green. Billed as “a day of peace and music,” the event will feature live music from five different bands, children’s activities and a silent auction. Those attending are asked for a $5 donation or items to benefit the shelter. The event is the brainchild of shelter volunteer Ken Engelman.
With Permission
The shelter has a network of 200 volunteers – 50 regular – who keep the shelter humming. Burban explained that lots of kids help during the summer and holidays as well as families, special needs adults, and adults. Here is she in center next to staff, volunteers and DaRos.
Woofstock will be manned, as is the shelter, by its volunteers who were acknowledged shelter’s 10th anniversary event, which took place over a long weekend in the middle of a heat wave that drove many visitors inside. Which wasn’t all that bad since that was an opportunity to socialize with the shelter residents. (There are 19 kennels for dogs with a capacity to 25, and room for 75 to 80 cats.)
Mary Johnson Photo
These black kittens and gorgeous orange longhair Mr. Orange (top photo) are just waiting for the right homes.
Animal Camp
Ongoing over the past two weeks has been the annual Animal Camp, also guided by Burban, shelter staff and volunteers. The camp enables between 20 and 30 grade-schoolers to get up close and personal with all sorts of critters including…
With Permission
Pulitzer, a special needs kitty.
With Permission
A snake from Meig’s Point Nature Center.
With Permission
A rescue dove brought by Bonnie Alexander of Like a Feather Bird Rescue.
With Permission
Chestnut, a Great Horned owl from A Place Called Hope.
With Permission
And, Steve, a rescue bearded dragon lizzard, visiting with Burban’s daughter, Madison.
Burban has been director for half of the shelter’s existence. CherylAnn Fernandes was the first director. Under Burban’s direction the shelter now has three full-time and five part time employees. She’s been key in reaching out to the community through events that bring animal awareness to the forefront.
Moreover, Burban has ambitious plans for the future. She’s been attending the online Charter Oak State College and is awaiting acceptance to University of Connecticut’s graduate school where she wants to study animal behavior, and eventually earn a PhD. Always a strong voice when it comes to legislative issues regarding animals, she wants to work toward researching, writing and changing the laws regarding animal welfare; she wants to look into both the human aspect and the animal aspect.
Burban was instrumental in creating the emergency preparedness plan for the town’s pets, which was put into place during Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy. Mandated by Congress in response to Hurricane Katrina in which people stayed behind to care for their pets, the plan mandates that shelters must be made available for pets in the event of a natural disaster.
But it’s the daily needs of the Cosgrove Animal Shelter that tug at her heartstrings. Burban’s wish list for the shelter is simple and basic.
At the top of her list is a shed or two, which she hopes to obtain through fundraising or by donation. One shed would be used as an on-site pet food pantry to help more people (the Volunteer Services Center is now being used) and the other would be homier and used for evaluation by dog trainers. Long term, she’d like to see another building (or perhaps a second story to the shelter) for education purposes, such as the annual Animal Camp, which took place last week and continues this week. She’s also looking into unused buildings in town.
Then there’s the annual Animal Awareness Day on Sunday, Oct. 6, which includes the Dog Walk, Blessing of the Animals, and various booths from rescue groups and vendors.
And for those of you with kitties who hate having their claws clipped (paws raised here) there are monthly nail clipping sessions for just $10; the next one is Sept. 29, from 1 to 2 p.m.
In a society where pets are treasured members of the family, there is still work to be done. Burban and the Cosgrove Shelter are prepared for the task.
###
