East Haven Mayor Maturo says adopt a shelter pet, you'll live a happier life.

East Haven Mayor Joe Maturo is a friend to and great advocate for shelter cats and dogs. I know this first hand because recently he took time out from his busy schedule to meet me at the East Haven Animal Shelter.

I’ve been blogging since the fall about animal rescue and visiting local shelters, bringing their stories and messages to you. Wanting to raise awareness about the many pets and shelters in need, I decided to invite local politicos or well-known townies to visit these facilities with me. Mayor Maturo was my first foray into this new phase, and he did not disappoint.

He was happy to pose for some photos with the animals up for adoption, and talk to me about the dedicated animal control officers (ACOs). Also, he chatted about his long history of adopting shelter pets, and how he advocates for them to members of the community.

What I wasn’t prepared for was his warm interaction with each of the animals. He played with dogs, and spent so much time with an orange and white cat named Prince Eric, I thought for sure he was going to adopt it. (Like most of us, I think he had to consult with family members before bringing another pet home.) He was comfortable with the animals, and seemed sincere to me. I think that he welcomed a short break from his current troubles and stopped by the shelter in the hopes that through this publicity, some of the cats and dogs would get adopted. His actions showed a sense of ownership and concern for the shelter staff and animals during his visit.

While I was chatting with ACO Owen Little, the mayor took some treats and went to each dog’s cage, giving them a biscuit. When he returned to the office area, he instructed Owen to be sure he and the other staff wear ear protection because the barking in the dog kennel is so loud.

He asked Owen about several of the dogs, why they were there, and what was happening with them. He was surprised that one cat—an extremely friendly, large black cat named Carlos—had not yet gotten adopted, and we learned from ACO Kristina Ruszczyk that black cats usually sit in shelters because they are not considered pretty or special. On hearing this, he made it a point to give the cat extra attention, and made sure I took many pictures of this regal kitty.

Currently, the mayor has a gray cat named Cat that he adopted from his daughter. He has had dogs most of his life, and they all were adopted through the East Haven Animal Shelter—another pleasant and unexpected surprise. The mayor does a monthly ETV program called “From the Mayor’s Desk,” and he invites ACO Little to come on the show and introduce a cat or dog up for adoption.

If some of the mayor’s behavior sounds politically motivated, or for the benefit of me or the cameras, I’ll add this: he told me (when my recorder was shut off) how hard it is to travel when you have a pet—his reason for currently not owning a dog. When planning a recent vacation, he was so concerned about Cat that he took her to Florida with him. This sounds to me like a person who truly cares about and loves his pet.

There is much more to write about in regard to animal control and its daily business. My discussions with ACO Little centered around the problems they encounter daily: neglected animals, abusive people, and how an ACO balances enforcing the law with animal rescue and placement. The title of Animal Control Officer doesn’t begin to describe all they do, but I’ll leave that story for another post.

For now, as I do with other blogs, I’ll leave you with a message, this one from the mayor:

“East Haven Animal Shelter is a great place to adopt a pet. Come out and visit, or volunteer to help the ACOs care for the pets. And be a responsible pet owner at home. I’d advise that anyone, especially those individuals who are retired or elderly residents living alone, to come to the shelter and adopt a cat or dog. At least consider it. Be sure to choose a pet that suits your lifestyle, one that is house trained. If you give one of these cats or dogs a second chance, they will love you twice as much and give you many years of happiness."

Mayor Maturo, I couldn’t agree with you more. Please consider adopting one of the many cats and dogs currently waiting for you at the East Haven Animal Shelter.  If you can't adopt, donations are needed to cover vet care.

The East Haven Animal Shelter is located at 183 Commerce Street East Haven, CT 06512 Phone: (203) 468-3249.
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 7am-3pm, Saturday, 8am-Noon Closed Sunday and Holidays.

To see their pets up for adoption: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/CT32.html

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