Wallingford Animal Control

02/17/2025

Why do we use Kuranda beds in our dog kennels?

At our shelter, the comfort and well-being of our dogs are top priorities. That is why we use Kuranda beds in our kennels. They provide off-the-ground support, keeping dogs dry, comfortable, and free from pressure sores. Most of our dogs also get soft beds and blankets on top of their Kuranda beds for plenty of extra coziness.

However, some dogs have a habit of shredding and ingesting blankets, which can be very dangerous for their health. For these pups, Kuranda beds are especially important because they offer a durable, easy-to-clean alternative that still provides comfort and support.

We’re working to gradually upgrade our older PVC Kuranda beds to the more durable anodized aluminum model, which better withstands power chewers. Did you know that we have a wishlist with Kuranda’s ShelterBeds program? If you’d like to help provide a safe and comfortable resting place for our dogs, you can donate a Kuranda bed directly to our shelter through this link:

https://shelterbeds.org/donate/13417

Thank you for supporting our shelter dogs! 🐾❤️

Want to support shelter pets in need? Kuranda Dog and Cat beds are comfortable, chew proof, easy to clean and made in the US. Donate to Wallingford Animal Shelter now!

02/16/2025

Please contact our friends in Meriden if you have any information regarding the individual who owned this poor cat. This is indefensible.

02/12/2025

We are delighted to announce that our beautiful boy Chip is officially an Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association (ACDRA) dog! After months in the shelter and no appropriate applicants, Chip finally left the shelter yesterday evening to spend his first night in a wonderful foster home!

We know that our new friends at ACDRA will find the most perfect match for our sweet Chippy boy, and he’s got the cutest, bounciest speckled foster brother to romp and wrestle around with until then! We are incredibly grateful for the assistance this wonderful organization was able to provide us, and we would encourage folks to check them out if ever you’re looking to adopt a cattle dog. Also, please consider donating to support the extremely important work that they and other breed-specific rescues do!

We would also very much like to acknowledge the effort that Jodi of Running For Rescues put into finding placement for Chip. After falling in love with our sweet guy, she was determined to get him out of the shelter one way or another, and she certainly succeeded by reaching out to some of her contacts at ACDRA!

Teamwork makes the dream work, baby!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to Jodi and ACDRA! 🐾❤️

02/08/2025

Congratulations to Hei Hei, Pua (not pictured), and dazzling duo Aster and Indigo (who, in true Aster and Indigo fashion, are being shy guys and hiding their sweet faces at the moment!) Many thanks to their wonderful new families for opening both hearts and homes to welcome all these sweeties in. May you be blessed with years and years of unconditional love and companionship!

Don’t forget to update us! 🐾❤️

02/06/2025

UPDATE: CLAIMED AND BACK AT HOME WITH FAMILY!

Poodle type mix, picked up roaming the area of Ward Street Ext., Wallingford. If you recognize or have any information on who might own this dog, please call our office at 203-294-2180 or email [email protected]. If this dog belongs to you, please be prepared to provide proof of ownership.

***PLEASE NOTE: THIS ANIMAL IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION! As such, we will NOT respond to any adoption inquiries or questions, and we will NOT accept adoption applications. Should this animal become available for adoption in the future, they will be posted to both Facebook and Petfinder. Please check out https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/ct/wallingford/wallingford-animal-control-ct227/ to see our current adoptables!

Thank you for understanding!

02/05/2025

Let’s talk about coyotes!

We receive a fair amount of calls from concerned citizens after they’ve witnessed a coyote roam through their property, for example. The concern is often that a sighting of a coyote in the vicinity means grave danger for all the neighborhood’s pets and children. The truth is that conflicts with coyotes are very rare; especially if we’re all being responsible and making good decisions.

Coyotes are an essential part of our local ecosystem, helping to control rodent populations and maintain balance in nature. However, as human development expands, encounters with these intelligent and adaptable canines are becoming more common. Rather than fearing them, we can learn to coexist safely and respectfully.

•Coyote Awareness & Preventing Habituation•

Coyotes naturally avoid humans, but if they become too comfortable in our neighborhoods, conflicts can arise. Habituation happens when coyotes lose their natural wariness due to easy access to food or a lack of deterrence. To prevent this:

✅ Never feed coyotes or other wildlife—this includes securing trash, removing pet food, and cleaning up fallen fruit or birdseed.
✅ Keep yards clear of attractants—dense brush, woodpiles, and food sources can encourage coyotes to linger.
✅ Supervise pets—keep cats indoors and dogs leashed, especially during dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active.

•Effective Hazing: Teaching Coyotes to Keep Their Distance•

Hazing is a humane and effective way to reinforce coyotes’ natural wariness of humans. If you encounter a coyote that is too close:

🔊 Make loud noises—clap, yell, or use an air horn.
👋 Appear large and intimidating—wave your arms, open your jacket, or hold up a stick.
💨 Use deterrents—throw small objects (like pebbles or sticks near the coyote, not at it), spray water, or shake a can of coins.
🚶 Do not run—maintain eye contact and back away slowly while continuing to haze if necessary.

Hazing is most effective when done consistently by the community. If a coyote does not respond at first, escalate your efforts until it leaves. If you know there’s a coyote hanging around, make it a neighborhood effort to haze it each time one of you sees it. BE SCARY. These animals do not WANT conflict. If they feel threatened in the area that they’re living, they’ll pack it up and move it out.

•Living with Wildlife: A Mindset Shift•

Coyotes are not villains; they are simply wildlife trying to survive in a changing landscape. Education is key to reducing fear and fostering coexistence. By understanding their behavior and taking proactive steps, we can ensure a safe environment for both people and wildlife.

All that being said, there are certainly instances in which potentially dangerous individuals need to be removed for the safety of the community. Per Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, “Be aware of any coyote behaving abnormally or exhibiting unusually bold behavior (e.g., approaching people for food, attacking leashed pets that are with their owners, stalking children, chasing joggers or bikers, etc.) and report these incidents to authorities immediately. Be aware of and report any coyotes exhibiting behavior indicative of rabies, such as staggering, seizures, and extreme lethargy.” Please note that daytime activity is a common occurrence and is NOT automatically indicative of rabies. To report animals that are behaving abnormally or are posing an immediate public threat, please call DEEP Emergency Dispatch Office 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 860-424-3333.

Let’s work together to respect nature, protect our pets, and appreciate the role of coyotes in our ecosystem. Coexistence is possible!

To learn so much more about these fascinating and unfairly maligned animals, go to https://projectcoyote.org/carnivores/coyote/

02/04/2025

🎉🎉We have Fantastic News- Poppy has been found SAFE! 🎉🎉

Thanks to some Good Samaritans and some helpful tips Poppy has been reunited. Poppy’s family is very grateful for all of CTDGRS help- Thank you to Melissa, Carol, Lisa, Mary and Leah for everything you did to help get Poppy safe! Welcome home sweet girl.

🚨BOLO - Please share! 🚨

🐾MISSING NEW CANAAN / MERIDEN / NEW BRITAIN AREA / NORTH HAVEN AREA 🐾

💰$10,000 CASH Reward, No questions asked💰

This beautiful lady was in a vehicle and both were stolen from Main St, New Canaan. She was chased to Meriden / New Britain and the vehicle stopped for gas in North Haven.

🚨 Vehicle: WHITE 2024 RANGE ROVER 🚨

She is microchipped, spayed, and friendly, please give her a share, and let's get her home!

02/03/2025

We are constantly looking for more and more ways to improve the quality of life for our shelter animals. Just because we are an animal control shelter and are but temporary housing for these guys absolutely does not mean we shouldn’t aim to be as physically and emotionally comfortable, low stress, mentally stimulating, skill building, and confidence boosting as we are able to achieve. Frankly, we feel that we OWE it to them to put forth that effort; that’s part of the role we have taken on!

One of the more recent tools we’ve placed in our enrichment toolkit is PLAY! More specifically, inter-dog play groups and inter-cat play groups. The benefits of these play groups for animals who enjoy participating in them are multifaceted and endless. Not only can play groups be a HUGE energy and stress release, which can help animals remain both physically and mentally healthy, but they can also help coax shy/fearful animals out of their shells; ALL of which can decrease duration of stay. We sometimes see such a massive transformation when we introduce a play buddy to a timid, withdrawn animal that we are able to determine the shy guy really needs to go to a home with an existing animal in order to be a happy, healthy, well-adjusted pet.

Play groups can also provide ample opportunity for us to witness a multitude of behaviors that we might not otherwise see in other contexts. Knowing that an animal exhibits a particular behavior can aid us in more appropriately matching the animal to an adopter, or to perhaps even decide that an animal needs a bit more work in an area prior to being placed, or just to be able to pass all of what we’ve learned on to an adopter so that they can avoid and eventually work through a potential trigger. On the flip side, we might also notice REALLY AWESOME qualities or skills that we can brag about to potential adopters. You never know what special bit of info will draw someone to their new best friend!

Play groups allow us to observe important information such as an animal’s play style or their de-escalation and conflict resolution skills, and we can use that knowledge to help better determine compatibility (or lack thereof) with applicants’ existing pets. Plus, by aiding them in honing their intra-species communication skills, helping them learn things like impulse control, and boosting their confidence in social situations, we can increase the likelihood that an adoption with existing pets is going to succeed long term.

Plus, let’s be honest. Romping around with your friends is just plain FUN! It’s fun for them AND us! Having those really positive, enjoyable interactions together just hits different and helps us bond on a deeper level with these guys. We get to see them being silly and goofy, letting loose, having a good time, without the weight of the world on their shoulders. We get to see a glimpse of what they’d be like in your home or your backyard, running and playing with your pets, perhaps your kids, and it makes us want to work *that* much harder to get them out of the shelter and into their forever homes, where they belong!

We’ve got some more really exciting enrichment tools joining our toolkit real soon, and we can’t wait to tell you about them!

1.Chip+Barley 2.Hazelnut+Chip 3.Chip+Barley

02/02/2025

**PLEASE NOTE**

The drop-off area for returnable bottles and cans has been relocated to the left side of the building! Moving forward, please leave your tied closed bags of returnables in the bins in the small gated area highlighted below! The gate will be unlocked between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Outside of those hours, please leave your tied closed bags in front of the gate or toss them over. Thank you for your continued support and for putting forth the effort to drop off all your bottles and cans!

PS - pleeeeeeaaase, for the love of dog, tie your bags securely closed before leaving them!

We are pleased to announce some exciting updated news. The bottle and can drop-off bins have been relocated. A gate has been installed to enhance the security of the bottles and cans. The bins are now situated to the left of the shelter. As a reminder, the funds generated from this program support initiatives such as microchipping every pet adopted from the shelter and senior pet assessments.

Thank you!

Located at: Wallingford Animal Control
5 Pent Road
Wallingford, CT 06492

02/01/2025

Though their new fams weren’t keen on the idea of being pictured on social media, we of course had to at least announce that these sweet kiddos have been adopted and send them off with lots of well wishes. Without further ado, congratulations and lots of love to Mewy Lewis and his new family, and Tairn and her new family!

Thank you so much for adopting! 🐾❤️

01/29/2025

**FOUND DOG**
Yorkshire terrier, picked up roaming the area of Burning Tree Lane, Wallingford. If you recognize or have any information on who might own this dog, please call our office at 203-294-2180 or email [email protected]. If this dog belongs to you, please be prepared to provide proof of ownership.

***PLEASE NOTE: THIS ANIMAL IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION! As such, we will NOT respond to any adoption inquiries or questions, and we will NOT accept adoption applications. Should this animal become available for adoption in the future, they will be posted to both Facebook and Petfinder. Please check out https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/ct/wallingford/wallingford-animal-control-ct227/ to see our current adoptables!

Thank you for understanding!

01/28/2025

Once in a while we end up with an animal in our care who needs some extra attention, whether physical or emotional, before we feel comfortable placing them in a forever home. Often, these are the animals that we end up spending the most time caring for, coaxing out of their shells, comforting, etc, and therefore they often become some of our favorites, as was the case with Beatrix.

For Bea, general fear and the stress of shelter life had her so shut down that it was difficult to determine what she really needed out of a home environment/family to truly thrive. The solution? Partner with our rescue friends to get her into a foster home where she can decompress and just come out of her shell at her own pace.

Yesterday morning, sweet Bea was transferred to our wonderful friends at One More Dog Rescue. We imagine it had been a while since she’d been able to just relax and get a truly restful sleep, so she has been catching up on her hardcore Zs and snuggling with her foster family ever since. ❤️🥹

We are so grateful to One More Dog Rescue, who has been partnering with us for many years now, to Beatrix’s awesome foster family for opening their home and their hearts to this little lovebug - and especially her foster mom for coming sooo many times to allow Bea to get to know her, and to Haley at K9 ETHIX for providing her expertise and support in getting Beatrix settled in! Team work makes the dream work! ❤️💪🏼

HAPPY LIFE, BEATRIX PAWTER!

01/26/2025

Congratulations to the stunningly handsome Mr. Whiskers and his wonderful new family!

We wish you endless happy years together, filled with all of the little weirdo Mr. Whiskers’ most favorite treats! 🍓🫐

Thank you for adopting!

01/22/2025

SOUTH CHERRY STREET AREA: Is this your cat or do you know where this cutie might belong? Please call us! 203-294-2180

01/22/2025

We’ve seen some alarming content recently about dogs being left outside in this extreme cold. We want to take this opportunity to remind folks that Connecticut law prohibits the tethering of dogs outside during extreme weather. Per Connecticut General Statute 22-350a, dogs cannot be tethered outside during extreme weather for a duration longer than 15 minutes.

Whether tethered or not, leaving any pet outdoors for longer than 15 minutes when it’s this bitter cold out there is risky business. Our pets are just as susceptible to frostbite, especially on their nose and paws, and hypothermia as we are. Depending on size, body condition, general health, and coat thickness, extreme cold can potentially kill a pet in one to two hours or less.

If you see a dog tethered, or a pet outside that appears to be in distress, please ask your local ACO or police department to take immediate action! At the very least, a welfare check can ensure that the animal is not in any danger.

You might also consider some added safety when it comes to your walks, and dress your pet accordingly! If you’ve got a small breed, a dog without much body fat, a dog with no undercoat, an elderly, or a convalescing dog, bundle them up in a warm winter jacket. You might also consider booties if you’ll be walking where salt and sand have been applied. At the very least, rinse your pup’s paws when you get home. Let your pet continue to enjoy their routines and exercise, but keep them safe and warm out there! ❄️🐶

01/20/2025

A big CONGRATS to our sweet, lovable Selma girl and her wonderful new mom! She’ll never be left on the streets again and she’ll never have to live in a shelter again. It’s alllll just love from here on out!

Thank you for adopting! 🐾❤️

01/19/2025

She is beauty
She is grace
She’s a wild puppyface

Miss Hazelnut seems like she was your quintessential cute puppy purchase without a lick of forethought into whether an active young dog would be a good lifestyle match, or whether there would be any time or inclination to train her. We’re going to wager a safe guess, based on the chaotic whirlwind that appeared before us a few weeks ago, the answer to each of those questions was a resounding NO!

Fortunately for us, for Hazelnut, and for whoever adopts this very spirited young lady, she is INCREDIBLY sharp, extremely eager to please, and she absolutely thrives on learning! If you know how to communicate to her what action you’d like to see from her, she picks it up in minutes. Honestly! She has picked up so much in the couple of sessions she’s had with our trainer, who feels that Hazelnut is truly just the bees knees by the way, and has learned some basic manners just by daily interactions with us. Hence, where we really think she would kick butt and take names, and where we would looove to see her go in an ideal world, is to an obedience or trick dog home, even just for funsies versus competition. It’s certainly not necessary, but she would probably thrive with someone who wants to dip their toe in the world of dog sports in general, just to see what they enjoy and what she excels at. Wherever this gal goes, it has got to be an ACTIVE and ENGAGING home; just as much for her brain as for her body!

Where she will NOT do well is with a novice dog owner, someone who isn’t home a lot or doesn’t have much time to devote, someone looking for a couch potato buddy, someone who needs a dog who will be satisfied with a game a fetch or a quick walk around the block, someone who doesn’t want a dog that requires additional training, or a family with small kids (they WILL get bowled right over!).

We know she’s ridiculously cute, but it’s important to be honest about your lifestyle, wants, and needs, because she’ll drive ya nuts if she’s not the right fit, we promise! When it IS the right fit, however, this sweet girl is going to be pure ✨MAGIC✨

Based on what we have see thus far, she has not shown any reactivity when walking past other dogs’ kennels or vice versa. She’s just your typical excited puppy! We will be doing more testing outside of the kennel with both dogs and cats and will update when we have that information.

THE BASICS:

🐾 Breed/mix: Rottweiler

🐾 Age guesstimate: 7-8 months

🐾 Approximate weight/size: probably about 50 lbs at the moment and of course still growing.

🐾 Energy level: HIIIGH! Hazelnut needs plenty of both physical and mental exercise! Walks, runs, games, training sessions, puzzles, nose work, etc.

If you’re looking for the sweetest, most loyal companion to deeper explore the dog world, and you feel this gal would be a good fit for your lifestyle, please fill out our adoption application!

https://www.petfinder.com/dog/hazelnut-74705172/ct/wallingford/wallingford-animal-control-ct227/

**ADOPTION PROCESS - PLEASE READ**

The very first step of our current adoption process is to fill out our online adoption application. However, you don’t necessarily have to be interested in a specific animal in order to apply! Feel free to submit an app that includes whatever desired criteria (size, breed, age, energy level, coat type, etc.) and we can keep it on file to contact you in the event an animal comes in who fits the bill!

Our pet adoption application can be found here, or you can request one via Petfinder:https://www.wallingfordanimalcontrol.com/pdfs/WAS-Adoption-Application.pdf

You can submit your app using whatever method works best for you, whether that be faxing it to 203-294-2181, mailing it to Wallingford Animal Control at 5 Pent Rd, Wallingford 06492, dropping it off in our mailbox at 5 Pent Rd, or attaching it to an email and sending it to [email protected]. All necessary information for any of these methods is also located right at the top of the application. Easy peasy lemon squeazy!

01/17/2025

A UC Davis study found that the long-fabled aggression specific to calico and tortoiseshell cats may be a legit phenomenon genetically linked to coat color. Of course that doesn’t mean ALL calicos and torties are feisty; we have met PLENTY of extremely sweet ones!

…..Unfortunately, Anita ain’t one of ‘em. This absolutely adorable little gal is a capital S-A-S-S SASS! (And some may even choose to use a different term. 😬)

Honestly, we can’t say we blame her. She has been through A LOT. She lived with an older woman, presumably all her life. Sadly her mom became unable to care for even herself and had to move to a facility where Anita was not welcome. We attempted to find family members who may be willing to give this senior girl a good home, but there was nobody, so the shelter is where she landed. The shelter environment can be extremely overwhelming and upsetting for some animals. Upset + overwhelmed + confined = defensive, especially for a cat who already has a bit of a ‘tude!

Then, as some of you may remember, Anita was adopted somewhat recently. Well, it’s very common that a cat’s behavior will regress when they’re plucked out of their familiar environment and put in a new, strange one. Each animal is an individual and will gain confidence and trust in their own time. Anita happens to be sensitive to change and upheaval, and it does take her a considerable amount of time to decompress in a new place. Unfortunately, the family who adopted her didn’t feel that they had the best environment for her to do so.

The good news is that she has settled down a metric crap ton since her arrival at (and return to) the shelter, so she DOES eventually settle in. If she can settle into the shelter environment, she can most certainly settle into the much more peaceful and less stimulating environment of the right type of home.

And it’s not all sass. Anita does frequently allow us to bear witness to her softer side! She loves toys and she absolutely *M E L T S* into a rolling, drooly puddle of mush for catnip. She rubs her face on her cage door when she wants attention or treats, but while the latter are ALWAYS welcome, the former has most definitely got to be on her terms! At one point we were able to provide Anita with an entire room to herself where she could free roam 24/7. Her behavior changed monumentally practically overnight from a scared, defensive cat, to a cat who explored, played, and constantly sought us out for affection! Unfortunately, since the time Anita was returned, our cat housing situation does not allow us to offer her that space where she’s able to flourish and show her true colors.

Listen. She will probably always have a bit of that sassy calico attitude. It’s just who she is! However, based on our experience, being in a chill home environment, unconfined by stainless steel, is going to do WONDERS as far as an attitude adjustment. We’ve seen it a million times! Someone who’s familiar with sassy cats just has to give this spicy little cutie pie a chance, plenty of personal space and patience, and lots of catnip and treatos!

THE BASICS:

🐾 Breed/mix: domestic short hair

🐾 Age guesstimate: in the vicinity of 8-10 years old.

🐾 Weight/size: pretty average if not a bit on the petite side, but looking a bit “fluffy” lately.

🐾 Energy level: pretty chill but does like to wrestle around with toys sometimes, especially when she’s all ‘nipped up!

🐾 Cattitude: if we haven’t made it clear, she can be a bit of a spicy pepper sometimes! As such, we do feel that an adult-only home would be best for Anita. As far as other pets, based on some of her reactions to other cats within paws reach, we think only pet/QUEEN BEE status would probably be most ideal.

Poor Anita really needs a hero to bust her out of here so she can finally blossom and thrive! Could that hero be YOU? Please complete our adoption app to get started!

https://www.petfinder.com/cat/anita-71281910/ct/wallingford/wallingford-animal-control-ct227/

This animal is or will be made current on core vaccines, will be spayed or neutered, and will be microchipped by the time of adoption. Additionally, cats will be tested for FIV and feline leukemia virus, and dogs will be tested for heartworm disease and tick borne illness. Courtesy of our nonprofit partner group, Friends of the Wallingford Animal Shelter, all senior cats and dogs will have a full senior work up.

**ADOPTION PROCESS - PLEASE READ**

The very first step of our current adoption process is to fill out our online adoption application. However, you don’t necessarily have to be interested in a specific animal in order to apply! Feel free to submit an app that includes whatever desired criteria (size, breed, age, energy level, coat type, etc.) and we can keep it on file to contact you in the event an animal comes in who fits the bill!

Our pet adoption application can be found here, or you can request one via Petfinder:https://www.wallingfordanimalcontrol.com/pdfs/WAS-Adoption-Application.pdf

You can submit your app using whatever method works best for you, whether that be faxing it to 203-294-2181, mailing it to Wallingford Animal Control at 5 Pent Rd, Wallingford 06492, dropping it off in our mailbox at 5 Pent Rd, or attaching it to an email and sending it to [email protected]. All necessary information for any of these methods is also located right at the top of the application. Easy peasy lemon squeazy!