Town Event Going to the Dogs

Elizabeth McCarthy is looking to wave goodbye to summer with a "fun-raiser" filled with pups. McCarthy is the co-chairwoman of the New Canaan Dog Days of Summer, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday on Cherry Street.

"I hope families from all over will attend the fun," McCarthy said. "We scheduled it to represent a 'last bash of summer' the whole family can enjoy before the kids return to school. While there aren't many events where people are encouraged to include their canine companions, this one was actually designed for the dogs.

"I would like to convey that this event is geared toward a valued member of the family, not just a pet," McCarthy said.

The free Dog Days of Summer event will feature dog contests, pet vendors, adoptions and activities for children. It will benefit Strays and Others, a shelter; the New Canaan Local First iBlast Fund, to promote more events of this type in the town; and the New Canaan Police K-9 unit.

"The New Canaan Police have been trying to raise money for quite awhile in order to acquire a K-9 trained dog for their department," McCarthy said. "To my knowledge, the acquisition has been approved and they're working with a handler to acclimate the dog.

"I hope we'll be able to raise much-needed funds for the three charities that are scheduled to benefit from the net proceeds," McCarthy said. "We hope to establish this as an annual event that is uniquely New Canaan's. We know how much this town loves their dogs."

Click here to follow Daily Voice New Canaan and receive free news updates.