By Sarah Opdahl

“We’re excited to be welcoming a few dogs this Thursday,” New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare Society (NFSAW) Board President and Shelter Director Agi Pace shared earlier this week. With the shelter silenced for months following the turmoil they endured after the discovery of ninety hoarded cats in New Fairfield, all involved are welcoming the burgeoning sense of normalcy. Pace emphasized how “incredibly grateful [NFSAW is] to the wonderful volunteers, generous donors, and local businesses who stood by us during this challenging time. Their support—both financial and emotional—has truly kept us going.”

In crisis mode since late March, NFSAW faced enormous challenges. In fact, Pace pointed out that so much heart went into helping the cats, “The hoarding case was devastating—for the animals, our team, and ultimately the shelter itself…Our team and volunteers worked tirelessly to care for them and get them to safety, but the cost—emotionally and financially—was overwhelming.”

In retrospect, Pace is firm that “it was a situation where no small shelter like NFSAW should ever have been responsible for managing alone. Nearly 90 cats were found in extremely poor health, and they required urgent, intensive, and expensive medical treatment.” Though money poured in from the public, Pace believes the government bore more responsibility for covering costs. “Unfortunately, the town of New Fairfield and other agencies did not step in to help cover those costs. Although an Animal Control Officer was involved at the very start, the case was never taken over by the authorities the way it should have been.” She stressed, “Hoarding is legally considered cruelty, and cases of this scale require expert intervention—ideally with support from state or regional animal welfare organizations that have the resources to handle them. Because NFSAW absorbed the entire burden, we were left financially depleted and forced to temporarily shut down operations. It’s been incredibly hard.”

When asked, First Selectman Melissa Lindsey couldn’t comment specifically on funding, as this topic is involved in an ongoing legal matter. However, she said, “I can say that Ms. Pace is not completely accurate in her statements.”

There is a lot of good news in this story, first that “we’re rebuilding—thanks to the kindness of donors, volunteers, and friends who continue to believe in our mission. We’re committed to re-opening stronger and with clearer protections in place so we can continue saving animals without risking the future of the shelter itself.” There was also a happy end to the story for the bulk of the cats. The healthiest of them found new families and the remainder were transferred to specialized sanctuaries along the East Coast in order to care for their  extensive illnesses.

Given that this was a bustling shelter since it began in 1977, Pace shared that “this has been one of the hardest times we’ve ever faced.” Though the shut down was billed as temporary there was a “heartbreaking possibility of permanent closure looming,” Pace said, going on to say “We had to reduce staff hours and even say goodbye to the six dogs in our care, who were transferred back to Best Friends Animal Society. Thankfully, all of them have since found loving homes.” She went on to say, “While our shelter is currently quiet, what gives us solace is knowing that, even in this difficult time, the animals we helped are safe, healing, and loved. And we hold on tightly to the hope that we’ll soon fully reopen our doors and once again fill the shelter with wagging tails, purrs, and second chances.”

There will be a soft reopening over the coming weeks, with NFSAW bringing in a few animals at a time to help ensure they rebuild mindfully and sustainably. “More than anything, we miss the animals—and we miss being there for our community,” Pace said. “Our dedicated volunteers continue to visit, help prepare for incoming animals, and assist with planning and running our fundraisers. Their ongoing support has meant the world to us—they’ve been part of every step in helping us rebuild. As we move closer to reopening fully, we know our volunteer team will play a vital role in caring for animals and welcoming the community back through our doors.” They will be among the first to welcome the dogs that arrive today from the southern areas that were recently impacted by storms. NFSAW has also just restarted its TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program, and they are beginning to take in stray cats and kittens as calls come in.

“We still have work to do, but we’re moving forward with renewed hope, and we have our community to thank for that,” Pace said, sharing that residents can help most by taking part in upcoming fundraisers and making direct donations, as every dollar goes toward reopening the shelter and continuing their mission to save animals in need. An upcoming fundraising opportunity will be a lively evening featuring dinner, music, and a silent auction at the lovely Great Hollow Nature Preserve on Saturday, August 16, 6:00-10:00 p.m. Furthermore, Pace said, “We also welcome volunteers, foster families, and local advocates who can help us rebuild and raise awareness. Even simply sharing our story, our social media posts, or encouraging others to donate can make a huge difference.” Going forward, the plan is to proceed with all annual events, such as the Pet Calendar Contest, Giving Tuesday, and the Holiday Boutique. “These events are important opportunities for us to raise the funds we need to continue saving lives and supporting our community’s animals,” Pace noted.

There are a multitude of area groups to thank, Pace said, such as Discover Danbury and Candlewood Lake, “who created a beautiful video that helped raise critical funds and awareness for our shelter. We also want to recognize the amazing students of New Fairfield Public Schools, who organized creative fundraisers—like pajama day donations and handmade item sales—to help the animals.” The NFSAW Board was repeatedly and happily reminded that this community cares deeply about animal welfare. In fact, she said, “We’re filled with gratitude for each and every person who has helped us take steps toward recovery.” Ultimately, “together, we can bring NFSAW back stronger and continue being a lifeline for homeless animals.”