Newtown Animal Care Advisory Board Considers Regulatory Role

NEWTOWN, CT — The Newtown Animal Care and Control Advisory Board reappointed its officers for 2026, created a new committee to study private donations to the town animal shelter, and began exploring whether the board should shift from an advisory to a regulatory role during its Jan. 7 meeting.

Adria Henderson was reappointed chair, Robin Olson was elected vice chair, and Kathleen Vrabel was reappointed secretary. Olson’s nomination was made by Jane Hellman and seconded by Joy Brewster. The slate was approved unanimously.

The board also voted to adjust its regular meeting schedule for 2026, moving meetings to 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.

A discussion on donations was prompted by Emily Whittaker, who raised the case of a Newtown resident seeking to make a memorial donation to the animal shelter in honor of a partner. Board members discussed whether donations should be accepted and, if so, how they should be managed and used. As a result, the board formed a donations committee to study the issue further. The committee includes Brewster, Michelle Rosenthal and Hellman.

Board members also revisited a topic first raised at a December 2025 Board of Selectmen meeting: the possibility of changing the Animal Care and Control Advisory Board from an advisory body to a regulatory one. During the Jan. 7 discussion, members noted that a regulatory structure could provide greater authority over shelter-related decisions but would require multiple procedural steps and approvals. Members questioned whether the potential benefits would outweigh the administrative effort required.

Henderson said she will distribute a list of requirements needed for such a change. The board agreed to revisit the issue at its next meeting on Feb. 18.

In program updates, Olson reported on a recent visit to the animal shelter to assess conditions for cats. She shared ideas to improve feline welfare and adoptability, including the creation of an enclosed outdoor area to allow cats access to fresh air and sunlight, as well as handling techniques to help cats become more sociable.

Olson also said Mario Abore has experience building outdoor cat containment areas and described his work as reasonable and effective. In addition, she noted that Barbara, owner of Outcats Grooming in Newtown, offered space on her business’s photo board to help promote cats available for adoption.
No public comment was offered at the meeting. The regular session adjourned at 11:56 a.m.

The board then entered executive session at 11:58 a.m. to review information from former animal control advisory boards. No votes were taken during executive session, which adjourned at 12:15 p.m.