A lot of dogs in Newtown, Connecticut will be working overtime in the solace department. There are children and adults who will need the love of their pets to help them cope after losing a sibling, a son or daughter, a mother or wife.
The pets will need comfort themselves. They too have lost a beloved member of their family. Pictured above is one of them – Roxie, a Black Labrador. Victoria Soto, one of the teachers killed in Friday’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, was her person. Ms. Soto died protecting the children in her classroom.
Newtown Park & Bark
Trying to learn about Newtown, I went to the municipal website. In the menu under the “residents” tab, I saw they have been raising money for a dog park called Park & Bark that is scheduled to open in late 2013. It was sad, yet cheering, to look at the people looking so proud of their fundraising efforts and happy about building a place to play with their dogs.
Donate
If you wish to let the people of Newtown know in a practical way that you are thinking of them, consider donating to their dog park. There’s a donate button on the page. While it’s not directly related to the tragedy they are enduring, the town and people and dogs will go on. I hope that Park & Bark will open on schedule as a symbol that Newtown has survived this unspeakable loss.
See my Newtown CT for more on this tragedy.
Kim Moore
17 Dec 2012You’re right Dorothy! Donating to the Newtown dog park IS a nice way to let them know we are thinking of them! Donated!
Dorothy Stewart
17 Dec 2012Thank you so much, Kim. I’m sure your donation will be appreciated both for the dogs and as showing solidarity with the grieving community. Right after posting this last night, CNN showed Golden Retrievers outside the church where the memorial vigil was being held. They were “comfort dogs” from near Chicago brought by volunteers from Lutheran Church Charities just for people to pet and hug, and kids and adults were doing just that.