The Beloved Animal Shelter Kicks Off a Campaign to Expand
By Wendy Carlson
Mochi and Noodle are known as the cuddlers at The Little Guild of St. Francis. The two diminutive dogs are in their bliss when they are ensconced in the arms of staff members who ferry them around the shelter. In a cat room, an inquisitive feline named King, has a birds-eye view of colorful fish projected on a computer monitor’s aquarium screensaver. King and the cute cuddlers are just a few of the dogs and cats up for adoption at the Guild, which plans to announce a fundraising campaign to build a new facility this spring.
The Guild is the northwest corner’s only no-kill shelter and has been in continuous operation since it was founded by Muriel Alvord Ward and Eleanora Kleinschmidt in 1957 in their Cornwall home. In 1989, The Little Guild moved to its current 3,000-square foot location in West Cornwall, where it focuses on finding homes for dogs and cats and providing outreach training and educational programs on pet care and health. But over the years it has outgrown the facility as the area developed. Since the outbreak of COVID the number of pets at the Guild has been on the rise, in step with a national trend this year showing that shelters are seeing an increase of dogs and cats, aggravated by inflation which has made owning and caring for pets more expensive and left owners struggling.
The growing need is part of the impetus behind the plans to build a new facility. “We’ve had such incredible community support for decades but the current building has hampered our abilities,” says executive director Jenny Langendoerfer.
The new 8,000-square-foot facility will be built adjacent to the existing structure. The current building can house up to 17 dogs and 23 cats and those numbers will stay roughly the same in the new space. But the kennels will be sound proofed and built in a pod configuration. Cats and dogs will be housed in separate parts of the building and will have quarantine rooms. The examination room will be enlarged and an all-purpose community room and meet-and-greet rooms will be added and there will be expanded outdoor training and play space.
The design aligns with the Guild’s mission to better serve the population of the surrounding communities, said Langendoerfer. Beyond placing pets in forever homes, the Guild provides temporary housing for pets of families in crisis, and it offers other services, including providing food and medical assistance to keep animals in their home, community engagement in education and training, and on-site pet pantry that provides free pet food and supplies.
The Guild partners with Friendly Hands Food Bank in Torrington to bring monthly pet pantry supplies to Torrington pet owners and holds an annual free vaccination event at Coe Park in Torrington, where it provides vouchers for no-cost spay and neuters at local veterinary practices. Adopters have access to no-cost training by staff, and schools and youth organizations can partake in educational programming. In turn, the community gives back, with more than 150 volunteers who donate their time to help care for the animals.
“It’s a powerful positive force for good that we want to continue to share,” says Karen Doeblin, board president.
So far, the Guild has raised $3.5 million, largely from foundations, toward the construction and will announce the campaign publicly once the plans are finalized. Meanwhile, The Guild’s Great Country Mutt Show, will be held this year on June 11, 11 am to 2:30 pm at Lime Rock Park. Dogowners will gather from around the county for this free event to compete in various categories including Sweetest Pair of Dogs, Best Ears, Best Trick, Best Lap Dog, Waggiest Tail, Pet and Parent Fashion Show, and last but not least –– Best Kisser!
