A little lost dog, his owners who haven't given up and the community that has rallied around finding him

WESTPORT/NORWALK CT - Frightened by fireworks on New Year’s Eve, Jordina Ghiggeri’s 11-year-old beloved Corgi, Andy, went missing in Westport. A horse trainer from Massachusetts, Jordina has remained in Connecticut to find her sweet boy. While four long weeks have passed, Jordina refuses to give up hope.

What is truly remarkable about this story is the outpouring of love from the Connecticut community and beyond. As Jordina and her husband Michael continue their search, folks world-wide have rallied to Bring Andy Home. Volunteers brought together through social media and the understanding of the love for a dog, have contributed by developing websites, fundraising, distributing flyers and in pounding the pavement day and night. Andy & Jordina continue to find themselves in the center of a growing circle of kind hearted people willing to dedicate time, money, effort, and support to reunite Andy with his “mom”.

The Bring Andy Home Facebook page currently has more than 2,100 followers and is growing daily. Andy seems so close to being reunited with his family but he continues to remain elusive. Most recent developments include a large group from "Team Andy" on a well co-ordinated overnight stakeout last Tuesday night. Searchers reported multiple sightings which led to the discovery of his den. In the following days humane traps were set up in hope of containing Andy. Unfortunately the activity seems to have spooked him and he continues to be on the run. Monday, Jordina and her team of volunteers are bringing back Salsa, a pet tracking dog from Pure Gold Pet Trackers, to aid in Andy's search.

Please help share this story. Together we can turn heartbreak into a homecoming!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bring-Andy-Home/323338351030976
http://bringandyhome.wordpress.com/

Jordina Ghiggeri can be reached at 1-781-264-5243
Michael Ghiggeri can be reached at 1-908-399-9428

New Haven food pantry for pets gets assist from Bethany Veterinary Hospital

By Bridget Albert
Register Staff
balbert@newhavenregister.com

Pets whose owners frequent the New Haven food pantry will be sleeping with full bellies thanks to a pet-food drive Bethany Veterinary Hospital held over the holidays.

A van filled to capacity recently delivered about 700 pounds of food, toys and other products for companion pets.

This is the third year Bethany Veterinary Hospital has held the food drive.

Diana Richter, executive director of the New Haven Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, said she was very thankful for the support.

“Bethany Vet is a standout for us. They helped us launch Thunder’s Pantry (pet food bank) and they are instrumental in keeping the pantry going,” she said.

Angie Reich of Bethany Veterinary Hospital said the staff there was happy to hold the food drive.

“Anyone of us could be there,” she said. “We would really like to see the shelves stocked year round (instead of just the holidays).”

Reich said her heart broke when she learned an elderly person was taking food home for his pet and not eating himself.

Thunder’s Pantry, the pet food bank, was started three years ago when volunteers noticed an increase in requests for canned tuna. They learned that much of the food they were giving out was being eaten by their visitors’ animals.

Richter said pantry visitors were feeding their pets before themselves.

The food pantry, which is open once a week, serves 250 to 300 people per week, Richter said.

She said that about a third of those also utilize the pet food pantry.

Richter said it is not uncommon to see visitors in line with their pets.

“One man lives in the woods because he isn’t allowed to have his dog in the apartment,” she said.

Bethany Veterinary Hospital said it would be happy to be a drop-off location for the soup kitchen. Anyone wishing to drop off wet and dry food, kitty litter, toys and other pet-related items may stop by during normal hours. The hospital at 782 Amity Road (Route 63) will make sure the animal supplies are delivered in a timely manner.

The Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen is at 311 Temple St. Learn more about the soup kitchen at www.downtowneveningsoupkitchen.com.

Call Bridget Albert at 203-789-5702 and follow her on Twitter @nhrbalbert. To receive breaking news first, text the word nhnews to 22700. *Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

Meet Baxter's older brother Chester

I admit I love all critters great and small in size.
And from reading this blog you know of my fondness for Gt Danes.
But what you may not realize is that there is another dog in my life and that is Chester our Airedale terrier.
Chester is an absolutely wonderful canine. He came to be a part of our lives when he was about two-years old. He lived with friends of ours who show dogs. So Chester was destined to be famous in the dog world.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) for Chester he did not develope anatomically correct so he did not qualify for the dog show circuit and our friends asked us if we wanted to make Chester a part of our lives.
He is an absolute angel. He is patient, kind and caring. The only times he gets impatient is when he believes it is time to go for a walk with his ‘pack.’
Yes, Chester has a group of canine and human friends he plays with regularly at the Racebrook Tract.
Chester and Baxter are best buds.
Pictured is Chester patiently letting me bandage him up for a photo op promoting a doggie first aid class. And yes he got some special treats for being so patient.

It's graduation day!

Baxter graduated from Practicing the Family Basics tonight.
I am not sure if I am happy or sad.
It has been so very helpful having Kathy and her crew there week after week to answer all my dumb questions and not make me feel stupid.
Baxy has certainly come a long way.
Tonight I didn’t even have to keep him on the easy walker but just his regular collar. And he didn’t even pull!
Thank you Paws N’ Effect for all of your help!
Anyone looking to train your dog see me for references!

Courage and love on four short legs

This is an amazingh story of courage by a little corgi.
Definetly shows the undeniable bond between man and his faithful companion.

Could Baxter really be growing up?

Baxter is now 9-months old and last week weighed in at 114 lbs. And he is still growing!
He still eats three times a day most days and reminds you when it is time to eat!
It almost (I am a skeptic) seems like he is beginning to listen better. He is coming when called, walks a little better on his leash and actually seems to be paying more attention to me.
That being said when I took him out this morning he practically pulled me across the yard. There were about 6 deer in the yard that I didn’t see but he sure did!
On the one hand I want to blame him for pulling but on the other he was excited and I should have paid better attention. If I had, he would have stayed inside until they had left the property.
While on vacation over the holidays Baxter spent some time at his grandmas house. Playing with all those Gt Danes should have tired him; but it didn't!
We spent some time at a friends home after picking Baxter up and he was allowed to play with their dog Abigail. They zoomed all over the yard and Baxter was leaping over obstacles including me. I am not sure how it happened but all of a sudden he was flying through the air over my shoulder and he never looked back!
While I know my obedience expectations are high for him I realize that although he is a big dog he still is a baby with lots of growing to do. In the meantime we will continue to practice his basic obedience skills and hope for the best!
Pictured in Baxters sister Wichie Woman. The name says it all!