by: Brittany Schaefer
Posted: Jun 8, 2024 / 11:34 PM EDT Updated: Jun 8, 2024 / 11:34 PM EDT NEWTOWN, Conn. (WTNH) – Thousands of people came out to a family fun, animal-filled festival in Newtown Saturday. It was a day to show love to all animals to celebrate the 18th birthday of a girl who is forever six. “Catherine loved every single animal. She loved bugs and insects and creatures. She didn’t discriminate, she just wanted to make sure animals in her care knew that she was kind and that they’d be safe,” said Jenny Hubbard, the mother of Catherine Violet Hubbard. Hubbard was killed in 2012 at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, but her legacy lives on exemplifying the bond between humans and animals at her animal sanctuary. The festival there showcased puppies, parrots, possums, but the focal point, flying high, were Catherine Butterflies. The North American Butterfly Association renamed the Monarch to the Catherine Butterfly for the day in her honor, something her mother said makes her heart flutter. “I loved seeing her when she could gather a butterfly in her midst. Just the symbolic meaning behind the butterfly and transformation. Catherine now being a part of the creatures she loved so much, it really is humbling,” said Hubbard. Among the thousands of people at the birthday party, were also 31 animal rescue groups with over 250 animals up for adoptions, conservation groups, animal educators, local artisans and vendors. Lucky Dog Refuge out of Stamford had at least one adoption, a dog named Charlie Brown. “Some of these dogs have been through a lot in their short lives and to just have their home and bright futures ahead of them means the world to us,” said Lucky Dog Refuge’s Samantha Rumore. Animal rescue groups said living like Catherine, showing empathy for even the smallest of creatures, proved the six-year-old was kind well beyond her years. “When it’s a child that has such love and care for animals, it catches your attention so much more and it makes it very meaningful and that’s why this event is so important,” said Nancy Abohatab of Connecticut Parrot Rescue. “Bring these dogs a new life and new future, I think she would be so happy. We wish she was here,” Rumore said.
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WHO: Subaru Stamford hosted a check presentation event with representatives, adoptable dogs, and children from Lucky Dog Refuge and the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford. WHAT: This was a big check presentation event to celebrate money raised by Subaru Stamford for both Lucky Dog Refuge ($36,513) and the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford ($38,661) as part of Subaru’s Share the Love Event®. There was a Kona Ice Truck for the children from the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford and several adoptable dogs from Lucky Dog Refuge. Between the dates of November 17, 2023, through January 3, 2024, $250 from every Subaru leased or sold at the initiative was donated to Lucky Dog Refuge and the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford, totaling a cumulative of $75,174 for our hometown charities. This is Subaru Stamford’s 16th year participating in Subaru’s Share the Love Initiative. It’s the dealership’s fifth year supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford and its second year featuring Lucky Dog Refuge. WHERE: Boys and Girls Club of Stamford, 347 Stillwater Ave, Stamford, CT 06902 WHEN: Monday, May 13, 2024 at 4:00 pm WHY: Subaru Stamford is deeply committed to helping its hometown community by giving back to critical programs that support at-risk youth and animals in need of safe homes, such as the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford and Lucky Dog Refuge. Children and animals are among our most vulnerable populations and Subaru Stamford is passionate about helping these charities fulfill their mission through various initiatives, including Subaru’s Share the Love Event®. Over the past years, Subaru Stamford has raised $763,377 funds as part of the Subaru Share the Love Event®. Subaru Stamford also collaborates with and supports Lucky Dog Refuge annually as part of Subaru’s Loves Pets® initiative. In the last 15 years, through the Subaru Share the Love Event®, Subaru of America, Inc. and our participating retailers have donated more than $250 million to charity, with customers choosing between four national charities and over 1,700 hometown charities. MORE: Find out more about the wonderful charities we are supporting. Lucky Dog Refuge We are not just a rescue. We are a refuge, a haven for dogs from dire backgrounds. We focus on the dogs most in need of saving - those abandoned by their families, the strays, the starving, the injured, the sick, and those in immediate need of help. We take them in, rehabilitate them, and provide housing, vetting, training, and extra doses of love. Whether at our physical site in Stamford, CT, or placed with one of our fosters, every dog we commit to is guaranteed love and a beautiful life with the forever family they so deserve. Since opening its doors in June of 2020, Lucky Dog Refuge has placed over 850 dogs and cats in need in happy, forever homes. Boys & Girls Club of Stamford The Mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford is to enable all youth to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. We serve 550+ at-risk K-12 youth daily. 95% come from diverse backgrounds, about half come from households earning less than $15,000 annually, and about half are single parent households. We strive to achieve our mission by offering facilities, programs, and support systems that assist young people in their academic, social, athletic, and cultural pursuits. Our formula for impact focuses on children's academic success, good character, citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. ABOUT: At our Subaru Stamford dealership, our goal is to provide our friends and neighbors from Southern Connecticut and beyond, with friendly and knowledgeable customer service. Our dedicated team of Subaru experts can walk buyers through the entire car buying process, from choosing the right new Subaru or used car for their Connecticut commute, to ensuring their monthly lease or loan payments are within their budget.
Relive the Puppy Bowl to see our featured pups - Betty, Inez, and Rebekah!
Introducing the starting lineup of this year’s Puppy Bowl through the music of Super Bowl LVIII’s real MVP, Taylor Swift. BY SEAN ZUCKER FEBRUARY 7, 2024 Forget The Masters, the Puppy Bowl is truly a tradition unlike any other (if you didn’t get the golf reference, it’s fine, and we can move on). Operating as counterprogramming to the Super Bowl, the Puppy Bowl features a collection of shelter pups cuddling it out to raise awareness of animal adoption and help find them homes. This year will see the 20th presentation of the game on Animal Planet and includes a record-breaking 131 puppies from 73 rescue organizations. Unlike its NFL counterpart, which will end with either the San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs (and countless Swifties as a result) feeling devastated, there are no real losers in the Puppy Bowl due to its 100 percent adoption rate. But there is still one throughline between the respective battles for the Lombardi and “Lombarky” trophies: the knowledge that the true star of the weekend this year is Taylor Swift. If you’re unconvinced of the connection, longtime Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner will be officiating his 13th game — Tay’s favorite number, of course. Despite performing at the Tokyo Dome in Japan each of the three nights prior, all signs point to Swift making an appearance at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Sure, that’s traditionally a 12-hour flight, but think of this as her opportunity to live out the plot of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles. (Only Taylor’s version would more accurately be titled Private Planes and Advanced Security Clearances.) So, while that timeline rules out the pop icon from dropping in on the Puppy Bowl, especially considering that it’s prerecorded (sorry!), her presence will still be felt, if we have anything to say about it. Below, 11 pups from Team Ruff and 11 from Team Fluff — starting lineups, if you will — introduced through the music of Taylor Swift. Team Ruff Rebekah
Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, CT) — “The Last Great American Dynasty” Judging by the spelling, I’m going to assume this pup was also inspired by the life of American socialite Rebekah Harkness, who is the subject of the above folklore song and whose former residence Swift has owned since 2013. Look for this Rebekah to ride up “the afternoon train” into the end zone this weekend. By Brianna Gurciullo, Staff Writer STAMFORD — Hours before Taylor Swift — potentially in person — watches her boyfriend play in the Super Bowl, three Stamford puppies with names inspired by her lyrics will appear in the Puppy Bowl. Inez, Betty and Rebekah will represent Lucky Dog Refuge in Puppy Bowl XX, which is set to air Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet. The Stamford rescue noted in a press release that the names Inez and Betty came from Swift’s song “betty.” Swift mentions the name Rebekah in another song, “the last great american dynasty.” All three puppies have been adopted since the filming for the Puppy Bowl took place — and two have new names. Lucky Dog Refuge plans to hold a watch party at Third Place by Half Full Brewery on Feb. 11. The star trio will be in attendance, as will adoptable dogs. In the last Puppy Bowl, Twinkle, a Husky mix, represented Lucky Dog Refuge. Co-founder Maria Mende adopted Twinkle, who now goes by Emma. More than 100 puppies are on the Puppy Bowl XX roster, including 14 from Connecticut. After the Puppy Bowl airs, the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs will go head to head in Super Bowl LVIII. Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, plays for the Chiefs. Here is the story of each of this year’s puppies from Stamford: Rebekah (Poppy) Rebekah is a German Shepherd-Neapolitan Mastiff mix who played for Team Ruff. A local rescuer found her in Mississippi when she was a few weeks old, according to Lucky Dog Refuge. People were selling puppies at a gas station, and Rebekah was abandoned after no one bought her. Lucky Dog Refuge paid for a surgery for Rebekah, who had a fractured femur. After she came to Connecticut and played in the Puppy Bowl, a Stamford family adopted her, naming her Poppy. Her family said that Poppy and her adopted sister, fellow Lucky Dog rescue Kiki, love playing together. Poppy is particularly fond of tennis balls, tends to be a little too rough with her toys and prances to her crate when it is time for food. Inez (Izzy) Local rescuers took Inez and her sister Betty — who are Australian Cattle Dog-Poodle mixes — out of a pound in Mississippi. Her Stamford parents adopted her a day after she played for Team Fluff in the Puppy Bowl. They described her as happily spoiled and full of energy. She likes to snatch and play with her parents’ socks and makes it known that she wants to play tug-of-war by groaning. She also closely examines new foods before she tries them. Betty While her sister was on Team Fluff, Betty was on Team Ruff.
She was the last of three puppies to be adopted. Her Stamford family, who are Swifties, brought her home in December and kept the name Betty. She has two human siblings who are in their teens. By: Mark Sudol More than 100 puppies are competing in this weekend's Puppy Bowl.
Of the 14 from Connecticut, three are from Stamford. "We were hoping to get one, and to get three is just incredible," said Lucky Dog Refuge CEO and co-founder Kirstin Mende. Inez, Betty and Rebekah, all adopted from Lucky Dog Refuge, are competing in this Sunday's Puppy Bowl XX. "It's a dream come true. I couldn't have written a better story for these dogs and I'm so grateful to the people who adopted them because they're giving them the best homes and the best life," said Mende. Their names are inspired by Taylor Swift lyrics. Sisters Betty and Inez are Australian Cattle Dog poodle mixes that were rescued from a pound in Mississippi. Rebekah is a German shepherd mix who was abandoned in Mississippi. "To go from that to the Puppy Bowl, it's the ultimate Cinderella story," said Mende. Rebekah and Betty played in the Puppy Bowl for Team Ruff. Inez played for Team Fluff. "We're rooting for everyone, we're rooting for adoption," said Mende. There’s also a watch party at Third Place by Half Full Brewery in Stamford Sunday. All three dogs will be there. The Puppy Bowl airs Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet. STAMFORD, CT — Three rescue dogs from Stamford's Lucky Dog Refuge will soon enter their Puppy Bowl Era.
Rebekah, Inez and Betty, named after characters in some of Taylor Swift's hit songs, will compete for the "Lombarky Trophy" in Puppy Bowl XX. The three-hour program will be simulcast on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and Discovery+ at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 11. The Stamford pooches, which have all been adopted in recent weeks, are among 12 puppies from Connecticut that will be featured in Puppy Bowl XX. Leading up to the Puppy Bowl and after it airs, Warner Bros Discovery, Animal Planet’s parent, is partnering with Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization, to help the animals find loving homes. The organization will match donations to cover adoption fees for their pet lifesaving centers nationwide from Feb. 7-14. To adopt an animal, text PUPPY to 707070 or head to PuppyBowl.com/donate to double your impact or find a shelter near you. Puppy Bowl organizers say this is the biggest year yet for the Puppy Bowl, which features 131 puppies from 76 shelters and rescue groups in 36 states and territories. Adoption is the ultimate goal of the Puppy Bowl, a raucous competition between Team Ruff and Team Fluff The all-important “Adoptable Pet” segment features puppies — and a few kittens — from 14 shelters and rescues across the country. They’ll be introduced by country singer Miranda Lambert, whose nonprofit MuttNation will feature a senior dog seeking a forever home. With the “Lombarky” trophy and MVP (most valuable puppy) award at stake, the program is rife with Super Bowl puns. An Underdog Award will be awarded, too. To celebrate 20 years of the game, four previous Puppy Bowl players return to be inducted into the all-new Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame. The competition kicks off with the starting lineup for teams. They include Dash, a Pomeranian/pug, and Maggie, a chow chow/American Staffordshire terrier representing the U.S. Virgin Islands for the first time, who are leading Team Fluff. Inez, who is on Team Fluff, is an Australian Cattle Dog/Poodle mix. She was adopted one day after taping the Puppy Bowl, according to Lucky Dog Refuge, and lives in Stamford. Inez's sister, Betty, will be on Team Ruff. She stayed a bit longer at Lucky Dog Refuge after coming to Connecticut but found her forever home in December. Both dogs were pulled from a pound in Mississippi by local rescuers before they came to Connecticut. They're named after characters mentioned in the Swift song "Betty." "Her name is still Betty — we're big Taylor Swift fans in this house so we couldn't change the name," her family said in a news release from Lucy Dog Refuge. Rebekah is a German Shepherd/Neopolitan Mastiff mix, and on Team Ruff. Named after a character mentioned in Swift's "The Last Great American Dynasty," Rebekah, who has since been renamed Poppy by her forever family, was originally found in Mississippi as a puppy just a few weeks after suffering a femoral fracture that needed extensive surgery. As the game on Feb. 11 progresses, it will be revealed which puppies take home the MVP and Underdog trophies. Some of the other puppies that will be highlighted include Sweetpea from Bosley’s Place in Smyrna, Georgia, the smallest puppy at 1.7 pounds, and Levi, a 72-pound Great Dane at Green Dogs Unleashed in Troy, Virginia. Six special needs puppy players will also be introduced, including Riddle, a pug terrier who suffers from the neurological condition cerebellar hypoplasia; Mr. Bean, a papillon who only has his two hind legs; and four pups who don’t let their deafness slow them down on the gridiron. Also, “Pup Close and Personal” segments will share some of the all-star athletes’ backstories. Featured will be Baltimore Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley’s rescue foundation which trains dogs, including hound Linus, to support people with special needs; and Beignet, a New Orleans dachshund, who gets a nose-to-tail makeover before the big game. Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner returns for his 13th year and for the first time, will have a puppy assistant coach, Whistle, who helps him call the plays and fumbles. Underscoring the 20th anniversary of the Puppy Bowl — and that puppies rule — the producers are making it more adorable by putting pups behind the camera, in the control room and in other poses to show that puppies are in control of the production. The Puppy Bowl begins with a pregame show at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Animal Planet that goes behind-the-scenes on the Puppy Bowl draft with exclusive interviews with coaches and players on topics such as how DNA testing helped determine the top players, a preview of the Kitty Halftime Show, and a check-in with Bissell Pet Foundation’s rescue mission. Audiences can follow the conversation on social media with #PuppyBowl, and follow Animal Planet on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok, as well as Puppy Bowl on Facebook for more updates. |
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