Waggin' for Wheels $5,000 from Fundraising Goal

In just three months, local businesses and residents have raised close to $15,000 to help Avon-Canton Animal Control Officer Beverly LaPlume and the purchase a 2011 Dodge Caravan to replace the current animal control vehicle, a declining 1998 Ford Windstar.

That puts the Waggin’ for Wheels fundraising initiative, spearheaded by Avon family business , about $5,000 away from raising the $20,000 needed to pay for the new animal control car. The target deadline to raise that amount is the end of September, according to Capri Frank, project manager for Waggin’ for Wheels and Miller Foods’ Oma’s Pride.

The next major fundraiser is a tag sale that will be held at Miller Foods at 308 Arch Rd. on Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Frank said donations from area residents are being accepted.  Pet-related or household items that are “gently used” and do not need repair are ideal, Frank said. Appliances and large furniture items will not be accepted, but chairs and other “saleable” items qualify, LaPlume said. Few items have been donated so far.

Items can either be dropped off at Miller Foods by the garages outside, or Avon and Canton residents can contact Miller Foods at 860-673-3256 and ask for Capri Frank or her cousin, Camlyn Stevens-Miller to request that items be picked up from their homes. Donors can also e-mail Frank at Capri@omaspride.com.

Mitchell Auto Group, of Simsbury, plans on donating a portion of its proceeds through the month of August to Waggin’ for Wheels, Frank said. The car company is also helping to locate the Dodge Caravan for LaPlume.

A local Avon resident is also sending out applications for grants for Waggin’ for Wheels, Frank said. The woman helped out with fundraising for the Avon Free Public Library expansion project that is well underway.

Frank said Waggin’ for Wheels has been a “real nice showing for what people are capable of giving,” chalking it all up to local interest in helping the community and thankfulness for LaPlume’s activeness in Avon and Canton.

“People in the dog world appreciate her services,” Frank said. “She provides a really good service to the town, but unfortunately there are not enough funds for those types of things, like her [new] vehicle….”

For instance, LaPlume searched nearly a month for Dolce, a Chihuahua who escaped from boarding at Best Friends Petcare.

Avon resident Fernanda Jacobs was out for a walk Monday morning, and spotted Dolce. She managed to loop a leash around his neck so he couldn’t get away as LaPlume came to pick him up and take him to Animal General for rehabilitation. Dolce most likely spent almost the whole month in the woods, LaPlume said, often spotted between Fisher Meadows and Old Farms Road, possibly relying on road kill for food and water from nearby streams and ponds to survive. He was “too scared” of people, LaPlume said.

When Dolce’s owner asked if she could reward LaPlume for helping find her dog, LaPlume said, “I’d rather you give it to Waggin’ for Wheels,” and as a result of the rescue, a few people have donated to the cause.

Recently, LaPlume was out until 8 or 9 p.m. at night looking for a poodle and Schnauzer that dug under a fence and escaped. The owner had to pay $30 to retrieve the dogs from the once they were found, but the woman said of the van fundraising, “You need this so bad,” and wrote her a $100 check for Waggin’ for Wheels.

Community participation has helped in the search for missing dogs, like Dolce, as residents keep an eye out and report to LaPlume if they’ve spotted the pet. Similarly, community is playing a big role in raising money for the new animal control vehicle, which is largely what has made Waggin’ for Wheels such a success.

LaPlume said she is thankful for the response from the community.

The service light in the current animal control vehicle has been on since April, a day after its breaks were repaired. LaPlume took it too a mechanic who said it might have to do with a minor electrical glitch.

“It doesn’t seem to have any affect on it,” for now, she said, but she eagerly awaits her new vehicle.

“It’s my office, it’s out there on the road every day,” she said.

For those who don't have tag sale items, monetary donations can be sent to:

Town of Avon/Waggin' for Wheels
Attn: Lt. Kelly Walsh
Avon Police Department
60 West Main St.
Avon, CT 06001