Farmington Valley Dog Recovery Group Seeks Non-Profit Status

It all started with a dog named Sassy.

After the dog got loose from her foster family in Farmington when they were first bringing her home, about 100 local dog lovers banded together to find her.

Then another Farmington dog named Ellie went missing and many of the same people searched for her.

Both dogs were found, but others in the area have since gone missing. So about 88 people who were involved in the Sassy search party remain in a group formed called Dog Gone Recovery, volunteering time to help find missing dogs.

"We found that everyone had such a passion for these dogs, so we would continue and still do to this day," Dog Gone Recovery board member Donna Denehy, of Burlington, wrote in an email to Patch. "There have been many wonderful friendships formed because of these dogs, but like I said, Miss Sassy started it all."

Other members of the Dog Gone Recovery board include Bryan Rourke, of Avon, Erin Parker, of Bolton, who works with Best Friends Pet Care in Avon, Lisa Malenfant, of Bristol, who works with Animal Rescue Foundation in Terryville, and Michelle Daigle, of Bristol. 85 volunteers in the Farmington Valley, Plainville and Bristol also comprise the search group, hanging up posters and spreading the word about missing dogs.

"I chose to be part of this group because I believe we make a difference," Denehy said. "There was one dog who was on the run for 68 days. Every day we went to the trap and fed her, checked the camera to make sure she was there and safe and eventually we caught her. Sometimes it takes patience, not everyone always agrees on the methods or decisions that are made but we try to go with the majority and most important what is best for each individual dog. We are building some name recognition which is wonderful."

Denehy said that the group has been involved in eight dog recoveries so far. Most recently, Dog Gone Recovery helped find a dog lost in Hartford.

"If dogs are lost outside of the Farmington Valley, we help with posters and building visibility," Denehy said.

The group is seeking non-profit status and is raising money to cover the costs necessary to do so.

"Bottom line, the people in DGR are just wonderful, they care, they are committed and most important we all share a love of dogs," Denehy said. "Some people don’t even have their own which makes them even more amazing."

Dog Gone Recovery is planning a meet and greet with some of the dogs it helped fine on June 8 at 4:30 p.m. at Best Friends Pet Care at 60 Harris Rd. in Avon. Ellie, renamed Penny and living in Massachusetts, will be there, Dennehy said.