The sage proverb, “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together,” reflects the journey that brought this vision to life.

What began with a 2015 Board retreat and the decision to move beyond the aging Westport facility led, in 2019, to a remarkable hilltop property in Wilton. With 18 acres of peaceful landscapes, it offered the ideal setting for a new kind of pet resource center. By 2020, planning was underway, fueled by dedicated leadership, community support, and a shared sense of purpose.

Throughout the next 5 years, that vision became a reality. In late August of 2025, a week-long grand opening celebration welcomed nearly 1,000 attendees, including donors, volunteers, community leaders, and partners statewide. Today, the pet resource center is open, serving pets and their families throughout Fairfield County and beyond.

This digital scrapbook captures the moments, memories, and milestones along the way.

Though hard to imagine at first, the Wilton property had tons of potential. Here, you can see the original property overlaid with the drawings from the project’s lead architect, Animal Arts.

The Steering Committee led fundraising initiatives in the very beginning of the community phase. They were key leadership for the Capital Campaign and were comprised of donors, volunteers, and community members. Photographed from left to right: Theresa Geary, Director of Operations, and volunteers Cristina Lewis, Natalie Drucker, Jessica Bryant, Valerie Juengst, and Elona Logue.

Hosted by Mitch and Jean Lampert, this house party in Wilton is a perfect example of the fundraising efforts made in support of the Campaign. Photographed from left to right: Eve Basher (Asst. Director of Development), volunteers Jessica Bryant, Valerie Juengst, Mitch Lampert, and Gretchen Dale (Board of Directors Vice President and Campaign Chair), Barbara Naugle (Former Director of Development), and volunteers Elona Logue, and Natalie Drucker.

In 2022, folks gathered for the first Campaign Kickoff Presentation. Here, you can see Gretchen Dale, Board of Directors VP, and campaign chairperson sharing the vision for the pet resource center.

Mutts & Mimosas, September 2022

Yappy Hour at the Wilton property: 2022
Isabella Griffin, Volunteer & friends

Wilton Holiday Stroll 2022: Wendy Lee, Kim Salamone, Isabella Griffin, and Renee Traynor

Legislators gather for a property tour, before construction began in the summer of 2023.

Frank Lovello speaks at the Groundbreaking Ceremony: September 2023

And the project moves from concept to reality. Even the pups got in on the action.

Wilton Farmers’ Market: Fall 2023, Barbara Naugle, Former Director of Development and Wendy Lee, Chair of the Public Phase Committee.

Info Sessions were held in the cooler months of 2024 – 2025. Over 200 attendees joined to learn more about the pet resource center coming to town!

Westport Dog Festival: May 2024, Kayleigh Shettleworth, Development Manager and Louis Perrotta, Volunteer

Hard Hat Tours as construction began, Summer 2024: Barbara Naugle, Former Director of Development and Wendy Lee, Chair of the Public Phase Committee.

Georgetown Day 2024: Kayleigh Shettleworth, Development Manager, and volunteer Renee Traynor, spreading the joy!

Volunteers, Maria Lovello and Cindy Potter, construct “Barb the Builder” for the Wilton Scarecrow Festival 2024.

Westport/Wilton staff join James Bias, CHS’ Executive Director, on a Hard Hat Tour of their soon-to-be home base.

Kylie Allardice, Development Summer Intern, and Denice Fogel, Volunteer, help spread the word at the Wilton Farmers’ Market in June 2025.

Nonprofit leaders in Wilton take a hard hat tour with Jarred Barnes, Major Gifts Strategist, Delia Nolan, Wilton Shelter Manager, and James Bias, Executive Director in June 2025 as construction nears completion.

Attendees throughout Grand Opening Week signed a wooden beam, showcasing their thoughtful support and commitment to the campaign. It now lives in the Gretchen Dale Adoption Lobby!

Board members, Jo Ann Roberts, Nora Sweeney, and President, Ellen Sharon, pose for a photo at the Major Donor Reception!

Donors and Volunteers, Eileen Cook, Renee Traynor, Pattie Garrett, and Lorraine Jean-Marie pose for a cheerful photo. They each played a vital role as dear supporters of the campaign.

Surrounded by volunteers, donors, and staff, James Bias, Executive Director, raises a toast, thanking major donors for their dedication to pets.

Volunteers, Cindy Potter, Maria Lovello, and Maura Hennessey, and Board Vice President, Gretchen Dale at the Leash Cutting Ceremony.

Leaders from Amenta Emma, Animal Arts, and Viking Construction, along with James Bias, Executive Director, gather for a photo at the Leash Cutting Ceremony. Together, their unwavering dedication, from conception to completion, made this dream come to life.

Senator Blumenthal shares a few words at the Leash Cutting Ceremony.

Surrounded by legislators, board members, and a crowd of joyful supporters, Board President, Ellen Sharon, cuts the “leash,” marking the beginning of a new chapter for the organization and animal welfare in Fairfield County.

CHS Operations Staff gather for a group photo at the Leash Cutting Ceremony.

From left to right: (Top Row) Brandon Guy, Waterford Shelter Manager; Theresa Geary, Director of Operations; Christian Marshall-Jones, Communications & Marketing Coordinator; Becca Meyer, Newington Asst. Shelter Manager; Elizabeth Clavette, Newington Shelter Manager; Sara Nemence, Newington Asst. Shelter Manager; Denice McNichol, Waterford Asst. Shelter Manager; Jennifer Lynn Bethke, Fox Memorial Clinic Practice Manager; Shane Baillargeon, Facilities Technician; James Bias, Executive Director

(Bottom Row) Allyson Simerlein, Asst. Director of Operations; Delia Nolan, Wilton Shelter Manager; Enrique Henriquez, Facilities Manager; Emily Baillargeon, Behavior Coordinator

CHS Development Staff gather for a group photo at the Leash Cutting Ceremony.

From left to right (Top Row): Kathryn Schubert, Marketing & Communication Manager; Kylie Allardice, Development Summer Intern; Jarred S. Barnes, Major Gift & Corporate Partnership Strategist; Jill Fowler, Assistant to the Executive Director; Kayleigh Shettleworth, Development Manager; Barbara Naugle, Former Director of Development; Christian Marshall-Jones, Marketing & Communications Coordinator

(Bottom Row) Ashley Holm, Community Outreach Manager; Beth MacDonald, Donor Engagement Program Coordinator; Kerry Garofano, Director of Development, Marketing, & Outreach

What began as an idea has grown into something far greater than any one moment or milestone. This journey was built step by step, hand in hand, by community connected by purpose and compassion for local pets.

Every photo in this scrapbook tells part of that story: the visionaries who imagined what could be, the supporters who believed in it, and the countless individuals who gave their time, energy, and heart to bring it to life.

Today, the Pet Resource Center stands not just as a place, but as a promise that will continue to serve pets and the people who love them for generations to come.