Richard Epstein is a longtime Westporter (and dentist, Norwalk Symphony and chamber group musician, and classical music host on WPKN-FM.)
But today he writes about animals. Richard says:
Thirty years ago, when I had my dental office in my Red Coat Road house and the patients had a view of the backyard, one of them looked at me and asked, “Is that your pig?”
It wasn’t.
But the Westport News reported on the incident. Here’s that story:
The other day, he had another excellent encounter with Animal Control.
he and his wife Ina recently put down their beloved dog Pippa, due to kidney disease.
Pippa
During the last 6 months of her life, the Epsteins got her a companion.
Winter — a fluffy little 3-year-old miniature schnauzer mix — kept Pippa happy.
Winter
After Pippa was gone, Richard learned of Gypsy: a 3-year-old spayed Pomeranian/husky mix at PAWS (the Pet Animal Welfare Society).
Richard, Ina and Winter all loved her. They adopted Gypsy on the spot, and brought her home.
Gypsy
Yet within half a second of entering the house, she turned tail — leash and all — and raced down the driveway.
She took a left into traffic on Wilton Road, zipped under the bridge and onto the entrance road to the Merritt Parkway and Westport Weston Family YMCA.
Richard ran after her, “at a pace I have not maintained in years.”
Suddenly, he says, several drivers stopped their cars. They barricaded the ramp, and ran out to help catch Gypsy.
One man — who Richard later learned is a Y lifeguard — followed the dog on his electric bike.
Winter reversed course, running across a neighbor’s yard. Richard and others leaped stone walls, trying to follow on foot.
Gypsy was faster than them all.
Animal Control and the Westport Police were called. Richard thought of the pig, 30 years ago.
“Dog Gone Recovery” was also called. They sent members from both nearby and far away.
But by the time Richard returned home at 11 p.m., his dog was still gone.
He and Ina went to bed sad and worried. Their concern was magnified at 4 a.m., when thunderstorms woke them. They thought of the poor lost animal, in the rain.
Finally, 20 hours later, Recovery volunteers — who had driven from Canton, near Hartford, to help — used rotisserie chicken to lure Gypsy into a crate.
They returned her to PAWS.
Gypsy, recovered.
“I grew up in Westport, in the days when we knew all our neighbors,” Richard says.
“But this experience makes us grateful that after 40 years on Red Coat Road, we can still count on people nearby to help out when it is needed.”
The Epsteins will wait a while before getting a companion for Winter. They’ll make sure it’s not a “runner.”
In the meantime, Richard says, “we are so grateful to the many unsung heroes who joined in the search: PAWS, Dog Gone Recovery, Damian McCallum from the YMCA, Lisa from Weston and her Mini Cooper convertible, Kate down the street, Westport’s Police and Animal Control, and the many neighbors who watched vigilantly and helped us finally recover Gypsy.”
They returned the adoption fee back to PAWS. They’re making a donation to the Dog Gone Recovery Network.
Meanwhile — if you have a fenced-in yard — Gypsy is still available.
(Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com)
(Unsung Heroes runs every Wednesday on “06880.” Please click here to help us continue this, and many features.)
Roundup: “06880” Comments, Bonnie Raitt, Tennis Court Trees …
The “06880” Comments section has occasionally gone off the rails.
It belongs to all readers — not just a few, who veer off topic or use it to communicate with each other.
Effectively immediately, we’re instituting a few new rules:
A limit of 3 comments (1 initial one, and 2 replies) per thread. This is down from the previous 5. Think before posting: Is this really worth using one of my 3 comments for? (NOTE: This rule can be waived by the executive editor, for truly worthwhile, in-depth and/or serious topics.)
All comments must be directed to all readers. Offer your thoughts to the topic at hand. Do not engage in back-and-forth with 1 or 2 readers. If you do address a specific reader, this is acceptable: “Susie, I’d like to know more about why you think xxxxx. Have you considered yyyy?” Unacceptable: “Sally, were you the person who did xxxx and yyyy?” If you’d like to correspond directly with another commenter, please send me an email. I’ll forward it to that person.
One exception to the above rules: Our Friday Flashback posts are open to unlimited comments, and unmoderated back-and-forth dialogue. Have at it on Fridays at noon! For every other “06880” post: Please use common sense, and common courtesy. Thank you!
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For as long as the Levitt Pavilion has hosted a Big Name for its annual fundraiser, they’ve tried to get Bonnie Raitt.
Last night, they did.
The 13-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member/guitarist whom B.B. King called “the best damn slide player working today” thrilled a sold-out crowd, on a humid but gorgeous evening.
Backed by musicians she’s worked with for decades, the 76-year-old showcased her wide range of guitar and vocal talents, blending rock, blues, country and folk. She even took a turn on keyboard.
The Levitt has welcomed stars like Willie Nelson, John Fogerty, Cyndi Lauper, Smokey Robinson, Chuck Berry, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and many more.
At last, they’ve added Bonnie Raitt to the list.
Bonnie Raitt, at the Levitt Pavilion. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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A few hours earlier, Westporters took advantage of perfect summer weather to head to Compo.
Longtime beachgoers have noticed an increase in the number of people who actually leave the shore, and go in the water (one of the primary functions of a beach, after all). Sandbars created by recent storms have made it easier to wade out.
This was the mid-afternoon scene. It’s one of the reasons we live here — and love it so much.
(Photo/Dorothy Robertshaw)
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Speaking of Compo: We’ve got a new “06880” header, on our desktop and laptop platforms.
Thanks to William Weiss, for this classic mid-summer view:
(Photo/William Weiss)
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Richard Fogel continues to document the renovation of the Staples High School tennis courts.
Today’s photos show the removal of a number of fir trees, between the parking lot and the courts themselves.
Trees have been removed from between the parking lot (left) and tennis courts (right)
View from the top of the Staples “hill” parking lot. Tennis courts are in foreground; trees that have been removed are center rear. (Photos/Richard Fogel)
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The next Executive Networking Series — set for August 27 (6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Nômade), is for the dogs.
The event — bringing business owners, executives, entrepreneurs and local leaders together, while introducing companies to non-profit organizations — highlights the Pet Animal Welfare Society (PAWS0.
The series is a partnership between VTB Financial and Prestige Cabinetry & Design LLC. Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Sure, we understand that registration for Westport Weston Family YMCA programs have already begun.
And yeah, it’s kind of cute that the Y’s promotion includes an orange-clad family, with cute little jack-o-lantern outfits.
But adding a paper pumpkins throughout the building is a bit much.
Dude, it’s August 10th.
(Photo/Dan Woog)
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We’ve gotten a lot of deer photos lately, for our “Westport … Naturally” series.
Sometimes, there are 2 in the shot.
Seeing 3 — including a fawn — is a rarity.
Dalton Delan captured this early morning “breakfast” yesterday, on Spicer Road.
(Photo/Dalton Delan)
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And finally … speaking of the tennis courts (item above):
(Anyone for tennis? How about anyone for clicking here to support “06880,” your hyper-love blog? We’d “love” that. Thank you!)
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Posted in Categories, Entertainment, Environment, Staples HS, YMCA
Tagged "06880" comments, Bonnie Raitt, business networking, Levitt Pavilion, PAWS, Staples High School tennis courts