What if your dog disappeared from your backyard and is nowhere to be found? Or you see a giant black bear rummaging through your garbage. Perhaps you spot a coyote eyeing a child while they are playing outside.
Do you know the best course of action in all these situations?
Contact Officer Sean Godejohn, New Canaan’s dedicated Animal Control Officer, immediately. You can call (203) 594-3510 or email animalcontrol@newcanaanct.gov.
The mission of New Canaan Animal Control is to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the people, pets, and wildlife of New Canaan – they should be your #1 resource when you spot animals in need or unusual activity.
Officer Godejohn has worked on and off for Animal Control in Connecticut for the last 14 years and became the Chief Animal Control Officer for New Canaan in June 2023.
A Connecticut native, Officer Godejohn grew up in Naugatuck. When asked what he likes most about his job, he said, “I love providing assistance, help, expertise, and advice to New Canaan residents and animals that need help in an emergency.”
Like me, Officer Godejohn is passionate about helping shelter animals and has a rescue dog, Oscar, a Shepherd, and three rescue cats that his wife saved. He encourages all community members to adopt from our local shelters as many animals need forever homes that have received excellent care and are already spayed and neutered.
Sadly, he recently lost his pit bull mix, Daytona, to cancer. My heart breaks for him as my rescue dog Hannah is also battling cancer. Dogs provide such comfort and love and become members of our families. It’s devasting to watch them suffer through any illness.
Losing a pet or having a dog run away from home is equally as scary. Officer Godejohn encourages all New Canaan residents to call him immediately if they lose a pet, as often the pet is already in his custody.
Officer Godejohn receives calls about everything from wildlife and pet adoption to animal training and rabies. However, his most frequent calls are about wildlife. He cautions residents that intentionally harming wildlife is animal cruelty and a crime.
Through a grant from my Foundation, The Cathy Kangas Foundation for Animals, Animal Control can provide residents with coyote kits free of charge. The comprehensive kit contains noise makers, projectiles, and repellents. It’s important to note that small dogs and cats are at high risk from coyotes, and you should always take your pets indoors at night. You should also bring in bird feeders and remove fallen fruit from trees to prevent coyotes from grazing in your yard.
We are incredibly fortunate to have an animal lover like Officer Godejohn in our corner. I know the residents of New Canaan are in great hands regarding any wildlife concerns.
For more helpful information, please visit newcanaanpolice.org/animalcontrol, and to learn more about our local animal rescue efforts, visit cathykangasfoundation.org.
Cathy Kangas is a long-time resident of New Canaan.
The town is the home of her cruelty-free skincare line PRAI Beauty. She created the Cathy Kangas Foundation for Animals to help animals locally and globally. The Foundation sponsors Free the Shelters which pays adoption fees for shelter animals.
Cathy is a member of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of the United States, the country’s largest animal protection organization
