To Show Love For Animals Who've Been At Shelter For Many Months, Some A Year, Staff Held Sleepover

BRANFORD, CT — It was a typical friends' sleepover, with movie-watching and snack-eating. What wasn't typical is most of the guests have four legs.

Staff members of the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter spent the night Wednesday into Thursday with their animal friends. Friends they hope will soon leave the shelter for a forever home.

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Sadly, many animals have been in the shelter "for months and some even for years," said shelter director Laura Burban. So, the purpose of the sleepover, Burban said, was to "help alleviate stress for our long-term animals."

"Over time they become depressed and they start to deteriorate emotionally," she said. "We wanted to give them some normalcy like they would have in their home."

And the sleepover was also an effort to shine a light on the plight of long-term shelter cats and dogs.

"The animals all did amazing and enjoyed having a person and a snuggly bed to be with. We watched movies, ate animal-safe popcorn and ice cream, and just snuggled."

"We wanted dogs to be able to sleep out of their kennels, like they would at home, in a bed with a human that they know and love," Burban said. "We wanted cats to cuddle and get attention at night just like in a normal family environment, and we wanted critters to have the ability to run around after hours with their favorite staff friends."

Ophelia and Rasputia

Ophelia is a 12-year-old senior in the shelter for more than five months, and she "desperately wants back in a home."

Rasputia has been in a shelter for a year and a half, Burban said.

"We believe as both an animal shelter and an animal control department, it is our responsibility to give these animals the most love and humane treatment to help heal their hearts," Burban said. "And we believe last night did much more than that. We believe it gave them hope."

All animals pictured are available for adoption. Visit www.branfordanimalshelter.org