Former Volunteer Bequeaths Nearly $300K to Stamford Animal Control Shelter

The Stamford Animal Care and Control Center on Magee Avenue is the beneficiary of bequest of a former city resident who wanted her estate to pay for the care of the animals at the facility.

The Board of Representatives voted last week to honor the wishes of the late Cynthia Smith, a Stamford resident and nurse, who wanted the proceeds of her estate to pay for the feeding and care of animals at the beleaguered shelter, according to The Advocate.

Smith, who passed away last year left her estate, valued at $283,000, to the center where she regularly volunteered. The will specified the money be used for food, supplies and medical care of animals and cannot be used to help defray any city plan to build a new facility, according to the report, which can be found here.

The shelter has been rocked with controversy since last spring when the city and Stamford Police launched investigations into the shelter operations amid allegations that dangerous dogs were allowed to be adopted despite having histories of attacking previous owners.

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