Card Swipe System Coming to New Canaan's Spencer's Run

As the town prepares to implement a card swipe system to restrict the use of Spencer's Run to only registered pet owners, New Canaan Animal Control is still on the look out for those visiting without following appropriate rules. 

Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt said verbal warnings were issued to park-goers on both April 1 and 2. Both times, the parties using Spencer's Run did not have registration tags for the towns where they currently lived. This is the only documentation New Canaan requires for people to use the park, Kleinschmitt said. 
Kleinschmitt said pets using the park have to have verification that their rabies shots are up to date—via town registration—or they'll be kicked out. 

Coming in the near future, Kleinschmitt said the town would be implementing a card swipe system for entrance to the park. Registrants would be issued a keycard to use on a locking mechanism at the run. Out-of-towners would need to pay $40 to register for the system, in-town residents would pay $25, and there would be a $15 surcharge for each additional dog in the system. 

"This is something we're going to have to do because of the continual problems we have there," Kleinschmitt said. 

Dogs currently only need to be registered in New Canaan after 6 months old. However, anyone looking to use the park with younger dogs would need to register and pay the fee. Kleinschmitt said there are approximately 400 registrants in town already.