WEST WINDSOR — In February, residents of West Windsor and staff at the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society were captivated by a pair of dogs who were spotted running around.
“It was during the coldest part of the winter and we were having back-to-back storms,” recalled Jackie Stanley, executive director at Lucy Mackenzie. “We had call after call from people on the adjacent road.”
Residents observed that the pups were sprouting porcupine quills, having had an encounter with the critters while outside. The calls started coming in on a Saturday and continued as staff and volunteers started working to catch the pair.
“Nobody could get close to the dogs,” Stanley said.
A have-a-heart trap was set up and one dog was caught that Tuesday, with the other on Friday. The pitbull-and-boxer mixes, determined to be around 2 years old, were named Wilson and Chuck.
No one came forward to claim them.
“They’re absolutely lovely dogs,” Stanley said. “We just fell in love with them. They’re so charming and photogenic beyond belief.”
Their story inspired a volunteer to create a short film about Wilson and Chuck called Castaways, which will premiere online at 7 p.m. on Friday via lucymac.org. The two dogs have since made a full recovery.
“The film goes through us going out to find them and them being trapped and their lives when they were at the shelter,” Stanley said. “All of this coincides with the pandemic. It really shows their lives intersecting with this weird time during all of our lives.”
Castaways will also serve as a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which had to cancel its biggest event of the year, “Paws for the Cause Auction & Dinner,” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a typical year, the event raises around $75,000 for the humane society.
“Our cash flow has been different,” Stanley said.
In addition to events and donations, Lucy Mackenzie also raises money through low-cost spay and neuter clinics and dog training sessions.
While both programs have resumed as guidelines ease, the couple months’ pause made a difference.
“Our donors have been really consistent through the pandemic,” Stanley said.
And the story of Wilson and Chuck helped the humane society reaffirm its mission.
“You look at these little innocent creatures and however they came to be alone … they didn’t stand a chance in winter,” Stanley said. “We can only help them write their own story moving forward.”
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Here’s a look at other events that are coming up over the next few days.
■Windsor resident Michael Welker will discuss the Windsor Community Gardens during a virtual gathering of Upper Valley Green Drinks from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Email Zach@sustainablewoodstock.org for Zoom link.
■Jessica Hong, associate curator of global contemporary art at Dartmouth’s Hood Museum of Art, will give a virtual talk titled “Exploring Multiplicities of Queerness through Art” from 6-6:30 p.m. Hosted by the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL) and the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Network. Register at hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu.
■Author Jenn Shapland will discuss her memoir, My Autobiography of Carson McCullers, with Alexander Chee and Dustin Schell as part of Still North Books & Bar’s Still Queer Reading Series during an online event at 7 p.m. Tickets are free. Donations of $10 will be accepted, with the proceeds split between the bookstore for event costs and the New Mexico Community Foundation Native American Relief Fund. Register at stillnorthbooks.com.
■New Hampshire’s Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Elizabeth A. Talbot, who is also a professor of medicine at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, and an infectious disease and international health physician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, will give a virtual talk titled “COVID-19: An Epidemic Investigator’s Worst Nightmare” from noon-1 p.m. Sponsored by OSHER@Dartmouth. Register at osher.dartmouth.edu.
■Boston-based singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and looping artist Kali Stoddard-Imari will perform from 7-8 p.m. as part of Fairlee Community Arts’ virtual Covid Concert Series. Visit fairleearts.org for streaming information.
■Billings Farm & Museum, located at 69 Old River Road in Woodstock, will reopen on Saturday. The nonprofit will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday-Monday. $4-$6. Masks are required for visitors older than 2. billingsfarm.org.
■Bradford Vt.’s Grace United Methodist Church, located on North Main Street, is offering its Sizzlin’ Chicken Special via takeout beginning at 11:30 a.m. Get ½ a grilled chicken for $5.
■The Middle Branch Grange of East Bethel, located at 78 Store Hill Road, is hosting its Annual Strawberry Supper from 5-7 p.m. Takeout only, no special orders and no pre-orders. Meal includes ham, baked beans, potato salad, brown bread and strawberry shortcake. All meals are $10.
■A group of Upper Valley residents are gathering for an “Uprising For Racial Justice” car caravan in Norwich. People will begin gathering at 4:30 p.m. in the back parking lot of King Arthur Flour at 135 Route 5 before leaving on a 17-mile route. Signs and decorations encouraged. Email norwichuprising@gmail.com for more information.
■Library Arts Center: Pastel Society of New Hampshire Member Show virtual exhibit. View at libraryartscenter.org through July 28.
■ArtisTree Community Arts Center: En plein air exhibit “Vermont and The Great Outdoors” on display through Aug. 15 at 2095 Pomfret Road. Gallery open 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday. Visitors are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing. artistreevt.org.
■Virtually visit Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park Sculptor-in-Residence Zoe Dufour from noon-1 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday via a livestream on the “Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park” Facebook page.
■Lebanon: 3-7 p.m., Thursdays, Colburn Park, 51 N. Park St. Masks required. lebanonfarmersmarket.org.
■Chelsea: 3-6 p.m., Fridays, North Common, Route 110 and Route 113.. Masks encouraged. chelseafarmersmarket.org.
■Hartland: 4-7 p.m., Fridays, Hartland Public Library, 153 Route 5. Order online Monday-Wednesday and pick up Friday. Masks required. hartlandfarmersmarket.com.
■Norwich: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays, 281 Route 5. Masks encouraged. norwichfarmersmarket.org.
■Randolph: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays, 44 S. Main St. Masks required. randfarmmarket@yahoo.com.
■Canaan: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sundays, Town Common, Route 4/Route 118. Masks encouraged. Facebook: “Canaan Farmers and Artisans’ Market.”
■American Precision Museum: Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 196 Main St., Windsor. $5-$10, $20 for family, children 6 and under free. Masks required. americanprecision.org.
■Vermont Institute of Natural Science: Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 149 Natures Way, Quechee. $5-$10, children 3 and under free. Masks required. vinsweb.org.
Editor’s note: Please email additions, updates and Upper Valley-based events to calendar@vnews.com.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
