Mystic Aquarium

To beat this summer’s record-breaking heat, Sea Research Foundation’s Mystic Aquarium is hosting Dog Days of Summer every Monday in August. Mystic Aquarium trainers, police officers and professional dog trainers will deliver special training demonstrations throughout the day to exhibit their skills and the trusting relationships they form with animals.

Guests are offered $4 off adult general admission and $3 off child general admission when they donate food or toys for cats and dogs to benefit Dog Days Adoption Events, Inc. in Essex, Conn., a nonprofit that helps communities plan adoption events for shelter dogs. See list below of needed items.

Mystic Aquarium trainers will present special training demonstrations with fish and invertebrates, Steller sea lions and African penguins. There are also four California sea lion shows throughout the day that showcase the animals’ five senses. Trainers from My Dog’s Place, a dog training facility in Mystic, Conn., will present obedience and search and rescue demonstrations, while officer Dan Gagnon from the Ledyard Police Department and his K-9 partner, Ringo, will demonstrate special K-9 skills.  


Dog Days of Summer Schedule:

Mondays in August (6, 13, 20, 27), 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

10:30 a.m.
California sea lion show

10:30 a.m.
Fish and invertebrate training demonstration
(Aug. 6 & 20 only)

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dog-shaped cookie decorating

11:30 a.m.
My Dog’s Place obedience demonstration    
My Dog’s Place search & rescue demonstration

12:30 p.m.
California sea lion show

12:45 p.m.
Ledyard Police Department K-9 Unit demonstration

1 p.m.
Fish and invertebrate training demonstration
(Aug. 13 & 27 only)

1:30 p.m.
Steller sea lion training presentation

1:30 p.m.
Fish and invertebrate training demonstration
(Aug. 6 & 20 only)

2 p.m.
California sea lion show

2 p.m.
Fish and invertebrate training demonstration
(Aug. 13 & 27 only)

2:30 p.m.
African penguin training demonstration

4:30 p.m.
California sea lion show

Donation items requested:

Latex free gloves
Bleach
Puppy Pads
Paper Towels
Harnesses!, Collars and Leashes
Dog treats
Cans of ID dog food (for dogs with sensitive stomachs)
Benadryl tablets
Pepto Bismal
Hydrogen Peroxide
Gauze
Kongs (a type of dog toy you can fill with a treat - it helps anxious dogs)
Nyla Bones (better than rawhides)
Thundershirts
Gift cards for gas (to be used for rescue transports)
Gift cards for fast food places (food for transports)

Items donated that are not on this list will go to Help Willy's Friends, a nonprofit animal welfare charitable organization in Durham, Conn.