Fairfield 7th Grader Donates to K-9 Program

Margaret O’Connell likes dogs.

Margaret O’Connell likes dogs so much that she chose to donate the proceeds from a dance contest she participated in to K-9 program.

O’Connell, 12, a seventh grader at , presented a check for $700 on Tuesday to members of the Fairfield Police Department and Canine Officer Ruger.

“You’re part of the reason is here,” canine handler Officer Kevin Wells told O’Connell. “If it wasn’t for you, he wouldn’t be here.”

O’Connell recently danced the cha-cha in the “Dancing With the Stars” contest for charity -- she came in second. Each participant chose a charity or organization they wanted to donate to before the contest, and O’Connell chose the K-9 program.

The funds were raised through ticket sales, according to O’Connell’s mother. This year’s show was sold out.

“This is a really special donation for us,” Police Chief Gary MacNamara said. Wells added that though many have donated to the program, seeing a 12-year-old girl think to donate to the department was different.

O’Connell was given in return a special book filled with pictures of Ruger and a dog tag with Ruger’s name on it, which she seemed pleased about.

“Yes!” she said when she got the tag.

O’Connell has been dancing professionally at the since August.