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Pets, Pets, Pets
This year kicks off with an earlier special attraction. Bernadette Peters has written a children's book called Broadway Barks (Blue Apple Books; $17.95), featuring her own pound pooch, Kramer (a Briard mix) and a doggy lullaby CD. At 12:30 she'll be autographing copies of her book at the Broadhurst Theatre on W. 44th. All proceeds will go to "Broadway Barks" animal agencies. Last year, even before the new book, "Broadway Barks" sponsors like the ASPCA and Pedigree, ads in PLAYBILL and auction sales resulted in over $100, 000 to aid shelter animals. A volunteer from Babylon (who wants to remain anonymous) is an integral part of "Broadway Barks'" financial success. Several years ago he came up with the brainstorm to auction off stuffed dogs autographed by the casts of each Broadway show. The soft toys are filled with light powder beads, and covered with nylon, perfect for signing with a Sharpie pen. This year alone my creative friend Tom made more than a dozen trips to Manhattan to circulate the toy dogs needing signatures back stage at 22 different Broadway theaters. Then he brought the signed pups home to photograph and make exquisite posters listing the casts for the silent auction in Shubert Alley. Some dogs are dressed for the occasion. The "South Pacific" pooch is sporting a pink lei; the "Phantom" dog a mask; and the "Little Mermaid" Mer-Dog (shown here) has an aquatic fin costume. Tom, the man behind the scenes, will be manning the silent auction tables. First year, he only had 7 "Bark" dogs and they fetched over a thousand dollars. In the future, he'd like to see the mini-menagerie featured in PLAYBILL or listed on EBAY to increase donations. It's hard to estimate what the total will be this time, although he knows Tony Awards and popular actors/actresses increase the toy's value. Tom's promos are so tempting: The "Chorus Line" canine is a "Singular Sensation"; the "Mary Poppins" pup "supercalifragilistic". Perhaps you'll be telling the "Grease" dog-"You're the One that I Want".
Speaking of the Mayors Alliance, mark your calendar- This wonderful NYC initiative will be bringing their rescue magic to Long Island. I am thrilled to announce the Mayors Alliance will be hosting a "low cost microchipping clinic" in conjunction with "Last Hope's Dog Walk" at Wantagh Park on Sat. Sept.13. All dog and cat owners can have their pets implanted with a HOMEAGAIN chip for only $25 each, registration included. This price represents savings up to $80 per chip. Microchips help so many lost pets find their way home. More details soon. Speaking of creative fundraising ideas- "Dress Down Days" generated a generous donation for Last Hope Animal Rescue. On occasion the kind employees at Data Device Corp. (DDC) in Bohemia "pay" for the privilege of wearing jeans to work. Two recent "Dress Down Days" resulted in a windfall of several thousand dollars to Last Hope. Special thanks to Dave Shekailo, inspired by his Last Hope cat "Pete", for putting our local homeless waifs on DDC's wonderful charity calendar. For Adoption: The Oyster Bay Town Shelter pets (677-5784) Miller Pl. Syosset would love to have their plight lit up on a Broadway marquee. To my chagrin, this older, thin, tiny Poodle #501 was found on the Massapequa street where I grew up. Someone took him to the wrong town shelter, but he's been transferred and groomed, yet remains unclaimed and unadopted. "Sammy" #425 is a small black Shepherd mix, 8 years old, housebroken, and said to be good with kids. His former family moved to an apartment without him. More dogs: a pair of male Shih-tzu mixes #531-532 found at Sunrise Mall. Cats: "Desi" #429-gray tabby; "Priscilla" #399 pretty tabby & white in the lobby; kittens galore.
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