Community Corner

Puttin' On The Dog Attracts Thousands of Dog-Lovers

Visitors spent a sunny Sunday visiting Adopt-A-Dog's adoptables, as well as exhibitors that included non-profit rescue groups, spay & neuter groups and even a high school science teacher leading the crusade against dog-fighting.

Dave Crino is a White Plains High School biology teacher who also served as assistant wrestling coach for several years before he began his crusade against dog fighting. It started when a student boasted about his dog fighting champion.

"This boy's father and grandfather were both in dogfighting. Family members were breeding pit bulls in the south for fighting. The kid thought it was cool," Crino said. "He was not a bit ashamed of it," added the high school teacher. "Even the class was disgusted with this thing, but this is something that is taught, that's learned. So this is evolving." 

Crino's Fight 4 Them non-profit goal is "the education of young people about the problems associated with dog fighting and how young people can better their lives through combat sports instead of this brutal act of cruelty."

OPIN, which stands for Outreach to Pets in Need and is affiliated with Stamford Animal Care and Control, brought along the sweet, docile "Lizzie" a petite pit mix who just wanted to jump into your lap and snuggle. (If the Morrows don't adopt Lizzie, this editor might.)

Fido Fixers is run by a trio of passionate Greenwich moms - Lisa Wysocki, Susan Maounis and Suzanne Steinberg - who are all for rescuing dogs, but want to get to the root of the problem: overpopulation due to lack of spay and neuter.  
Fido Fixers has a 26-foot-truck that houses a mobile clinic and travels to states where dog overpopulation is worst. 

"The south is like a genocide," said Maounis of the dog population explosion and tens of thousands of dogs euthanized. 

So far Fido Fixers so far has one mobile clinic that travels to Georgia to perform low cost or no cost spay and neuter procedures. They have neutered 1,200 dogs since May and they have a wait list of shelters in the south eager for their services.

Maounis said that Fido Fixers' goal is to have a fleet of trucks and, ultimately, they'd like to be a model for others. Right now they have one truck in service and a second on order that will travel to 12 underserved rural counties in Tennessee. 

Two tents down from Fido Fixers was Clara Nolan from Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic in Stratford a non-profit that has just celebrated its one year anniversary. Nutmeg was the subject of a Patch feature last year. 

Over at Cat Assistance, volunteers Tina Aronson and Kerri Ann Hofer escorted two adoptable dogs: Brock, who has been featured in Patch, and Minnie, a sweetie pulled from Mt. Vernon Animal Shelter, who made a lot of friends.

Placing fourth in Adopt-A-Dog's alumni competition was Pepper and her owner Tom Havelka, whose story was compelling. Havelka who works at Castiglione Funeral Home sometimes brings Pepper to work.

"Families who are grieving for a lost family member gravitate to Pepper," Havelka said. "She gives them comfort." 

Pepper wound up in a shelter in Harrison after her original owner went to jail for robbing people on train cars. Pepper spent seven years in the Harrison shelter before Adopt-A-Dog pulled her. Luckily for Pepper, after just three months, Havelka adopted her. Forever. 

Lulu, the longest resident at Adopt-A-Dog's sanctuary, was the last but not least in the parade of 13 adoptable dogs brought to the show from the sanctuary. The designated "Princess" of Puttin' on the Dog, Lulu was regal as she posed on the platform just beyond the bandstand. 

If anyone missed the event and is interested in rescuing/adopting a dog, please click on any of the links in this story or go to Adopt-A-Dog's website and check out the dogs for adoption. Adopt-A-Dog's sanctuary is located at 23 Cox Ave. in Armonk.  Tel. (914) 273-1674


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