After Baby Hope struts her stuff down the aisle on July 12 and says, “I do,” she won’t be racing home to tear the wrapping paper off of her gifts. Instead of presents, she’s using the wedding to benefit the Lucky Diamond Critical Care Ward at the Humane Society of New York.
The Lucky Diamond Critical Care Ward was named after Baby Hope’s older step-sister, who passed away after her fight with cancer.
“Lucky was always a champion for all animals in need and especially homeless dogs looking to be adopted,” said Sandra DeFeo, executive director of the Humane Society of New York.
The Humane Society of New York first opened its doors in 1904 to help protect the city’s horses from negligent owners and to put watering troughs in streets and parks, according to the society’s website. The society then expanded to include a free medical clinic and small adoption center for cats and dogs.
From hooves to paws, the society has grown over the years to help more than 34,000 dogs and cats are helped each year through the hospital and the Vladimir Horowitz and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz Adoption Center.
The society was considering the physical and emotional needs of animals before it was a pawpular to consider them as individuals. Each dog receives personal care, including exercise and play time outside of the kennels.
The society offers affordable veterinary care for dog and cat owners with limited means, with services ranging from basic wellness care to spaying and neutering and advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures.
The society’s Animal Emergency Appeal covers hundreds of dollars worth of life-giving care each year in full or partial underwriting for services to the neediest animals. The Animal Mukti free spay/neuter program covers all of the spay/neuter costs and owners of Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes can have pets neutered with costs covered by the society.
The society also offers the New York area’s first effort to underwrite the spaying, neutering and basic wellness care for feral cats.
The adoption center houses rescued dogs and cats awaiting their forever homes. The animals are evaluated and trained under Bill Berloni’s supervision. Berloni, the leading dog trainer on BROADWAY who is behind the original dog in Annie as well as the revival this year is the society’s director of dog training.
“Over the years, we have helped 1000′s of animals who were unfit as a pet when they originally were brought in,” Berloni said. “The Humane Society is one organization who does not give up on animals or people who can’t afford veterinary care”.
And once dogs find their forever home, Berloni continues to guide and assist new parents through the adoption. All pets are microchipped and neutered.
Tonight we will celebrate the inspirational life and legacy of Lucky Diamond with the biggest Pet Wedding in History! Baby Hope and Chilly will carry on Lucky’s legacy of promoting animal rescue and welfare!
For more information on the Humane Society of New York, visit http://humanesocietyny.org/.
For the Best that Pet Lifestyle and Animal Welfare has to offer follow Wendy Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, and right here at AnimalFair.com!
Originally published on Animal Fair, July 2012.
