Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters.
Photo: Helena Sung
"The whole afternoon is like pet therapy," Peters tells Paw Nation. "And every year it's different dogs, so it's fabulous."
For the first time this year in honor of Broadway Barks, the Empire State Building was lit all weekend in purple, pink and yellow, the colors of Peters' latest children's picture book, "Stella Is a Star," a story about acceptance that is based on Peters' rescued pit bull, Stella.
Wandering throughout the crowded event were dogs with wagging tails wearing bright orange vests saying "Adopt Me." Representatives from more than a dozen different local dog and cat shelters were in attendance with some of their adoptable pets. There was Twiggy, an 8-month-old pit bull mix from BARC, an animal shelter in Brooklyn. "We hope to find her a home today," BARC volunteer Emily Hendricks tells Paw Nation. "Two kittens have already been adopted," announced a volunteer with Tigger Foundation.
Moore and Peters were joined on an outdoor stage by a string of stars including Sean Hayes, Richard Thomas, Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams, Ruthie Henshall and Cheyenne Jackson, who are currently starring in Broadway shows. Each celebrity took a turn introducing adoptable dogs and cats to the cheering crowd.
"I've never been here before, so this is exciting for me," Sean Hayes announced before introducing a sturdy-looking, white pit-bull mix from the ASPCA. "This is Pearl and she's a cutie, although she needs a little Jenny Craig," Hayes joked.
Two other stars -- a volunteer and a kitty up for adoption.
Photo: Helena Sung
"In 2002, three out of four animals that came into New York City shelters were euthanized," says Peters. "In 2010, seven out of ten animals will survive. Please consider adopting, because these dogs and cats are only here for us. They're our companion animals."
Before the event ended, Moore and Peters presented a special award of recognition to the founders of Pilots and Paws, a non-profit organization that helps shelters find pilots who donate their time and resources to fly animals across the country.
"We're tremendously honored to be recognized for our efforts and the pilots who save these animals from euthanasia," Pilots and Paws co-founder, Deborah Boies, tells Paw Nation. As for getting to meet two living legends, Boies says it's "crazy, but wonderful."
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Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters........God Bless you both for the wonderful work you do............Go Broadway Barks!!!!!!
Such wonderful women thank you for making people aware of pet adoptions it is greatly appreciated.
i wish everyone who reads the comments the stupid people who pretend to make a comment about the article would report them. i just did.... only the second comment on the board, too.
thanks to mary, sean & bernadette and the many others who organize rescues for companion animals.... all my furbabies have been adopted.
DON'T BE STUPID... ADOPT, DON'T SHOP
Great story! There are so many dogs and cats in animal shelters just waiting to be adopted into loving homes. All breeders and puppy farms should be put out of business.
While I agree with puppymills and backyard breeders being put out of business, please remember that there are reasons for responsible breeders out there. I have 1 dog right now from a responsible breeder, and I will always get my dogs in that manner because of my sister's allergies (I live with her). I can't just go with any dog, because she will be miserable with her allegies. Responsible breeders don't breed to make money, they invest a lot of money into their dogs to produce sound, healthy, happy pets for others. They usually have waiting lists, and many of these people aren't interested in dogs from shelters because of the very reason I can't go that direction. Others because they have a reason for the particular breed that they chose. Moreover, in my case, my sister wouldn't allow me to adopt just any dog, she wants to know that it will be a sound tempered animal and trainable. Years ago, before I was born, my family had adopted an adult dog that would NEVER housebreak for them. Yes, they tried, but the poor thing ended up right back at the shelter after at least a year of them having her.
Responsible breeders don't contribute that much to the pet overpopulation problem. Backyard breeders contribute the most, thanks to puppymills! Responsible breeders sell their pet quaity pups under contracts to spay/neuter, they sell them under limited registration, and they keep in touch with owners when they can. Even today, my first male Curly's breeder (and this dog died 2 years ago) still e-mails me from time to time, and she wants to know how my current Curly, from another breeder, is doing. And that Curly's breeder also keeps in touch with me. Almost no backyard breeder and definitely no puppymiller does that!
GOD BLESS THESE WOMON OVER AND OVER AGAIN
If every actor would join in this effort and support the adoption of these precious
animals, I believe more of these sweet animals would find forever homes. They bring such joy, comfort, fun, feelings that you probably didn't know you had. They are loyal, loving, and you will be more to them than anyone else in the world. You will never be lonely again, they will give you a reason for living and you can encourage others to join this effort and, before long, you've saved many little animals and made their owners very happy! You've found a good purpose in life and will feel good that you've saved the lives of pets and their owners!
I have three older pets, two are rescues one was a gift from my daughter. In human years they surpass me in years. But when their time comes to meet the Lord and rest, I will be at the SPCA to adopt another pooch, but an older pooch as I am getting to old to handle a puppy and give him/her the attention a puppy needs. Besides the fact everyone wants puppies, it's the older gents and lady pooches that need to be rescued, they have the worst chance at adoption. So please everyone think of the pooch when you go to the ASPCA and adopt an older dog, he/she will probably already been house broken, spade or nutered and they need love too. Thank You for reading my post.
God Bless these women and anyone who adopts from a shelter or rescues a furchild. 2 of mine were from the shelter, 1 more was given to me as a gift when they could no longer care for her and my grand old lady cat was left to me in a will. They ARE my children and are treated as such. I plan on being that "crazy cat lady" when I'm old and gray.
What wonderful work they do and I too wish more celebrities would support things like Broadway Barks, or at least supporting their local shelters. I have to take exception to one comment here about wanting all breeders put out of business. Responsible breeders are exactly that -- responsible. They invest years always trying to make their breed better, keep those that are not sold, and will happily take back any animal that doesn't work out in its new home. Let's support responsible breeders and let's support adoption!
Thank you Dani. I foster for a rescue group in Wisconsin and your comments regarding the older dogs are right on. Without exception all seventeen or so of the dogs I have fostered, whether described by a shelter as aggressive and mean, or shy have done well with my other dogs.