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Community Corner

Sound for Hounds at Brookdale Park

Festival at Brookdale Park Raises Awareness About Puppy Mills

The Brookdale Dog Park provided the ideal location Saturday for Sound for the Hounds, a concert that was, quite literally, for the dogs. The event was sponsored by United Against Puppy Mills, a non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness about and, ultimately, eradicating puppy mills—breeding businesses notorious for putting profits before animal welfare.

A long roster of jazz musicians provided the soundtrack for the event, while a sizable crowd, many with dogs in tow, checked out the vendors, food and non-profit organizations.

Montclair residents Edie Locke from Happy Beasties and Jimmy Thomas from My FUR-Ever Home Montclair tabled together to promote their respective pet services. Happy Beasties provides pet care, holistic therapy for animals and a host of other services. My FUR-Ever Home is a non-profit dedicated to helping homeless pets find a permanent home.

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One popular table included the ripped and tattoo covered fellas from Rescue Ink, a NY-based organization that specializes in animal rescue, rehabilitation and advocacy. You may have been a fan of their reality show Rescue Ink, Unleashed that aired on the National Geographic channel.

Despite their formidable appearance and high profile background, the Rescue Ink guys are funny, friendly and speak passionately about the work they do.

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“Right now our focus has been the completion of our Animal Shelter in Long Beach, NY," Rescue Ink member Johnny O explains. "We basically took over the town shelter that had been vacant for five years." Johnny O adds that the shelter will have a no kill policy and hopes to be open next month. Read more about the the Rescue Ink Shelter in the Long Beach Patch.

“We are also in the process of shooting new episodes for the reality show, but really our goal remains the same, being there for the animals," Johnny O notes.

The Bloomfield Animal Shelter and Montclair Animal Shelter were there, both with dogs in need of adoption.

Bonnie Taboadela, a volunteer at the Bloomfield Animal Shelter, made a special plea for a dog named "Boomer," who has been at the shelter “too long” and “greatly in need of a home.” Check out Boomer’s info if you are looking to adopt.

There was also an opportunity for folks looking to adopt at the North Shore Animal League mobile adoption unit. 

Like any good festival, food was available, but unlike many events that are over-run with deep fried choices, the food at Sound for Hounds was refreshingly varied. There was BBQ, brick-oven pizza and, fitting for a festival devoted to animal welfare, a vegan option.

Montclair’s own Go Lightly was on hand, debuting their new line of freshly made vegan food, which will also be served at the shop starting this Tuesday. 

Go Lightly owner Jen Chaky, along with her new chef Denise White, served up a bright kale salad with nuts and apples, a “Veggie Love Medley” sandwich with mango sauce on gluten-free, high protein raw bread, (that I promise you, despite is semi-scary healthy name is addictive) a “Save the Tuna Wrap”, cantaloupe-watermelon juice and raw, gluten-free cacao chip cookies.

Both the “Save the Tuna Wrap” and the ‘Veggie Love Medley” got thumbs up from Rescue Ink’s Johnny O and Steve the Stalker, who despite what you may stereotypically think, did not hit up the BBQ tent, opting instead for Go Lightly’s tasty vegan fare.

Aside from the fantastic tunes, great food and doggie inspired goodies to buy; the day would lose its focus if there were not an educational component. Representatives from UAPM and North Penn Puppy Mill Watch (NPPM) were just two of the many non-profits present, promoting animal rescue and welfare.

Jenny Stephens, a board member for UAMP and the Director of NPPMW, provided stinging facts and startling information about puppy mills. “Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (where UAPM was originated) is the Puppy Mill Capital of the East Coast.” Stephens explains. 

“Because of the vast amount of farm land, it makes for ideal location for this kind of business. What many people don’t realize is that puppy mills were actually encouraged after WWII as a way for farmers to make money, and that many Amish farmers run puppy mills as well.”

Overall, Sound For Hounds, appeared to be a success. The weather cooperated, people were hopefully enlightened on the devastating business of puppy mills and maybe some even did some rescuing themselves.

 

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