Bernadette Peters, Mary Tyler Moore and numerous other stars from theatre will participate in "Broadway Barks 2," the second annual pet adoption effort scheduled for July 15 in Shubert Alley. The event starts at 3:30 PM and includes a celebrity presentation from 5:30 - 6:30.
Last year's "howling success" drew a crowd estimated at 6,000 people for "Broadway Barks!" This year, theatre fans, and pet lovers will join actress Celeste Holm, Heather Headley (Aida), Bebe Neuwirth, Joel Grey, Patrick Stewart (The Ride Down Mt. Morgan), Tom Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun), Andrea McArdle (Beauty and the Beast), Michael Mulheren (Kiss Me, Kate), Ruth Williamson (The Music Man), Adam Pascal and Sheri Rene Scott (Aida), Joely Fisher and Maureen Moore (Cabaret), Bryan Batt (Saturday Night Fever), Howard McGillin and Sarah Pfisterer (Phantom of the Opera), Catherine Hickland (ABC's "One Life To Live") and others.
"Broadway Barks! 2" is produced by FIDONYC (www.fidonyc.org), an animal welfare organization founded two years ago by Peters and Moore.
"Thousands of dogs and cats in New York's shelters are in desperate need of homes," said Bernadette Peters in a prepared statement. "I adopted my dogs, Stella and Kramer, from the ASPCA and CACC. Instead of going to a pet store, I chose to save lives. Adoption is a simple, easy act of love that's brought me great joy over the years."
Mary Tyler Moore added that, "there are many breed specific rescue groups. I have a Golden Retriever that I rescued from Yankee Golden Retriever and I have a Miniature Schnauzer that I adopted through Petfinder.com. Mixed or pure -- they are all lovable and need your help." In its awareness campaigning, FIDONYC has collaborated with animal welfare organizations and shelters such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Haven, BARC Shelter, BeingKind, Bide-a Wee, the Center for Animal Care and Control, Inc. (CACC), City Critters, the Humane Society of New York, the Manhattan Valley Cat Rescue, Paws for Cause, Pet-I-Care, Sentient Creatures, Inc., and the Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare (SICAW).
FIFDONYC executive director and co-founder Stacey Shub said, "...by uniting shelters with potential adopters at exciting events such as 'Broadway Barks! 2,' adoption becomes easy, accessible, and -- of course - fun."
Proceeds from "Broadway Barks! 2" will be donated to FIDONYC. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information on FIDONYC or any of the shelters, please contact (212) 227-FIDO.
-- By Murdoch McBride
