Co-hosted by Tony winner Bernadette Peters and Emmy winner Mary Tyler Moore, the dog and cat adopt-a-thon benefits New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. Produced by Broadway Care/Equity Fights AIDS, the afternoon includes celebrity presentations of pets from animal shelters throughout the city.
The celebrity presentations will begin at 5:30 PM and will include such theatre folk as Angela Lansbury (Deuce); Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna (Chicago); David Hyde Pierce, Jason Danieley, Michael McCormick, Debra Monk, and Karen Ziemba (Curtains); Jerry Mathers and Paul Vogt (Hairspray), Priscilla Lopez and Mandy Gonzalez (In the Heights); Cheyenne Jackson and Kerry Butler (Xanadu); Michael Cerveris (LoveMusik); Jo Anne Worley, John Glover, Beth Leavel, Gerry Vichi and Patrick Wetzel (The Drowsy Chaperone); Ashley Brown, Jane Carr, Daniel Jenkins, and Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins); John McMartin and Maureen Moore (Grey Gardens); Michael Berresse (A Chorus Line); John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf); Michael Mulheren (Deuce); J. Robert Spencer and John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys); Orfeh and Andy Karl (Legally Blonde); David Hibbard and Martin Moran (Spamalot); Sebastian Arcelus, Jayne Houdyshell, and Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked); Stephanie J. Block; and Maureen McGovern.
In a statement co-host Moore said, "In 2006, for the first time in New York City's history, the euthanasia rate for dogs and cats in the city's Animal Care & Control shelters fell below 50%. A total of 20,581 animals were placed into homes. 9,313 were adopted; 9,937 were transferred for eventual adoption to local shelters and rescue groups; and 1,331 were returned to their owners."
Ed Sayres, president & CEO of the ASPCA, added, "This milestone means we are saving more than half of the dogs and cats in our city shelters. We are proud that New York City's efforts to save the lives of adoptable animals has reached this important benchmark."
Co-host Peters commented, "It's bringing us closer to the day when we will no longer have to euthanize any healthy and treatable homeless cats and dogs because of a lack of space. As a community, we are most effective in helping animals when we pool our strengths to achieve what is, after all, a shared goal — the elevation and continued welfare of animals in our society." Among the animal shelters and adoption agencies taking part in the annual event are A Cause for Paws, Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Angelical Cat, Animal Haven, ASPCA, AC&C, BARC, Bide-A-Wee, Bobbi & the Strays, City Critters, Humane Society of New York, Husky House, Kitty Kind, Long Island Greyhound Rescue, Loving Touch, Metropolitan Maltese Rescue, Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue, NYC Siamese Rescue, Pet-I-Care, PLUTO, Russell Refuge, Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare, Stray from the Heart, and Tigger Foundation.
Shubert Alley is located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. For more information call (212) 840-0770, ext. 477, or visit www.BroadwayBarks.com.
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July 28 (from 3:30-6:30 PM) is the rain date for Broadway Barks 9!, which is being sponsored by sponsored by the ASPCA with additional sponsorship by the New York Times, Pedigree and RCA Small Wonder.
