Broadway Barks 9!, a 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.
Celebrity presenters are scheduled to include Audra McDonald (110 in the Shade); Marin Mazzie (Spamalot); Lea Michele (Spring Awakening); Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna (Chicago); David Hyde Pierce, Jason Danieley, Edward Hibbert, Michael McCormick, Debra Monk and Karen Ziemba (Curtains); Jerry Mathers and Paul Vogt (Hairspray), Priscilla Lopez and Mandy Gonzalez (In the Heights); Cheyenne Jackson, Mary Testa 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); Christine Ebersole, John McMartin, Maureen Moore and Mary Louise Wilson (Grey Gardens); Charlotte d'Amboise and Michael Berresse (A Chorus Line); John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf); Angela Lansbury and Michael Mulheren (Deuce); Christian Hoff, J. Robert Spencer and John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys); David Hibbard and Martin Moran (Spamalot); Sebastian Arcelus, Jayne Houdyshell, and Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked); Orfeh, Andy Karl, Laura Bell Bundy and their canine co-stars, Bruiser and Rufus (Legally Blonde); and Stephanie J. Block (The Pirate Queen).
The celebrity presentations begin at 5:30 PM.
In a recent 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 percent. 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.
