Sounds for the Hounds: A Howling Good Time

Music lovers and animal lovers joined forces on Saturday when Sound for the Hounds, a benefit concert sponsored by United Against Puppy Mills came to Brookdale Park.  The event was devoted to raising awareness about and, ultimately, eradicating so-called “puppy mills” – large scale breeding businesses notorious for putting profits before animal welfare.

The list of participating musicians included conga drummer King Erisson, jazz brass artist Cindy Bradley, jazz band Zoe and The Neil Diamond tribute band, TDC.   But perhaps the most colorful guests to lend their support for the cause were the ripped and tattoo-covered fellas from Rescue Ink.

You may have been a fan of their reality show Rescue Ink, Unleashed that aired in 2009. Though the New York-based organization has a high profile track record in animal rescue, rehabilitation and advocacy, the group’s unorthodox methods -- not to mention formidable appearance -- has raised some eyebrows among town officials in Long Beach where they are about to open a shelter.

An last July stated, “Rescue Ink is most noted for its in-your-face approach to animal rescue, with its street-tough and tattooed members and consequent profile in a reality series that aired on the National Geographic Channel."  In that article, Long Beach City Manager Theofan said he was "not concerned that some members of Rescue Ink have checkered pasts, and the group makes no attempt to hide its street credentials,” because “they’ll be using extraordinary efforts to get those animals adopted.”

And true to their tough-guys-with-a-heart-of-gold reputation, the Rescue Ink guys are funny, friendly and spoke passionately to Patch about the work they do.

“Right now our focus has been the completion of our Animal Shelter in Long Beach, New York,” said member John “Johnny O” Orlandini.  "We basically took over the town shelter that had been vacant for five years."  He said the shelter, which has a strict no-kill policy, will open next month. 

“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,” he said.

And being there for the animals was what, ultimately, the day was all about. The Bloomfield Animal Shelter and the Montclair Animal Shelter were both at the festival, and both brought dogs in need of adoption. 

Early in the afternoon, Bonnie Taboadela, the Fundraising Chair at the Bloomfield Animal Shelter, made a special plea for two sweet dogs named Boomer and Sally, who had been at the shelter “too long” and were “greatly in need of a home.” 

By the end of the day, when Patch returned to the tent, Taboadela had good news.  Though Boomer and Sally were going back to the shelter that night, four dogs from another shelter, The NJ Animal Coalition in South Orange, had been adopted. “It looks like four dogs are going home because of today’s event,” she beamed. 

As part of their ongoing fundraising efforts, the Bloomfield Animal Shelter had brought all varieties of animal supplies and treats to sell at their tent.  Carolyn Robertson of Verona, adoption and fundraising committee member and media coordinator, stopped by the tent with two of the recently adopted dogs.

“All the money we raise goes directly to the medical welfare of the dogs.  We need to make sure no animals get put down,” she said.  “That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Among the other organizations on hand at Sounds for the Hounds was the North Shore Animal League mobile adoption unit, and Happy Beasties and My FUR-Ever Home Montclair. 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.

Between pet adoptions, shopping, lively music and lots of delicious food, it might have been easy to forget that the purpose of Sounds for the Hounds was educating the public about puppy mills. But organizations like United Against Puppy Mills (sponsor of the event), North Penn Puppy Mill Watch and Tera Bruegger founder of the Hearts United for Animals were happy to do just that.  

“We work to pull dogs from puppy mills and help close them down,” said Bruegger, volunteer and member of the board of directors at the HUA organization based in Auburn, Nebraska. “Puppy mills are mass-scale breeding facilities.  The AWA (Animal Welfare Act) is the law that regulates puppy mills. But the inspection program is not up to par.”

Bruegger says one reason “it’s impossible to properly inspect puppy mills” is that the facilities are set up in remote rural areas, out of public view.

“We call Lancaster County in Pennsylvania the “Puppy Mill Capital of the East’,” she said. “They're in the middle of nowhere.  You can’t have 400 kennels in the middle of New Jersey without anybody knowing about it.”

Another problem, noted Bruegger, is that laws meant to protect the animals are not strict enough. “Did you know it’s legal to keep a dog in a kennel that is only six inches longer than the end of their tail?  Their goal is maximum profit.”

Bruegger hopes that she can help the plight of puppy mill dogs by educating the public at events like the one in Brookdale Park.

"About 98-99% of pet store puppies come from puppy mills," she says, which have rampant problems like overcrowding and inbreeding.  "Never buy a puppy at a pet store or on the internet.  No reputable dealer in a million years would sell their dogs through a website."

Bruegger recommended the website PetFinder.com, however, because because it's connected to honest, non-profit animal rescue organizations.  "If people are obsessed with designer breeds like labradoodles and cockapoos, or even pure breeds, there are so many in shelters right now.  Four to eight million animals are euthanized each year." 

Breugger encouraged potential adoptors to seek out no-kill organizations like HWA, because often there are humane alternatives that people aren't aware of.  "So many people just don’t know," she said. "That’s why we came out today.  Educating people is pretty much the coolest thing ever.”

a no-kill shelter, is located at 61 Bukowski Place Bloomfield , NJ 07003 | 973-748-0194