Press Release: Animal Haven Honors Lynn Redgrave, FOX 5's Anne Craig and Lenny the Pug

Contact: Jennifer Bristol, Animal Haven

Jenniferb@ah-nyc.org, 917 613 4832

Animal Haven to Celebrate 40th Anniversary with Annual Going Home Luncheon

The Florence Brenner Award to be Presented to

Award-Winning Actress Lynn Redgrave and FOX 5’s Anne Craig

New York, NY, October 3, 2007– Animal Haven Shelter announced today that the Florence Brenner Award will be presented to award-winning actress Lynn Redgrave, FOX 5’s Anne Craig and New York City’s own canine socialite and fundraiser, Lenny the Pug.

The awards will be presented at Animal Haven’s 40th Going Home Luncheon, which will celebrate the shelter’s 40th anniversary.

The honorees were chosen for their dedication to their own pets and the lives of those without homes:

• Lynn Redgrave, Award-winning actress and Animal Haven adopter

• Anne Craig, FOX 5 reporter

This year’s special canine honoree is Lenny the Pug, who, along with help from his guardian, Lin Randolph, organizes an annual canine birthday celebration that benefits Animal Haven Soho, the new adoption center and pet boutique.

The luncheon will also include a performance by Catherine Hickland (One Life to Live) and appearances by Jennifer Bassey (All My Children), Marj Dusay (Guiding Light), Dick DeBartolo (ABC and Mad Magazine), Spencer Ross (MSG Sportscaster) and Louise Sorel (Days of our Lives). The day’s activities will also feature a silent and live auction.

The Going Home Luncheon will be held Sunday, October 21 at noon at Dante Caterers located at 75-07 31st Avenue in East Elmhurst, NY. Tickets begin at $75. Tickets can be purchased at www.animalhavenshelter.org

Animal Haven places cats and dogs in loving homes, as well as give lifetime care for those who cannot be placed.
The private, no-kill shelter fulfills its mission through adoption programs at the shelter in Queens, Soho Adoption Center and Boutique and the Pets to the People mobile adoption program. In addition, Animal Haven Acres, located in Delaware County, NY is where hard to place dogs and cats can live out their lives in a homelike setting.

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Mommy went upstate to help raise money for PDE Research!

So, yesterday my mommy went "upstate" all by herself! I am so proud of her...for a few reasons:

1. She tried something new.
2. She helped a friend.
3. She helped raise money for PDE Research

Mommy's friend, Eev, started a fund for PDE Research. All the monies raised go directly to Dr. Kimberly Greer (Texas A&M) who is currently the only person devoting their entire research to PDE. The fund is not yet a 501(c)3, but Eev is working on that!

So, what is PDE? PDE stands for Pug Dog Encephalitis. This is a horrible disease that affects only the Pug breed which means very little funding exists to support those who wish to do research. And this means there are very few answers to the thousands of questions pug lovers have. Researchers "believe" it is passed genetically, but until more money is raised and more folks are willing to allow an autopsy/necropsy of their dearly departed PDE affected pug we will be left with very few answers.

There are currently no tests for PDE and very few veterinarians know anything about this deadly disease that haunts the Pug breed. Symptoms are similar to epilepsy and inner-ear imbalances, but currently no amount of medication and/or treatment can save a pug's life if s/he has PDE.

Many folks think, "My pug is happy and healthy and I do all the right things so s/he definitely doesn't have PDE." Sadly, nothing in this world is 100% guaranteed. As there are no tests for PDE, pugs are regularly bred and sold by backyard breeders and puppymills to uneducated families and pet shops without a second thought to the potential of their being a PDE "carrier" (in addition to the multitude of potential health issues)

So, how can you help?

1. Do NOT ever purchase pug puppies from pet shops
2. Do NOT purchase pug puppies from a breeder without doing extensive research into both theirs and their adult pug's histories
3. Spay/neuter your pug!
4. Help raise awareness of this horrible disease by educating yourself, friends and family
5. Help raise funds for more research by donating directly, purchasing items that donate to PDE research and attend events that benefit PDE Research

What if my pug passes away from PDE?

Please consider all the lives you could save by allowing Dr. Greer and her team to autopsy/necropsy your pug. Dr. Greer's dedicated team takes great care to guarantee that all pugs are handled with the utmost care and love. Comprehensive reports are included when your pug's cremated remains are returned to you.

Your pug does not have to die in vain! S/he can leave a legacy of knowing that s/he potentially helped to save the lives of thousands of other pugs.

The Village Voice has spoken!

NYC Guide/Calendar

Sunday 3/25

[BENEFIT/FUNDRAISER]

Second Annual Birthday Benefit for Animal Haven

When Lenny the Pug isn’t kicking back in his Marc Jacobs doggy outfits with gourmet treats, as described in his blog lennythepug.com, he’s busy planning his Second Annual Birthday Benefit for Animal Haven, an upscale bash for dogs and their owners to raise money for the no-kill shelter. Join Lenny for special doggy desserts, “tasty delights for people,” raffles, games, goody bags, silent auction, live music, and onsite adoptions. (Ashman)

From 2 to 5, Animal Haven Soho 251 Centre St New York, NY 10013 Soho, $25–$35

This is how I go to work...

This is the final countdown to my 2nd Annual Birthday Benefit for Animal Haven! I accompanied mommy to her workplace today so that we could complete our event preparations. In the photos above you will see how very hard I worked to make the 28 festive gift baskets which will be raffled off at my party on Sunday.

Okay, so I didn't actually make any of the baskets, but I did make mental notes for which baskets I will tell my daddy to purchase tickets.