With more than 100 pets finding permanent homes, almost double the number adopted in 2006, Broadway Barks 9 drew thousands of theatre fans and animal lovers to Times Square’s Shubert Alley to encourage people to adopt pets from area shelters while spreading the message about the importance of spaying and neutering.

And, for the second year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a proclamation making July 14 Broadway Barks Day in New York City.

The event – which lasted from 3:30 to 6:30 and featured celebrity pet presentations from 5:30 to 6:30 – was hosted by founders Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore and included appearances by a long list of Broadway’s finest performers, as well as an auction of celebrity-autographed memorabilia

 “I am so happy that the Broadway community has embraced BROADWAY BARKS and the importance of adopting shelter animals.  It is really a very sweet day for us all,” said Tony Award® winner and Broadway favorite Peters. “but especially for the animals that find forever, loving homes.  The highlight of the entire day was when ACC, New York City’s shelter, adopted out so many animals they had to go back and get more!”

In addition, “Barks’ message of spaying/neutering awareness continues to have an impact, as the number of homeless animals euthanized in New York City steadily declines,” said Peters “More shelters are adopting a ‘no-kill policy,’ and the number of homeless animals euthanized in New York is now down to about 20,000 a year. While that’s a great improvement, that number is still far too high.”

 “Our ultimate goal is for all New York shelters to have a no-kill policy,” she emphasized.

Moore offered positive statistics. “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.”

A telling statistic included in the Barks program: one female dog and her offspring can produce up to 76,000 puppies in a 7-year period, while a female cat and her offspring can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in the same time period.

Barks & BC/EFA Link

Produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, money raised at Broadway Barks from a silent auction, signed memorabilia sales and donations is distributed to the participating shelters and rescue groups and as a larger gift to The Picasso Veterinary Fund. Part of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. This fund provides grants to shelters and rescue groups to cover extraordinary veterinary costs.   For Broadway Cares, Barks is an opportunity to give back to the animal lovers in the theatrical community who donate hours of talent and time to our organization.

 “In appreciation for the theatre community’s unprecedented commitment to over 19 years of fundraising, BC/EFA is happy to support other cause-related services particularly dear to those in our community who make our support for AIDS-related services possible,” explains BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola. “We are glad to help those in our community whose compassionate concern for others includes many sweet, four-legged friends and the animal-loving organizations gathered in Shubert Alley.”

An A-Z Broadway A-List 
Although, as always, an impressive list of celebrities took the stage to present animals ready for adoption, “they willingly played a supporting role, doing their bit to help the animals shine, making this a true ego-free event,” said Barks Producer Scott T. Stevens.

This year’s participating performers included Sebastian Arcelus, Michael Berresse, Stephanie J. Block, Ashley Brown, Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, Jane Carr, Michael Cerveris, Charlotte D’Ambroise, Jason Danieley, Christne Ebersole, Zanthe Elbrick, John Glover, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Hadary, Harry Hamlin, David Hibbard, Edward Hibbert, Christian Hoff, Jackie Hoffman, Jayne Houdyshell, Cheyenne Jackson, John Earl Jelks, Daniel Jenkins, Andy Karl, Kendra Kassebaum and Angela Lansbury.

Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Priscilla Lopez, Jerry Mathers, Marin Mazzie, Michael McCorrnick, Audra McDonald, Judy McLane, John McMartin, Lea Michele, Maureen Moore, Debra Monk, Martin Moran, Michael Mulheren, Orfeh, David Hyde Pierce, Lisa Rinna, J. Robert Spencer, Mary Testa, Gerry Vichi, Paul Vogt, Patrick Wetzel, Mary Louise Wilson, Joanne Worley, John Lloyd Young and Karen Ziemba were among the other performers appearing.

Participating shelters and adoption agencies were:  A Cause for Paws, Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Animal Haven, Anjellicle Cats Rescue, 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.

Special thanks – and a sloppy dog kiss – to Broadway Barks 9! Sponsor:
the ASPCA, The New York Times, new sponsor Pedigree and RCA Small Wonder.