GL News

July 18, 2010

Pony up — it’s for a good cause

STEPHANIE LONGO For Go Lackawanna

It’s time to saddle up for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Animal Adoption Network’s third annual Rock the Horse benefit.

The event takes place July 24 from 6:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. at the New Penny, 1827 N. Main Ave., Scranton. For a $5 donation, attendees ages 21 and older will get the chance to hear local bands including Pave the Way, Walt Prez and The Awesome, Chem D, Cell 13, and Steel Knives. A cash bar will be available and the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Roller Radicals Roller Derby girls will be on hand collecting donations. The event will also include prizes raffled off every hour from sponsors including Ricochets Rapid Detail, The Dog Nanny, Contemporary Concepts Photography, Mala Yoga, Sweet Bark Pit Bull Rescue and RescuePet4u2Love.com.

All proceeds from Rock the Horse will go to the REASON (Retired Equine Adoption Society of the Northeast) Horse Rescue, located in Harveys Lake.

Horses are brought to REASON Horse Rescue for many reasons. Many horses were brought in because their owners could no longer afford to keep them. They also receive many horses that can no longer be used for racing or breeding or from an owner that may be reluctant to take his or her horse to an auction. They also help rescue abused and neglected horses in conjunction with the SPCA.

Nancy Reese, founder of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Animal Adoption Network, explained how this year’s Rock the Horse will differ from previous years’ events.

“Rock the Horse was actually created by REASON Horse Rescue three years ago,” she said. “I offered to do a bigger version of it with several bands involved to make it bigger so they can raise more funds for their rescue. We want to make this bigger than any other year.”

Reese founded the Northeastern Pennsylvania Animal Adoption Network in 2007 with the goal of educating and bringing awareness to people on the importance of spaying and neutering, adopting from a shelter, circus abuse, puppy mill awareness, dog fighting, and animal rights. Reese explained that the Rock the Horse benefit fits in perfectly with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Animal Adoption Network’s overall mission.

“People should come out to help all animals in need,” Reese said. “It is not the animals’ fault that they are born into this world to sometimes be abandoned, neglected and abused. People need to learn responsibility on what it is to own and take care of an animal to begin with. Until we see a change in animal-related laws, like spaying or neutering our pets and adopting not shopping, you will keep seeing fundraisers to help animals in need.”

Reese says that one of the most important goals of this year’s Rock the Horse is to help feed horses saved by REASON Horse Rescue.

“REASON is in need of hay donations for their horses,” she said. “With the economy being the way it is adoptions and donations have been down so we want to help them.”

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