The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Community

Discussion

December 21, 2009

Going to the dogs ... and cats; pet food drive will aid rescue groups

By Patrick Cooley

HERMITAGE — Jenny Falvey, the marketing director for Hillcrest-Flynn Pet Funeral Home and Crematory, held a clipboard and spoke to representatives from six animal rescue organizations from in and around Mercer County in the lobby of Hillcrest on Saturday morning.

“We would have been happy with 20,000 pounds,” she said about the dog park’s pet food drive. “But I am happy to announce that we collected 35,600 pounds.”

After this announcement, everyone in the room started clapping. That 35,600 was made up of dog and cat food and other supplies such as kitty litter that Hillcrest raised through a pet food drive they hope to make an annual event.

“Our goal was 25,000 pounds,” said Roberta Knauf, Hillcrest pet funeral director. Outside the funeral home there was a sign which indicated, week after week, how much was raised.

She said the food they collected will be enough for each of the organizations to feed their animals for six months, allowing them to spend money on other essentials.

“We spend between $3,000 and $5,000 on veterinary care,” said Terry Stefanak, the secretary for the Mercer County Humane Society. “This helps us put money toward that.”

Many of the people who donated, Hillcrest owner Tom Flynn said, were pet owners making donations in honor of a pet that had passed away.

There were also numerous local businesses and schools that helped raise pet food, and money to buy pet food and supplies.

Mrs. Knauf said there was a fourth-grader from a local school who carried a 40-pound bag of dog food onto the bus in the morning, and then into his classroom.

“There was a man from St. Louis who came in one day and just gave us a cash donation,” Ms. Kelvey said.

Mrs. Knauf said, partly due to the success of this year’s drive, they will most likely have another pet food drive next year.

“Our goal next year will be higher,” she said.

Flynn said they will still accept cash and pet food donations to be given to the animal rescue organizations. They can be dropped off at Hillcrest on East State Street in Hermitage.

Text Only
Community
  • Check out The Exhibit

    Current and past art students at Sharpsville Area High School will show their wares this weekend in the school’s second student-organized art show.

    May 17, 2012

  • hillview garden Art show highlights new GC gardens

    Elementary kids in Grove City adopted Grove City Community Gardens to highlight at their spring art show, and were given a unique garden of their own by a noted sculptor.

    May 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • Scouts to fete Knecht, Mastrian

    French Creek Council, Boy Scouts of America, will honor Will Knecht and John “Chip” Mastrian with its 24th Annual Distinguished Citizen Award at a banquet May 22 in The Corinthian, Sharon.

    May 8, 2012

  • Academy as popular as ever

    Hermitage School District Summer Academy is offering more courses than last year and has already equaled last year’s course enrollments.

    May 8, 2012

  • Chorale family affair

    Christine and Terry Bowman met in the Sharon High marching band, and music has been an integral part of their life together.

    May 3, 2012

  • Songwriter’s isolation blooms into ‘Marigold’

    Rick Hornyak had just moved to San Antonio and, separated from his friends in Austin, looked inward.

    April 26, 2012

  • Local girl has way with poetry

    Marissa Works came from nowhere to win a poetry recitation competition at Hickory High School.

    April 24, 2012

  • bmwomen Women's work

    Calling the Masury-Brookfield Woman’s Club a social organization is just half of it.

    April 22, 2012 1 Photo

  • Local band’s music reflects ‘sense of place’

    Terry Dach described his new recording as “organic,” but immediately turned to James Willaman for a definition of the term in a musical sense.
    “Does that mean we did it ourselves?” Dach asked.

    April 12, 2012

  • Old school

    Generations of students learned to read and write in the Hutchinson School, a one-room schoolhouse on Mitchell Road in Shenango Township. Today, historians hope those students’ descendants step forward to furnish and refurbish the small, red brick school to its former glory.

    April 8, 2012