ATLANTIC CITY — Baby, beloved member of Scott and Jackie Winston’s family, and co-owner of A.C.’s only 24-hour pet hotel, Atlantic City Pet Hotel and Grooming, recently passed away at age 19.

Baby (pictured right) was a seven-pound Maltese. The A.C. Pet Hotel was established in the Chelsea Heights section of A.C. in 2006 so that Baby and his friends had a safe and loving environment to stay in when their caretakers went on trips and could not bring their pets along. The poem below was written as a tribute to Baby’s passing by Phyllis Popkin, the poet laureate of Charlottesville, Va.

Goodbye to Baby
Anyone seeing Baby had quite a treat,
for this seven-pound pooch was always so sweet!
For 19 years, he gave everyone pleasure,
and joy is something that’s so hard to measure.
Even when he could not see or hear,
he’d cuddle in Mommy’s lap, and be aware when Daddy was near.
When his little body could no long cope,
he was “put to sleep” gently with one great hope:
That he’d fly quickly to heaven and be greeted with bells ringing —
For once again he’ll be able to hear and enjoy the angels’ singing!
All the best, Baby, we’ll love you forever … — Phyllis Popkin

BRIGANTINE – The Marine Mammal Stranding Center will have a presentation at the Brigantine VFW on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10am.

This program is free to the public. During the program you will learn about the species of marine mammals and sea turtles that visit NJ every year, why they may become sick or injured, and how the MMSC helps in their rescue, rehabilitation, and release.  You will also learn what to do if you encounter these animals on the beach, and how to improve their environment.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center is a private non-profit organization based in Brigantine, New Jersey. The mission of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center is to rescue, rehabilitate and release sick and/or injured marine mammals and sea turtles throughout the state of New Jersey.  Since its inception in 1978 the Marine Mammal Stranding Center has handled over 4,000 animals along New Jersey’s 1,800 miles of coastline.

Seal adoptions will be available for purchase.  By adopting a seal your donation will help provide food, medicine, and care for a sick or injured seal.

The Brigantine VFW is located at 121 31st Street.  Space is limited. To RSVP email edummsc@aol.com or call 266-0538 by Feb. 7.

——Christina Rodriguez

ATLANTIC CITY — Courtesy of a triumvirate alliance of the American Humane Association (AHA), MARS Petcare US, and Pfizer Animal Health, a tractor trailer filled with 40,000 pounds of emergency food, supplies and medicines designated for dogs and cats impacted by Hurricane Sandy will arrive on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1pm at the Humane Society of Atlantic County, located at 1401 Absecon Blvd. in Atlantic City.

AHA president and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert and Karen Talbot-LaSasso of the M.O.M.S. (Making of Miracle Stories) Animal Rescue of Hammonton, which helped facilitate the connection between American Humane Association and the shelter, will be among the officials on hand to welcome the truck, whose contents will be unloaded and distributed by American Humane Association’s legendary Red Star Animal Emergency Services team.

Red Star rescue teams have been activated as part of every major disaster relief effort for the past century, from rescuing horses on the battlefields of World War I through rescuing, sheltering and treating animals in last year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan and, of course, since Hurricane Sandy last week. 
 
It is estimated that 30 million pets were impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

Animal shelters were hit particularly hard, many losing electricity and unable to maintain or replenish their food supplies and other necessities and with an influx of animals from families being evacuated and losing their homes in the storm of the century.

Because of this harrowing situation, American Humane Association has been invited by officials in three of the hardest hit areas — Atlantic City, northern New and Staten Island — to provide its Red Star services on site. The Humane Society of Atlantic County will serve as a distribution hub for other area shelters impacted by the hurricane.

ATLANTIC CITY — Canine members of the Armed Forces are often the first line of defense against danger. It is for this reason that the good people at Pet Valu holds a series of annual fundraisers to benefit the Burlington, NJ-based U.S. War Dogs Association (USWDA), a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the history of military service dogs, establishing permanent war dog memorials, providing support to war dogs and their handlers, and serving as a clearing house for retired dog adoptions across America.

On Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 11:45 am., Pet Valu, Inc. will be presenting a check to  USWDA president Ron L. Aiello at Golden Nugget Atlantic City. Collectively, the Pet Valu stores have raised over $50,000 this year to help the USWDA purchase and deliver care packages to the canine heroes and their handlers such as Kong toys, cooling vests, “doggles” and treats that are not supplied by the U.S. Military.

Aiello estimates that the USWDA supports 250 dogs at any given time.  

“We’re especially happy about the support Pet Valu has given us,” says Aiello. “Because of their generosity, we were able to upgrade the quality of the products we send to our dog teams.”

For more information on the U.S. War Dog Association and Pet Valu’s involvement click here.

WEST ATLANTIC CITY — A group of executives from Resorts Casino Hotel donated over 200 Shark Vacuum pooper-scoopers to the Humane Society of Atlantic County on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 23.

Left to right are Alisa Elkis, Nation the dog, Courtney Birmingham, Jennifer Fortucci, Howard Copen, Aaron Gomes, Steve Dash with Maggie the dog, Mike Tilton, Joel Ballesteros (kneeling), Michael Roach, and Chris Carmany during Resorts’ presentation of 200+ pooper-scoopers Thursday.

Aaron Gomes, executive VP of operations, and Joel Ballesteros, director of LGBT marketing with Nation and Maggie.

From left, Alisa Elkis, Resorts VP of player development, Nation the dog, Jennifer Fortucci, Resorts director of special events, and Courtney Birmingham, Resorts director of advertising & public relations.

ATLANTIC CITY — Resorts Casino Hotel intends to reinforce its commitment to assisting our furry friends seeking a good home — as well as helping to keep our community clean — by donating more than 200 Shark Vacuum pooper-scoopers to the Humane Society of Atlantic County on Thursday, Aug. 23.

Resorts Casino executives, including Executive Vice President Aaron Gomes will make the presentation at 2:30pm at the Humane Society, located at 1401 Absecon Blvd. (White Horse Pike) in Atlantic City.

The Humane Society of Atlantic County, through its animal shelter and veterinary hospital, offers animals the opportunity for reasonably priced healthcare and a second chance to find permanent homes. It also provides a second chance for animals from other shelters with high kill rates, often finding new homes for animals destined to be euthanized.

ATLANTIC CITY — A gala event called the Dancing with Dolphins Island Party and sponsored by One Atlantic Events is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 5, on the top floor of The Pier Shops at Caesars from 7-10pm. The party will raise much-needed funds for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, which rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of dolphins, seals and other distressed aquatic animals each year.

The gala will start with a cocktail reception and steel drum music amidst unparalleled ocean views and the Atlantic City skyline. Tickets are $50 each ($45 each before July 20) and include MMSC nembership, admission to the event, entertainment, dancing and light fare. A cash bar will be available and there will be silent auctions and raffles.  

Won’t you join us on for an evening dedicated to the dolphins? The Marine Mammal Stranding Center is holding the fundraiser to not only increase awareness of these beautiful beings, but to help the center with the expense of being the only facility in the state of New Jersey dedicated to the rescue of sick and injured marine mammals and sea turtles.

Silent Auction prize sponsorship is available. Please call (609) 266-0538 or e-mail mmsc@verizon.net for more information.

“They are ocean ballerinas and acrobats — gentle, warm-blooded creatures with brains as large and complex as our own. They are gifted communicators who embrace life with the energetic joy seen in human toddlers and people in love. Spinning, twirling, gliding in temperate and tropical waters around the world, dolphins have an almost magical ability to induce feelings of relaxation, serenity and intense pleasure in most who come into contact with them. Dolphins possess an uncommon ability to open our hearts and facilitate the process of deepening of our connection with nature. More than with any other animal, human interactions with dolphins invite us to experience the pure joy and beauty of life. As we bask in the bliss of this unconditional love, we’re left with a profound inner peace and an enduring affectionate communion for all living beings, including our fellow humans.”

On Thursday, Feb. 16, a press conference was held in Atlantic City to officially announce the return of the Atlantic City Rodeo, which gallops back into Boardwalk Hall for three days beginning on March 30 through April 1, 2012. (Pictured the Atlantic City Alliance’s Liza Cartmell)

See video from press conference here.

This year’s rodeo was made possible by Mayor Langford’s Strategic Planning Committee and is presented by the Atlantic City Alliance.

See photo gallery here.

The partners in promoting this years rodeo are the Atlantic Club Casino, Borgata Casino Hotel and Spa, Caesars Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Resorts Casino Hotel, Revel Entertainment, Tropicana Casino and Trump Entertainment. The Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, Tanger Outlets – The Walk , the City of Atlantic City , Dodge Trucks and Caterpillar are amount the many host and sponsors of this years event.  (Read about last year’s rodeo here and see video by clicking here.)

ATLANTIC CITY — A blitzkrieg of protests from animal-rights groups caused ownership of the Steel Pier in Atlantic City to kill the idea of bringing back the famed diving horse.  The legendary attraction featured a horse and female rider plunging into a 12-foot-deep water tank from a platform 40 feet in the air, and ran on the pier from the 1920s through the ’70s.

Anthony Catanoso, whose family owns the historic pier, told the Associated Press on Feb. 14 that he’s no longer interested in reviving something that helped make the pier world famous in the last century.

“We just felt that since Atlantic City is moving forward, we should move forward with it,” he said. “We should create new memories for visitors instead of recreating old ones.”

Catanoso revived the act once before, in 1993, but shut it down after two months following similar protests from animal-welfare activists like the Humane Society. Catanoso proposed reviving the act earlier this month when a massive redevelopment plan for Atlantic City’s Boardwalk, casino district and shopping areas was unveiled. But within days, animal-welfare activists were voicing opposition.

According to the AP story, Catanoso downplayed the significance of public opposition in the latest decision to pull the plug on the Diving Horse but acknowledged that the protests did take their toll.

“That negativity — we didn’t want that to interfere with the positive things we’re trying to do,” he said.

The Steel Pier is undergoing a $100 million renovation estimated to take 3½ years to complete, and designed to make it a year-round attraction. Some work is already under way. This summer, there will be six new rides, several new games, beer gardens, new food and beverage kiosks and a resurfacing of the pier floor.

BRIGANTINE, N.J. — This year, why not give a gift that gives back?  You can remember a friend or loved one in a very special way and save a seal at the same time.

When you give a donation of $25 to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center’s Valentine Seal Adoption, the MMSC will send your named recipient a special Valentine’s Day card announcing the seal adoption. Once the seal has been rehabilitated and released, the MMSC will send a beautiful seal adoption certificate, a photograph of the seal and the background information on the stranding and recovery of the seal

(pictured at right).

Visitors are welcome to adopt a seal at the MMSC Museum and Gift Shop Saturdays from 10am-2pm.
On Saturday, Feb. 11, stop by the MMSC (3625 Brigantine Blvd. in Brigantine) and children can make their own Valentine Seal Mask and learn about all the marine mammals that call New Jersey home.

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day by making a donation in honor of friends, family, colleagues or teachers, for the many sick and injured seals cared for by MMSC all year long.

To adopt a seal or make a donation, please click here.