Pasta dinner boosts animal control’s work to find homes for pets in need

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Everybody inside Pocasset Bay Manor’s jam-packed dining room wanted to take home a doggie bag Sunday afternoon.

So much so, in fact, they paid different amounts of money in hopes of winning at least one of the unusual doggie bags.

Those bags were filled with bottles of wine, Italian specialties, Stop & Shop gift cards, restaurant cards and certificates for a one-hour massage, yoga and a variety of pet-related items.

It was all part of Sunday’s rather extraordinary fundraiser that was organized by Erin Medeiros, the Johnston Police Department’s animal control officer, who doesn’t have the heart to put any pet down and strives to find homes for as many neglected animals as possible.

Sunday marked the fourth time in as many years that Medeiros – with lots of help from her mother Barbara Beal, father Douglas Beal and husband John – hosted a pasta dinner that results in all funds going into an account for animals in need.

Thus, when all the pasta was finished – and people enjoyed the specially made cake that was dedicated in honor of one-time homeless animals Sammy, Gilbert and Bear – and the more than five-dozen doggie bags and other raffle items had been awarded, the event raised “a little over $3,800,” according to Medeiros.

“It was well worth everyone’s effort,” she said.

Sunday’s fundraiser was also special to the roughly 150 people – pet lovers of all ages – who each paid $15 to enjoy music and the fine food prepared by Johnston-based Luigi’s Restaurant. They also provided support through the raffle, which in addition to the doggie bags included gift baskets and a New England Patriots Super Bowl uniform shirt from Rob Gronkowski.

“One hundred percent of today’s proceeds will go into our homeless animal account for animals that are in need of care,” Medeiros said. “My heart goes out to everyone. Today is really special.”

Sunday’s fundraiser was dedicated to three one-time homeless animals – Sammy, Gilbert and Bear – that all, as a result of Medeiros’ heart-felt love and dedicated effort, found homes.

Each has a special story. Sammy, a black and white pit bull, was unclaimed for some time.

“He wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Medeiros said. “I had lunch with him every day … I do not have the heart to put any animal down.”

After talking with the Burrillville Police Department’s animal control, Medeiros did a transfer, and suddenly Sammy had a home.

Gilbert is a little Japanese Chin who was adopted and now lives in California. And Bear is little cat that Medeiros found stuck in a fox trap in an open field.

“I brought him back to the center, but realized he needed to have his leg amputated and we don’t have funds for that,” Medeiros said.

However, after Ferguson Animal Hospital in North Providence did the necessary surgery, Bear was adopted and now has a home.

And those outcomes, Medeiros and others will tell you, are examples of what Johnston Animal Control – through support and events like Sunday’s dinner – aims to help provide for any neglected or abandoned animal.

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