(Photos by Emily Cappiello)
On a crisp, fall day the Massapequa community came out in droves to attend Barktoberfest 2014, hosted by Dr. Ned Horowitz and his business, Pet Vet. With free food, a bouncy house, adoption opportunities and more, families came out with their pets for a good cause.
“This is the third year that we are doing this and it’s such a fun, enjoyable event for the community,” said Horowitz, noting that it often takes more than four months of all-hands-on-deck to organize the event. All of the five doctors he has on staff get in on the action as does the office manager and all of the assistants.
For the Barktoberfest celebration, Hororwitz, who has been taking care of animals since he was 13 years old, also opens his property up to other animal-related non-profits, like Ruff House Rescue, in or
der to help them raise money.
“We don’t discriminate,” he said. “The organizations make reservations through us and usually we allow anyone who shares our philosophy on animals to join in the event.”
However, the event isn’t just a fun day for the community. Every year the organizers of the event pick a non-profit group to give donations to. Last year, the event raised about $3,000 and this year, Horowitz and his team hope to give just as much to the K-9 unit of the police department in order to purchase bulletproof vests for the service animals.
“I am just so thrilled to see this event come to life,” said Horowitz. “There has been a great turnout this year and we always get a lot of community and client support. It makes me feel great, and I am very happy because it’s all for great causes.”
Jodi Ecberg, owner of The Husky Brothers, brought all four of her huskies to the event.
“I love to bring them out; we bring them everywhere we can,” she said of her lovable foursome. “It’s absolutely great for their social skills.”
However, social skills aren’t the only reason that Ecberg brings the quad out. Her dogs work with DogAbility, an organization in which dogs work with Autistic children, people with Down syndrome and assist in a variety of different units in the hospital. Ecberg also helps to organize husky events around Long Island and brings them to other events. She also helps to build awareness about those efforts as well.
While the event was a hit with the community, Horowitz himself shared the credit with those who helped him make Barktoberfest into a possibility.
“I have the best clients and the greatest staff and without them, this event would not be here.”
A huge thank you to all the dogs and their humans who came out to support and donate to such a great cause.
