When Homes By Mara Realty founder/owner/president Mara Navaretta teams up with Ruff House Rescue for the upcoming May 5 Cinco de Barko puppy and dog adoption event, it won’t be the first time she’s thrown her support behind finding man’s best friend a home. Last October, Navaretta invited North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) to set up its 40-foot mobile unit at her company’s 30 Berry Hill Rd. headquarters in Syosset. In addition, she donated $2,500 to help NSALA in its efforts to rescue, nurture and adopt pets in addition to educating the public. For Cinco de Barko, the Woodbury native will be hosting Ruff House Rescue, a nonprofit, volunteer-based outfit that saves dogs and cats from high-kill rural shelters and also creates awareness of the epidemic of homeless pets along with the importance of spaying/neutering/ID tagging and training of pets.
This event is a collaboration between Navaretta and Ruff House Rescue volunteer Jodie Cohen, who met Navaretta after Ruff House Rescue helped Navaretta find a home for a lost dog she found and posted on Facebook’s Syosset Moms page.
Since then, they’ve remained in contact and decided this event was something they wanted to partner on together. Given that Navaretta has two rescue dogs that she brought home from North Hempstead Animal Shelter and Second Chance Rescue, the decision to work with Cohen and Ruff House Rescue was a no brainer.
“I believe in what Ruff House Rescue stands for and it being a catalyst in rescuing animals from high-kill rural shelters as well as its focus on generating awareness about the prevalence of homeless pets and its work in matching them with lovable families,” Navaretta said. “It is because of Ruff House Rescue’s unwavering dedication to its cause that I am proud to welcome it to my agency to help it land more adoptions for its puppies and dogs and what better time to do this than on such a festive day like Cinco de Mayo where adopting one of these dogs can truly spice up a life in a way that one special person or family needs.”
For Cinco de Barko, visitors will be able to munch on chips, salsa and various refreshments and enjoy face painting and balloon animals as they meet myriad puppies and dogs available for adoption. Navaretta’s involvement and commitment means the world to Cohen.
“It is so wonderful when a local business person is so passionate about helping others. From my first meeting with Mara when she found that lost dog to this event where she is supporting Ruff House Rescue, she has been an inspiration to work with,” she said.
“We are so appreciative of Mara opening up her agency for our Cinco de Barko event so we can bring our Cinco de Mayo festive adoption event to the Syosset and surrounding communities,” added Ruff House Rescue director Diane Indelicato. “We look forward to seeing individuals and families turning out for this enjoyable day of fun and the chance at adopting our lovable puppies and dogs.”
Adoption costs for the puppies and dogs at the event will range from $350 to $500. All adoptions are considered charitable contributions and tax deductible.
People interested in coming to the event with intent of adopting one of Ruff House Rescue’s animals are encouraged to complete the application, available on its website at www.ruffhouserescue.org, in advance.
Also participating in Cinco de Barko is the Syosset High School Dog Rescue Group, co-founded by Jason Cohen and Mallory Kanterman, which started last year as the first high school group dedicated to
saving dogs.
Often working closely with Ruff House Rescue, the Syosset High School Dog Rescue Group currently has approximately 100 students participating as it fundraises for rescue organizations, takes part in educational programs focusing on why an individual should rescue an animal versus buying an animal and attends adoption events to help with and learn about the adoption process.
The Cinco de Barko puppy and dog adoption will be taking place on May 5 at 30 Berry Hill Rd. in Syosset from 1 to 5 p.m.
