I think this is going to be so cool. . . but that's just me!
ASPCA takes a bowwow
BY LISA L. COLANGELO
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Friday, May 5th, 2006
Green-Wood Cemetery will come alive tomorrow with the sounds of dogs, cats and
horses.
And, yes, some people will be there, too.
The ASPCA is celebrating its 140th anniversary at the grand final resting place
of its founder, Henry Bergh, with a celebration and exhibition.
Bergh, the son of a wealthy shipbuilder, started the ASPCA after witnessing
cruelty to horses on the streets of New York and bloody bullfights on a trip to
Spain.
"I always say he is probably one of the greatest men that most people have
never heard of - we want to change that," said Valerie Angeli, senior
director of public information and special projects at the ASPCA. "He was a
pioneer of compassion in the United States for children and animals."
Angeli and Green-Wood historian Jeffrey Richman have spent the last few weeks
putting together activities, documents and displays that capture Bergh's
passion.
And they also want to make it fun.
The festivities start at 1 p.m. (The rain date is Sunday.) ASPCA law enforcement
agents, stars of the popular "Animal Precinct" television show, will
be on hand. There will be horses from the NYPD Mounted Unit, along with
bagpipers.
Children can work on craft projects with animal themes. People can view Bergh's
diaries and a replica of a horse ambulance, which Bergh designed before such
devices were created for people.
An honor walk of dogs, horses and people will make its way to Bergh's mausoleum,
where the bronze animal sculpture that once hung from the side of the ASPCA's
92nd St. building is now landscaped into the grounds.
Richman said it's not unusual to have such a celebration at Green-Wood, which
has served as more than a cemetery for decades.
"This was one of the major tourist attractions in America," he said.
"Before you had public parks, people came here to commune with
nature."
The lush woods and lawns of Green-Wood make it the perfect place to honor Bergh,
said Angeli.
"This is a joyful celebration of a life and of a great person who made the
world more compassionate," Angeli said. "We want to leave people with
a feeling of hope and kindness."
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