By Rachel Galvin

Animal lovers swarmed through booths set up in Pioneer Park on Saturday, May 7, to see what animals were available for adoption from the various groups there. The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) and Broward County Animal Care hosted event was put together by Sgt. Andrea Tianga, who was on hand with her husband Lt. Ozzy Tianga. Even their son, Joshua, got into the event as DJ SoFlo. There were many vendor booths and BSO brought some K-9s.

“I have been doing animal rescue since [before I was a teenager]. I am a huge animal lover. When I heard that the sheriff is a big animal lover, I jumped at the opportunity [for us] to partner with Broward Animal Care,” said Sgt. Tianga, who added, “With Mother’s Day, the Air and Sea show, [and all the other events going on, it is great that] people are still jumping at the chance to be a part of it.”

Lt. Russo added, “It is a great thing to have out here … to give pets a forever home.”

Helen Santana, who happens to be a volunteer for C.O.P.S., adopted a terrier at the event. Adoption fees were waived this day for most of the dogs. Pet Supermarket gave her a goody basket of products to help her get started.

“I think it is great,” she said of the event. “It is a good way to adopt a dog.

I have bought all of my dogs through a shelter, not a breeder. This is our third dog. I have two cats at home.”

It was not just about dogs; the nonprofit Lumen LS (www.LumenLS.org) had a booth with cats for adoption.

“Our goal is to eliminate shelter euthanasia [for cats] in Broward County,” said Director Andi Kola about his organization, which opened a year ago. He brought out kittens who have FIV (or Feline immunodeficiency virus) to educate people that even these cats can go on to live healthy lives and do not have to be euthanized.

“We have rescued up to 91 kittens in the last three weeks,” he said, adding that his organization offers a place for the cats to stay while they find homes.

Every day, in Broward County alone, hundreds of dogs are euthanized. In November of 2010 Dogs Rule Rescue was born, started by, Lisa Congemi and a small committed group of  animal lovers. DRRG a non-profit 501(c)3, all volunteer organization, based here in Deerfield Beach.

Their mission is to save the lives of homeless and abandoned dogs from high-kill shelters that would otherwise be euthanized and find them loving and forever homes, along with educating the public on the importance of spay and neuter.

To date they have rescued and found homes for over 125 dogs, and they are just getting started. That is an incredible number of lives saved considering DRRG relies solely on donations and foster homes. All DRRG dogs are spayed and neutered, micro chipped, fully vaccinated and given any medical care needed before being adopted.

Any pet landing in a rescue means it has been through some type of traumatizing situation, each prospective person looking to adopt is screened to find the best possible match for both the dog and adopter to ensure the pet finds it’s forever home.

Lisa credits her core supporters and rescue partners, John Prichard, Phyllis Pastore, Stephanie Mink, Donna Wiles and Frank Congemi for getting this organization off to such a successful start. Stray Aid Spay and Neutering Clinic has also been key by providing low cost services for the dogs.

Exclusive Story about this dog coming next week in The observer

     ~~ Saving One Life At A Time~~

Visit us @ www.dogsrulerescue.org

BSO deputies are investigating a child bitten by a dog at the 300 block of SE 1 Street. The eight-year-old boy was outside his residence when a loose pit bull attacked him. As the child ran into his house, the dog chased him inside. Family members shooed-off the dog and first-arriving BSO deputies gave chase on foot after the dog. They ran after the dog for about two blocks, and as they reached the pit bull, it was attempting to attack another dog. Deputies confined the pit bull until Broward County Animal Care and Regulation workers arrived and removed the dog. The child was treated by Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Deerfield Beach units then airlifted via BSO Air Rescue to Broward General Medical Center, arriving at the hospital at 7:19 p.m. Sunday. The child was reported to be conscious and breathing and sustained a laceration to the face and multiple bites. Injuries are non life-threatening. The call was received at 6:40 p.m.