PRESS RELEASE

February 2, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Westport, NY—The North Country Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NCSPCA) named six outstanding individuals as the recipients of the 2004 Anne Trachtenberg Hughes Community Hero Award, which acknowledges and honors those in the community who have made extraordinary contributions to the NCSPCA animal shelter in Westport.

            The recipients include Grace Deming, 10, of Keeseville, who raised more than sixty dollars by redeeming bottles and doing odd jobs so she could sponsor one of the shelter’s dog cages; Sarah Sparkowski, 12, of Simbury, CT, who made soap which was sold in Janet Stipp’s quilts and antiques store, in Keene, and donated all proceeds to the shelter; Lisa Richmond, of Jay, who provided her design expertise to the NCSPCA newsletter, Paw Prints, as well as other projects; and Charlotte Ball, Wendy Hopper and Dr. Bonnie Pease Keeler, all of Keene Valley, who organized and hosted the Fur Ball, a fundraiser held at Warren and Pat Radcliffe’s home in Keene Valley. The Fur Ball raised, through donations and proceeds from a silent auction, more than $25,000 for the care of animals at the NCSPCA shelter.

            The award, established in 2003, is named in honor of Anne Trachtenberg Hughes, a former NCSPCA board member and generous animal lover who advocated tirelessly for this region’s homeless dogs and cats. She died tragically in a car crash in January 2004.

The NCSPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity serving Essex County. It provides humane care for unwanted domestic animals and education about the proper care of pets. The animal shelter (518-962-8604) is located at 23 Lake Shore Road, in Westport, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 to 5.

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For more information contact shelter director Hannah Deming at (518) 962-8604 or by visiting www.ncspca.org.