Pet Rock Fest Funds Animal Kindness Magazine Subscriptions to Multiple Massachusetts Classrooms

February, 2024

Contact: Charlene Arsenault RELEASE UPON RECEIPT

508-832-8918

petrockfest@gmail.com

Jeannie Hebert

508-981-5782

Jhebert@blackstonevalley.org

Pet Rock Fest Funds Animal Kindness Magazine Subscriptions to Multiple Massachusetts Classrooms

February, 2024 - Pet Rock Fest is pleased to announce its ongoing support for Red Rover's publication, KIND News, through a generous donation. This contribution will fund numerous magazine subscriptions for 4th and 5th-grade classrooms across Worcester County.

KIND News, a publication that has long been endorsed by Pet Rock Fest, perfectly aligns with our mission—a mission born out of a desire to educate children about the significance of kindness to animals, sparked by a cruelty case that inspired the festival's inception.

"Teaching children humanity contributes to a more humane adult world overall," notes founding partner Charlene Arsenault. "If kids aren't being taught kindness to animals at home, at least they'll be exposed to these values at school, where they spend a significant portion of their time. Instilling the importance of kindness to animals in young minds helps shape their personalities and fosters compassion and empathy for all living creatures.” 

Pet Rock Fest meticulously selects beneficiaries based on their impact on animal welfare in the New England area. With an abundance of outstanding animal welfare organizations in the region, we channel our proceeds towards charities supporting various causes, from shelters to law reform to sanctuaries for farm animals.

“Pet Rock Fest is delighted to reinstate our relationship with KIND News,” adds Pet Rock Fest founding partner Jeannie Hebert. “It is so important for young people to realize at an early age the importance of kindness to animals. It helps to develop their personalities in dealing with later life issues and cultivate relationships with the best friends they will ever have!”

The funds for this year will facilitate the distribution of Kind News magazine to 22 Worcester elementary teachers and approximately 600 students throughout 2024. Heidi Colonna, the writer and co-editor of KIND News, expresses gratitude, saying, “We're thrilled to continue Pet Rock's celebration of the human-animal bond in these classrooms through articles that explore how to be a responsible pet caregiver, how our pets communicate through body language, and inspirational people taking action to help. From young people donating supplies to animal shelters to NFL players speaking up for pets in crisis, the 'humane hero' stories featured are really powerful, because they're modeling kind actions which we hope will inspire other acts of kindness."

In addition to giving more than a half million in donations to animal welfare organizations since 1999, Pet Rock Fest has also supported several reward funds in local animal cruelty cases that aid in finding perpetrators of that cruelty, and has also paid for medical bills for pet guardians who were unable to afford it. 

Apart from donating over half a million dollars to animal welfare organizations since 1999, Pet Rock Fest has supported reward funds in local animal cruelty cases and covered medical bills for pet guardians facing financial constraints

Celebrating 25 years, Pet Rock Fest is the largest event of its kind in the Northeast, an annual festival that promotes kindness to animals and responsible pet ownership. Pet Rock Fest, held in September each year, is a family festival that features guest speakers, vegetarian food, live music, games, events, a raffle, vendors, and hundreds of area animal welfare organizations. Pet Rock is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax deductible.

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If you’d like more information, visit www.petrockfest.org.

Massachusetts State Police Joins Suffolk County's First-Ever Animal Cruelty Task Force

The Massachusetts State Police is proud to announce that it is part of the new Suffolk County Animal Cruelty Task Force, the county’s first multi-agency effort aimed at reducing abuse of animals and coordinating law enforcement efforts to help bring animal abusers to justice.

The task force was created by Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden with assistance from the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL-Boston), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), and law enforcement agencies throughout the county. Two Massachusetts State Police members, Trooper Carlo Mastromattei of the Troop A Community Action Team and Trooper Christopher Kane of the State Police-Revere Barracks, serve on the task force.

Hayden, a dog owner, said the task force will improve the quality of information and methods used among the participating agencies in investigations of crimes against animals.

“Anyone who has ever loved or owned a pet knows the joy and happiness they bring to our lives," Hayden said. "All these pets ask in return is to be sheltered, fed and cared for when they’re sick or hurt. Sadly, too many animals and pets end up getting hurt through malicious intent or conscious neglect. This task force will improve our ability to investigate, charge and prosecute these cases and, hopefully, reduce them."

The MSPCA and ARL-Boston conducted hundreds of investigations of animal abuse in 2023. Last year, 17 individuals were charged in Suffolk County with at least one animal cruelty related offense. Sixteen of the defendants were adults and one was a juvenile.

The owner of a dog training and boarding facility in South Boston was charged last May following an investigation by the Animal Rescue League after three dogs lost significant amounts of weight or were injured during their stay at the facility.

A Revere man was charged with assaulting his roommate and killing his dog in August. First responders entering the man’s apartment found a dog covered in blood, suffering from at least five stab wounds.

A Boston man was charged after a neighbor noticed a strong odor emanating from his Chelsea apartment. A well-being check led to the discovery of a feces-covered apartment and a decomposing dog.

In November, a Boston woman was charged after multiple witnesses reported seeing her punch, kick, and strike her dog with a glass bottle in the Boston Common area.

 Animal cruelty cases are increasing in Suffolk County and statewide. According to the Massachusetts Trial Court, animal cruelty cases have increased more than 70 percent from 2019-2022. According to the Domestic Violence Awareness Project, up to 70 percent of domestic violence victims have pets and of those, up to nearly three-fourths of them report their animals are hurt or killed by their abuser.

The Suffolk County Animal Cruelty Task Force will centralize the various agencies involved in animal abuse cases into a group of designated individuals with knowledge of animal cruelty law and enforcement tactics. This streamlined approach will improve information flow, create a more proficient understanding of animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions, and identify necessary legislative improvements to the state’s animal protection laws.

The task force will be chaired by Assistant District Attorney Amelia Singh, chief of the DA’s office in Chelsea District Court, and will include members of the Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop and Revere police departments, the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Environmental Police, the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and the animal control departments in Boston, Chelsea, Winthrop and Revere.

Pet Rock Fest Announces 2023 Heroes

Each year, Pet Rock Fest organizers reach out to the public to request nominations for people (or animals) who have shown exemplary actions on behalf of our beloved animals. We look for heroes who work tirelessly to protect the welfare of animals or someone who has performed an act of pure kindness to save or protect an animal.

Heroes come in all forms, and this year, Pet Rock Fest honors two humans who have shown amazing work and are worthy of our applause and attention.

Let’s meet this year’s heroes:

CATHY FITZGERALD

“Cathy has always been the most compassionate person I’ve ever known toward all living creatures,” Fitzgerald’s sister Lynn Reed explains. “She has rescued, more times than I can count, birds with broken wings, or orphaned bunnies, and even bugs. She looks at all life in the same way; they deserve to live as much as humans. She’s made numerous trips to Tufts Wildlife Clinic with those broken-winged or fracture-limbed who she feels were put in her path for saving.”

Fitzgerald, who is also a retired professional photographer from Shrewsbury, is a household name to Pet Rock Fest, too. She’s supported the nonprofit and cause for many years, particularly with her many cat photo contest entries (her beloved cat Oscar Jarrard grabbed the trophy several times).

Fitzgerald also parlays her commitment to animals into action by volunteering for Missing Dogs Massachusetts, an amazing nonprofit dedicated to searching and finding missing pets throughout the state, and has helped track and find lost pups in Worcester and Shrewsbury.

“She recently led a family to find their beloved lost pooch, Daisy, in the Burncoat area of Worcester,” says Reed. “The family she recently helped entailed keeping in contact with the family (usually a few times a day), giving them advice, hanging fliers, and physically searching for the pups.”

Putting her pro photography skills to use for animal welfare, Fitzgerald also volunteers for the Brown Dog Coalition, capturing these orphaned dogs’ “best side” to help get them into forever homes. She also visits the dogs who are waiting for homes at the shelter and donates food and other goods regularly to the Worcester Animal Rescue League.

Fitzgerald has had many rescued cats in the past and currently shares her pad with a rescue mixed-breed dog named Bo.

“She is a true voice for the voiceless,” adds Reed. “She rescues the mistreated, saves the injured, and loves the abandoned with all her heart. And she does so quietly, without the need for accolades or awards or recognition, but I think she deserves those.”

JOHN AND KATHY HALAMKA, UNITY FARM

It was once said by the Dalai Lama in The Art of Happiness, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” Living a true compassion towards all creatures we share this planet with is a trait most have forgotten and some may never truly understand.

As Unity Farm’s Board President and Executive Director, John and Kathy Halamka exemplify this very compassion toward all of those who share this world with them. Whether a volunteer, staff, or an animal in need of a brighter future, all who have the honor of knowing these two gracious people are infectiously taken away by their kindness. John and Kathy make an exceptional effort to provide safe and loving lifelong homes for farm animals while offering unique educational programs to promote kindness and connection within their community.

Established in December 2016, Unity Farm Sanctuary became a haven for animal rescues that includes goats, alpacas, sheep, cows, ponies, horses, pigs, and feathered friends of numerous varieties. Hand in hand with the dedication of their affectionate volunteers and staff, they seek positive change for animals and people alike. This is achieved with their incredible efforts to network among other national animal sanctuaries seeking permanent homes, provide educational programs to teach compassionate care for all ages, and work toward a positive future without the impact of animal-based industries.

“Although their rescuing efforts started years before,” says Jennifer D’Angelo, humane education director for Unity Farm, “in 2016 John and Kathy established Unity

Farm Sanctuary; which is currently home to more than 300 formerly-farmed animals, with many

others who have called Unity their home since that time, whether it be for goats, sheep, llamas,

alpacas, horses, ponies, cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, turkeys and an

occasional guinea pig or parakeet (in addition to the dogs, cats, and birds who grace their home).”

Tyler Wehr, Unity Farm board member and volunteer, adds: “Kathy and John have influenced my life in a way I never thought was possible. Since starting to volunteer in 2018, they both have encouraged me to believe that it is achievable to change our course in this world. Volunteering and becoming a board member at Unity Farm Sanctuary is leading me further away from my animal agricultural past and pointing me closer to inspiring many others about my very own journey of compassion on all levels. The connection to each animal under their care, opens an endless discussion about how we all have an obligation to create a better home for all living beings.”

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Unity Farm Sanctuary has become an escape for visitors within the New England community and beyond by continuing to expand programs with the goal of making a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and people in the world around us. Tours, classroom visits, pen pal programs and featured “Learn with Us” topics are just a few of the diverse educational opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can be involved in. Unity Farm Sanctuary prides itself on providing countless resources to live more sustainably, transition to a plant-based lifestyle or become involved in changemaker initiatives such as LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals and the Planet).

“John and Kathy dedicate their lives to creating a safe haven for every individual,” says D’Angelo, “where suffering and loneliness are alleviated, medical care and enrichment are provided and a deep focus is placed on sharing the stories of these amazing non-human ambassadors to generate understanding and compassion for farmed animals and help build a kinder planet. John and Kathy are a beacon of light for their community and have created an inclusive space where team members, volunteers and visitors from all walks of life can come together to care for non-human animals, learn about sustainability, how to pursue a life free of exploitation and cruelty and make a positive impact with each and every connection they make.”