Quacking for a cause: The Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia facilitated a record number of animal adoptions last year with 8,201. Ame Dorminy, ACCT’s community and development specialist, organizes rubber ducks in preparation for the Duck Dash. Five thousand ducks will be dumped into the pool at Vogt. Some will be marked to win prizes, including a $2,000 cash prize. MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTOS
The Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia and Councilman Bobby Henon want everyone to know that no animals will be harmed in the making of the third annual Duck Dash fundraiser this Saturday at Vogt Recreation Center. In fact, thousands of dogs, cats and other assorted furry and feathery creatures will be gaining a new lease on life thanks to the two-hour rubber duck drawing, which will be making its debut in the Northeast.
Last year, City Council President Darrell Clarke appointed Henon to fill a vacancy on ACCT’s board of directors. Henon in turn convinced the organization to move Duck Dash to Tacony from its former home in the LOVE Park fountain.
“We will dump five thousand ducks into the pool at Vogt and they will be numbered,” Henon said during a recent tour of the ACCT shelter at Front Street and Hunting Park Avenue.
It costs $5 to “adopt” one canary yellow, sunglasses-wearing duck and enter the random drawings. Duck bundles are also available for discounted rates. The ducks will be allowed a “quick swim” before the drawings begin. The top prize is $2,000 cash. Other winners will get an iPad mini, a swag bag with coupons and certificates from restaurants and business, bark boxes containing dog gifts, custom pet portraits and more.
Also, one out of every 1,500 ducks will be specially marked. If a marked duck is the first one plucked from the pool, the adopter will win a $50,000 prize. Ducks can be adopted in advance or at the event.
“The people who have adopted the ducks have the opportunity to win prizes, but the most important thing is that people know what ACCT does, what their mission is,” Henon said. “These resources go toward providing homes and shelter for abandoned animals in the city of Philadelphia.”
ACCT is a nonprofit organization established by city government in 2012 to handle many services formerly provided by the Pennsylvania SPCA. Unlike the SPCA, ACCT does not engage in humane enforcement, but it has become the busiest pet shelter in the city with more than 28,000 intakes last year.
“Mainly we get cats and dogs, but we see all types of animals,” including goats, birds, alligators and skunks, said Ame Dorminy, ACCT’s community and development specialist.
Many of the animals are strays, while others are unwanted or abandoned pets. ACCT facilitated a record number of animal adoptions last year with 8,201 while saving the lives of another 3,000 through its foster volunteers. ACCT helps other homeless animals by distributing them to other rescue programs and to wildlife rehabilitation centers.
ACCT Operations Director Ed Fritz added that the organization is also advancing “surrender prevention” programs. That is, when someone wants to give up a pet, the ACCT staff will offer them various support services while encouraging the person to keep the animal. ACCT can provide food and medical care while offering the owner some tips on how to have a happier relationship with the pet.
ACCT’s efforts provide a valuable service to the city, even for residents who don’t own pets.
“With stray cats, but taking care of them and providing spay and neutering and vaccinations, the stray cat population becomes healthier and the city becomes healthier,” Fritz said.
Similarly, the agency helps keep the stray dog population at a minimum and coordinates more than 1,000 volunteers who serve in many different ways. Some work at the shelter walking dogs, helping feed them and socializing them. Others transport animals from shelter to shelter or help out with promotion, taking photos and sharing adoptive animal profiles on social media. Many volunteers man ACCT information tables at public events and open their own homes to fostered pets.
“The volunteer base is extremely important to assist the programs here on a daily basis,” Henon said. “It’s very rewarding when (the pets) find permanent homes.”
Liz Shockley, a Northeast native who lives in Newtown Square, does a lot of volunteer jobs. Her SUV is wrapped in doggy decals because she’s always using it as a transport vehicle. Last week, she took time out of her birthday to take a shelter dog for a walk around the ACCT parking lot.
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life and this is the most gratifying,” she said.
For Henon, promoting ACCT is more than a job handed him by Council leadership. It’s personal. He owns a yellow Labrador and a Japanese chin that he obtained through adoption.
“I have two dogs of my own, so I (was already) an animal lover,” he said. “Then I found out about all the good work that ACCT does. … We have and should have a first-class facility. The city provides a level of funding, but the city cannot fund it alone.” ••
Saturday’s Duck Dash will start at noon. Vogt playground is at 4131 Unruh Ave. Visit www.acctphillyduckdash.org to adopt a duck. For general information about ACCT, call 267–385–3800.
Councilman Bobby Henon helped relocate the annual Duck Dash fundraiser to the Northeast after two years in Center City. MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
Providing hope: The annual Duck Dash will be held Saturday at Vogt Recreation Center. Proceeds will benefit the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia.
