Shubert Alley Goes to the Dogs (and Cats)

Wag, Wag, Wag,

Went his tail

Purr, Purr, Purr

Went the kitten

Thump, Thump, Thump,

Went my heartstrings

When I saw my new best friend.

Okay, I may not be a songwriter and I may have messed up "The Trolley Song" but for people living in New York you'll have your chance to meet your potential best friend on July 14.

Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore will be the hosts of BROADWAY BARKS 9! from 3:30 to 6:30 in Shubert Alley (located between 44^th and 45^th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) for this star studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon which will benefit New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. The event will be produced by Broadway Care/ Equity Fights AIDS and sponsored by the New York Times, Pedigree, and RCA Small Wonder. (In case of rain the event will take place on July 28).

Last year's event attracted more than 6,000 theater fans, pet owners and animal lovers with more than 24 animal shelters from New York City participating. The goal is to find permanent homes for pets while informing New Yorkers about the plight of the thousands of homeless cats and dogs in the metropolitan area.

Broadway Barks came about with the passion both Peters and Moore have for animals and was originally conceived as a program to promote the adoption of animal shelters. It has since evolved into an event which not only focus' on the plight of homeless animals, but has opened the door of communication and fostered a spirit of community amongst the numerous shelters and rescue groups throughout the city.

As Broadway Barks looks toward the future the goal is to focus more on education, the responsibilities of pet ownership, spay/neuter and the importance of pet identification.