Local teen’s pet fair a doggone success

October 27, 2011 Denise Romano
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Patrick Delaney may be the busiest teen in Bensonhurst.

The 16-year-old New Utrecht High School senior is in line to bean Eagle Scout, is wrangling with college applications and recentlyorganized a successful Pet Awareness Fair.

The fair took place at the New Utrecht Reformed Church earlierthis month. Delaney, who is currently a Boy Scout in Troop 20,started out as a Tiger Scout at six years old. He organized andcoordinated the fair as part of his Eagle Scout project.

I wanted the community to understand how to care for pets andwhat they have to know to keep them well, Delaney said, notingthat organizations like Animal Haven, the North Shore Animal Leagueand NY-Class, a horse advocacy group, were in attendance.

One of the services offered at the fair was free spaying andneutering, courtesy of the ASPCA. Since this is something that theneighborhood rarely has, many residents took advantage.

People lined up at four in the morning to get their pets spayedand neutered, Delaney said. I didn’t think so many people wouldshow up. It felt really good.

The fair also featured dog training, face painting and games forkids, dogs and cats available for adoption and goody bags for dogsand cats. Donations of pet food were also collected.

We collected about four cases of food to give to shelters andfood pantries, Delaney explained. With everyone out of jobs, it’shard to feed pets. So we donated some pet food to local foodpantries.

Delaney is in the midst of filling out Eagle Scout applicationsand will most likely receive the honor in a few months. In themeantime, he has college to figure out. If Delaney wants to majorin music, he is interested in attending Brooklyn College. But if hedecides to major in computer science, he wants to attend BramsonORT College.

I really like the guitar – I took it up in school, Delaneysaid. I want to get one so I can practice at home. I also like toplay football in school, but I’m not on the team.

The modest teen also volunteers at local food pantry ReachingOut Community Services. I like helping the neighborhood, hesaid.

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