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News
A Rockin' Fundraiser for Rockaway Dogs
July 18, 2011, 2:46PM MT
By Janine Fleri, Best Friends Network volunteer

Come out for a luau of love for the homeless dogs of Far Rockaway, Queens

July 23rd marks the third fundraiser in the past year for the feral and stray dogs of Far Rockaway, Queens. Each event has been
organized by Christine Drakatos, an Astoria native with a life-long history of animal rescue.

A nurse by profession, Christine is no stranger to nurturing those in need, but her

four-legged patients just might hold the tightest grip on her heart. Proud mommy to seven
permanent dogs, she also cares for fosters who come and go through her constant rescue
efforts. Her most recent rescue is Cindy, a pit-bull terrier puppy starved in a home and
abandoned on the streets (pictured right). She was only 6 pounds at over 2 months old.

"I've been rescuing since I was a kid — which is a long time!" Christine jokes, before
explaining how she came to be involved with the homeless pet population of the
Rockaways. "Before I came to the Rockaways, my partner, Kim Cruz, had been feeding
dogs in the woods up there. The parks department began tearing down the woods, so the
dogs had less space to live. I had built them a shelter, a big dog house with straw inside,
but when the parks department came they wanted the dog house gone, so I donated it to
two rottweilers that lived outside year-round. The fundraisers are to provide the Rockaway
dogs food so they get fed every day and to buy them new pre-built igloo shelters. Kim
goes out during the week and I go out during the weekends to make sure they always
have food and fresh water. We never miss a day."

In the past year and a half Christine and Kim have managed to rescue 60 dogs, with the help of Sean Casey Animal Rescue,
and Bobbi and the Strays. There are now 12 dogs left from the original packs, and two abandoned shepherds who remain. "I do
the catching, but Bobbi and Sean do so much more with socializing the dogs for adoption."
Gus Pappas, Christine's friend and owner of Astoria biker bar
Gussy's, has generously donated the space for each fundraising
event so far.

"I've known Gus forever," says Christine. "I ride [a motorcycle], he

rides, and of course when you grow up in Astoria it's like everyone's
your cousin. I mentioned in conversation that I wanted to have a
fundraiser and he immediately invited me to have it at the bar. We
get a lot of raffle items donated as well. Harley Davidson and
Budweiser are just some of our sponsors, which is great. I make
sure all the profits go to the dogs — it's all for them."

"This is out of the heart, not for money," Gus asserts, echoing
Christine's sentiment that all profits raised go directly to the dogs.

"I suffer for these animals and I will suffer always for them," Christine vows.

The work is hard, and often done with very few other rescuers. "Every day it breaks my heart," Christine continues. "I have a few
friends that come out and help me out. I would love to have a lot of
people come out, but the sad thing is, what if someone gets hurt? I
don't want someone to be a hero and start going there and either
scaring the dogs away, or someone gets hurt. If I get hurt, I get hurt.
If someone else gets hurt then the ACC comes in the dogs get put
down. These dogs have been through enough." There is no doubt,
however, that the effort is worth it. "When I pull up in my car I pull up
dirty ... I got 10 puppies, and I'm so happy, saying 'look what I got
today! These dogs won't have to be outside!' "

In the spirit of the July heat the latest fundraiser will be luau themed,
so come out and don a complimentary lei in support of Christine,
Kim and their effort to bring about a time of No More Homeless
Pets.

When: Saturday July 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Gussy's Bar 20-14 29th street (Between 20th & 21st
Ave.) Astoria, Queens
Cost: $15 entry, kids free, includes food and soda
Entertainment by DJ Amazin' A
Directions: N/Q train to Ditmars Blvd (the last stop on the line). Google map.

To foster and adopt dogs like Cindy please visit Sean Casey Animal Rescue and Bobbi and the Strays.
For volunteer opportunities please visit the Best Friends NYC local programs page

Images courtesy of Christine Drakatos, Gus Pappas

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