Volunteers disperse dog Saturday throughout the Chowline for Chopper occasion at Saucony Creek Franklin Station, Reading. (EXPENSE UHRICH – READING EAGLE)
It’s difficult to find out how handing out countless pounds of dog food is a technique for success, yet that’s precisely what the yearly Chowline for Chopper occasion in downtown Reading does.
Even if it doesn’t raise a dollar, the occasion held Saturday for the 3rd straight year at Saucony Creek Franklin Station Brew Pub, near Sixth and Franklin streets, achieves one essential thing: it raises awareness of the objective of The Chopper Foundation.
The nationwide not-for-profit was established by a Berks County couple to eliminate a few of the monetary concern on animal owners confronted with unaffordable, lifesaving medical treatment for their four-legged household members.
“We help to keep family units together,” said Sharon Yetto, who with her spouse, Tom, established The Chopper Foundation.
Her eyes watered as she explained some tough options households have actually needed to make when their dog required surgical treatment. It’s heartbreaking for everybody to rip a family pet out of the only household it has actually understood and take it to a rescue if the family can’t manage emergency situation veterinary treatment, she said.
The Yettos of Oley Township were grief-stricken when their precious 14-year-old powder puff Chinese crested dog, Chopper, passed away of liver cancer early in 2019.
A couple of months later on in a location veterinary workplace, Sharon satisfied a female whose dog required costly surgical treatment that she was not able to manage.
The episode triggered the start of the structure called in memory of the Yettos’ late animal.
“If you just give people a little bit of help,” she said. “We need them as much as they need us.”
Steve and Kristin Thorpe of Temple brought their rescue Lab mix, Apollo, to satisfy the volunteers on the previous train station’s platform. The volunteers given out as much contributed fresh and dry dog food as they might over 3 hours to those who signed up along with individuals who increased..
With 3 dogs of their own, the Thorpes comprehend the predicament of some households.
“Vet bills are expensive, so it’s nice they’re trying to keep dogs with their families so they don’t even end up in an overcrowded shelter.”
The free gift was from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside the pub and targeted city animal owners. The fundraising part of the occasion followed inside the pub. This is where beer/dog enthusiasts got in the photo; Saucony contributed 10% of its beer sales for the day to the organization.
Dog food business contributed about 9,000 pounds of their item, Sharon said.
“We started giving away dog food last weekend,” she said.
Whatever was left Saturday would be contributed to the Humane Society of Pennsylvania, she said.
For more details about the organization, see thechopperfoundation.org
