It was an unforgettable day at our DOGust 1st^® Birthday Party on the Beach, held at the stunning Crescent Beach Club in Bayville, NY. On Tuesday, August 1st, the sun was shining, and the beach was full of puppy love and happy tails. We celebrated DOGust 1st, the universal birthday for all rescue dogs, in true style – with a paw-some beach party that had something for everyone!

The festivities kicked off with a delectable selection of food and drinks, including a specialty cocktail generously provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Our unique vendors offered humans and their furry companions an array of treasures from toys and treats to pet fashion and accessories. Attendees enthusiastically participated in our chance auction, buying tickets for prizes and adding more excitement to the evening. And let’s not forget the special appearance made by renowned canine crooner, Buddy Mercury!

During the event, we had the honor of presenting North Shore Animal League America’s Crystal Collar Award^® to Mark and John Cronin, co-founders of John’s Crazy Socks. Combining a social and retail mission, John’s Crazy Socks gives back not only to Animal League America but to a variety of charity partners with the message of “spreading happiness.” They are truly making a difference and showing the world what people with differing abilities can do. We are grateful to have a partner so aligned with our vision and values around creating a more compassionate world, and we were thrilled to accept a generous check from them, furthering our cause.

We can’t thank our event sponsors enough – Anonymous Donor, Covetrus, Direct Mail Processors, Jovia, Production Solutions, Sands NY, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Zeta Global – for their partnership, and passion for our mission. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the incredible attendees who came to support North Shore Animal League America and made this day so special in honor of rescue pets everywhere!

In addition to our beach party, we were invited to kick-off DOGust 1st live on ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA)! Longtime supporters of Animal League America, the GMA team put together a fabulous birthday celebration to honor the impact these amazing creatures have on our lives. They even included images of all the GMA staff and talent who have adopted from us over the years!

GMA anchor and Animal League America adopter Robin Roberts and contributor Lori Bergamotto hosted the segment featuring our adorable, adoptable canines in a playpen in the studio. We were surprised with a cart full of amazing donations from BARK – food, treats, toys, beds – all of which will be very much appreciated by the dogs and puppies in our care. Then and even bigger surprise came when Robin Roberts presented our Rescue Manager, Karla Scarmuzzo, with a $10,000 donation from BARK to help support our lifesaving rescue programs. We were speechless and so grateful for this generous gift. Thank you, Good Morning America and BARK for your continued support of our work and your love of animals.