*Welland Tribune*
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2009



Street Pharmacy front man Ryan Guay has some four-legged accompaniment,
with dog Bella, a Boston Terrier mix, joining him as he plays shortly
before a show.

STAFF PHOTO/Maryanne Firth

*Local music act gone to dogs *
By MARYANNE FIRTH, TRIBUNE STAFF

Street Pharmacy has gone to the dogs.
The Welland rock band will be hosting a fundraiser show on Feb. 13 at
Niagara College in support of Boston Terrier Club of Canada Rescue.
Money raised by the $5 admission fee will go towards the veterinary
costs of dogs who have been rescued and placed in foster homes.
The band's drummer, Dan Fretz, caught word of 150 dogs rescued from a
puppy mill this past summer. The rescued puppies were placed in foster
homes, some with extensive medical bills.
After hearing the puppy mill horror stories, Fretz, who has two Boston
Terriers of his own, decided something needed to be done.
He approached the other members of the band about hosting a fundraiser,
and after a month of planning the show was born. "It's horrible to think
about the terrible conditions those dogs had to put up with," said
Fretz, whose family pets both came from the Boston Terrier rescue.
"I like dogs. Raising the funds is the least we can do."
"It feels good to be able to do this," he said, adding he hoped the
event would be successful so the band can help support the rescue.
Jennifer Manni who co-ordinates foster homes for the rescue in the
Niagara area, said that volunteers with the nonprofit organization can
sometimes undergo heavy out-of-pocket expenses. Last year alone, she
said the rescue, which runs across Canada, took in 70 dogs and incurred
more than $54,000 in medical expenses. In order to fund veterinary
costs, the group does extensive amounts of fundraising.
She said the Boston Terrier breed is popular amongst puppy mills, which
brings large numbers to the rescue each year.
"It's unfortunate there's a great need (for rescues). This breed has a
huge need."
Manni said she was delighted to hear Street Pharmacy was interested in
helping to support the cause.
If all goes well this year, singer Ryan Guay said the band wouldn't be
opposed to making it an annual event. Next year, he said it would make
the show even more interesting if the college allowed attendees to bring
their dogs along.
The all ages event will take place from 7 p. m. to 11 p. m. at the
college's After Hours pub on the Welland campus, with all proceeds from
the door going to BTCCR.
If looking to donate, or for more information, visit the website at
www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com.


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