Summer Promenade nights in Great Neck Plaza offer residents a place to relax and enjoy live music, but recently a charitable cause has been added to the scene.
Peter Andreasian, a commercial real estate agent with EXIT Realty Universal in Great Neck and a board member of the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District, and his wife, Roxana, have worked with local Long Island dog rescue groups to set up adoption tables at the promenade.
Andreasian said they donated an empty storefront at 5 Bond St. to allow Long Island Dog Parents to bring dog adoption groups to the promenade, which he said was an “important thing to help the rescues.”
Yorkie 911 Rescue, a nonprofit organization that rescues yorkies and other small dog breeds and finds homes for them, and Adopt a Boxer Rescue were at the last two promenades seeking to find new homes for some of their dogs.
Sherry Steinlin, an administrator for Long Island Dog Parents, said the group’s mission is to cater to the needs of all dog owners, whether it be helping in finding a lost dog, setting up meeting spots for dog owners or finding homes for rescued dogs.
“What we are is a resource network and support group,” Steinlin said.
She said she has a friend who works at EXIT Realty who got her in touch with Peter and Roxana Andreasian.
The Andreasians extended an offer to her to provide space for dog groups to come offer dogs for adoption, Steinlin said.
“Being involved with all of this stuff, I was floored and honored and said ‘okay great, I’ll get going on it.’” she said.
The dog adoption groups were at both the July 21 and July 28 promenades and are expected to be at all of the promenade nights on Wednesdays in August, Peter Andreasian said.
Roxana said they wanted to help a worthy cause and find homes for the dogs.
Steinlin said the first two promenades have led to the adoption of two dogs so far, with some others showing interest in possibly adopting.
Volunteers dedicate their time at the promenade to try and find homes for the rescued dogs, she said.
Steinlin said Long Island Dog Parents was formed about 15 months ago and already has over 6,500 members.
The group is connected with various resources, she said, including veterinarians, trainers and rescue groups for any needs that dog owners may have.
Steinlin said adopting a dog from one of their affiliated rescue groups is just as safe and rewarding as buying one from a pet store.
“These dogs are being raised in somebody’s home no matter what, whether they are special needs, puppies, or older,” she said. “Somebody is giving time in their home to these dogs and that’s what we want the community to see.”
Steinlin said she was looking forward to the remainder of the summer promenades and hopes to find homes for more dogs.
Dog adoption groups hit Great Neck Plaza promenade
By Joe Nikic
