By Nicole Cosentino, Special Writer
Dog lovers young and old congregated at Brandywine Senior Living at Princeton facility Tuesday evening for the SAVE A Friend To Homeless Animals’ first “Cocktails and Canines” event.
”Tonight went beautifully,” SAVE executive director and local resident Piper Burrows said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a smashing success and I would love to do it again next year.”
Festivities included a dog show, doggie talent competition, a raffle to win a Kindle Fire, and dog breed-inspired beverages such as Beagle beers and Maltese margaritas.
Dogs and people of every age, shape, and size mingled in a spacious room at the facility on Raymond Road, which featured a buffet and many tables and chairs to relax and socialize. There was a $5 entrance fee per dog, and all of the proceeds benefited the SAVE organization.
According to Ms. Burrows, a couple hundred dollars were raised during the event.
”The most important part of an event such as tonight is that it gives us great publicity,” she said. “Aside from loving many cats and dogs, I do all of the fundraising, public relations, and marketing (for SAVE). I am also spearheading a campaign to move to a new shelter site in Montgomery Township.”
Ms. Burrows said SAVE needs $3 million in order to build the new shelter, and it is well on its way, with a current total of about $2,050,000 in funds raised so far.
”Our new facility will be larger, more suitable for our animals and residents, and will have easier access for the public and for volunteers,” Ms. Burrows said. “Right now we have 75 animals. The new facility will increase our total by 33 percent, allowing us to house 25 dogs and 75 cats.”
The organization was formed in 1941 as an independent, non-profit animal shelter in the greater Princeton area and eventually merged in 2006 with the Friends of Homeless Animals, an organization concentrating on animal rescues, and serves about 400 animals a year, according to the organization’s website.
According to Ms. Burrows, SAVE has six major areas of programming: rescue, adoption, sheltering, spaying and neutering, animal welfare, and humane education.
”We’re one of the few shelters here in New Jersey that combines traditional shelter operations with unique educational outreach programming,” Ms. Burrows said. “We go into inner city Trenton and work with kids to teach them how to handle animals, how to be safe around animals, and about wildlife and the environment. We reach out to about 1,600 students annually and we hope to expand that once we move to our new facility.”
SAVE also works closely with senior citizens, such as Brandywine’s residents, to place elderly pets in loving homes.
The “Seniors for Seniors” program at SAVE allows a senior age 65 or older to adopt a dog or cat age 5 or older free of charge, Ms. Burrows said.
”If for some reason something happens to the senior citizen, we will happily take the pet back,” she said. “It’s a really great program and numerous studies show that pets provide the therapy that elderly people need. Loneliness is a serious problem for them.”
The Brandywine facility is one of 25 independent, assisted living and rehabilitation service centers for seniors in five states, according to the center’s website.
”I think it’s terrific, especially if you’ve had a pet all your life and you’re now in an assisted living community,” Brandywine’s Escapades Producer Stephanie Gabers said of the senior-oriented adoption program. “(A pet is) a great companion. It’s unconditional love.”
Ms. Gabers greeted patrons and was accompanied by her pet Beagle who helped to welcome four-legged guests as well.
”I think it’s very important to be able to reach out to the community,” Ms. Gabers said. “Especially an organization like SAVE that has been in the community for 75 years.”

