This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/30/2017 08:30 AMBikers Against Animal Cruelty (BAAC) President Greg Belcher has a passion for both animals and motorcycles, and he’s eager to share how the group can raise awareness and needed funds for neglected and abused pets through effort like the group’s 10th annual Motorcycle Rally and Pet Adoption that took place Aug. 19 at the North Haven Fairgrounds.
Greg joined BAAC about four years ago. He was drawn to the group because it was a way to support both his passions. BAAC was founded in 2007 to advocate against animal cruelty and neglect, promote responsible pet ownership, and help with emergency veterinary expenses for neglected and abused animals.
About a year after he joined, Greg says the two founding members (Cindy and VJ Peregolise, Jr.) decided they wanted to step down and asked him to take a bigger role in the group, which eventually led him to becoming president.
“It was just totally amazing what they had started,” Greg says, “To help push it further and have the respect from the two of them in me to be able to do that was really awesome.”
Greg and his wife Lisa adopted their first rescue, a dog from Tennessee they named Memphis, in 2010. Greg says they jumped in with both feet and loved the idea of rescuing to give the dog a second chance.
“After we got that dog, that’s how we learned about rescuing, and about the importance of it,” Greg says, “There’s so many homeless animals out there that, I’m not saying I’m against [people breeding purebred dogs], but there’s so many other options out there to give an animal a loving home.”
Greg says there are thousands of pitbull-type dogs who are euthanized each year. Greg says they’re lovable dogs, but that some people have a mistakenly negative perception of them. He gave an example from his life, saying that he and Lisa recued one named Phoenix from a lady who didn’t want her anymore.
“We were just going to foster her and get her a new home, and we kind of fell in love with her and ended up keeping her,” Greg says.
Also having a love of motorcycles for quite a while, Greg says riding is unlike anything else.
“It’s just the freedom, the open road,” Greg says.
Greg says the event at the Fairgrounds was amazing. He says there were about 90 vendors and 15 rescue groups, and at least three pets were adopted into new homes that day.
With an estimated 700 to 800 people attending the event, Greg says it was a long day, but well worth it. Greg credits the group’s event coordinator Lynn Lafogg and PR person Rosalie DeCrosta who helped bring the event together, and says the group’s members “worked their butts off” that day.
Though he doesn’t know the exact amount of money raised, he says it was “definitely really good.”
“At the end of the day, all the funds that were raised will be helping a lot of animals,” Greg says.
In addition to raising funds and awareness for abused and neglected animals that are homeless or ownerless and at a shelter or a rescue group, the group also runs a spay or neuter program through which families that need their pet spayed or neutered can fill out an online application and, if selected, have the group make an appointment for them at a clinic and cover the cost.
Greg says the group technically doesn’t rescue dogs, but assists the rescue process.
“Because a lot of rescue groups are going to live kind of money-to-money, so to speak, and they get into situations where they don’t want to say ‘No’ to an animal and need a little bit of help, they can give us a call,” Greg says, “As long as it meets our mission of [preventing abuse or neglect], we can give a helping hand.”
Greg says the group feels like a family, adding that if any of the members needed something, others from the group would be the first ones wanting to help out. He says people don’t have to ride a motorcycle to join, adding there are non-riding members. Greg says it’s a “100-percent” volunteer group, with all funds received going to neglected and abused animals.
“The biggest thing is as long as you’re here for animals, and want animals to be helped,” Greg says, explaining there’s a strong social bond, too. “We can definitely hang out and have a good time.”
Greg wanted to thank all the supporters of the group, noting that without their support, the group couldn’t help as many animals they do.
The next event the group has is at the Gengras Harley-Davidson dealership in East Hartford on Saturday, Nov. 25, where people are encouraged to bring their pets to take pictures with a “biker Santa,” and Greg says the group will also be at a few other events and fairs around the state.
Those interested in joining BAAC or seeking more information about the group can visit bikersagainstanimalcruelty.org or the group’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/BikersAgainstAnimalCrueltyInc.