A line of golf carts stretched along the road in front of Ann Zugelter’s lovely Orchid Island home, which she had graciously made available for the highly-anticipated birthday bash of her cute little Orchid neighbor Fredo Henry, a little white cavapoo (cavalier poodle mix) with a personality for miles. Fredo, with lots of support from his human companion Michele Henry, had invited several dozen of his closest pals to not only celebrate his 6th birthday, but – for the second time – to also turn his party into a clever way to support a cause close to all their hearts.
Fredo had decided on his 4th birthday to help less fortunate dogs by throwing a party where all gifts would be handed over to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County. “How many squeaky toys can one dog chew, anyway?” he seemed to say.
Last Saturday Fredo’s party got off to a barking good start on the sunny, late-winter afternoon. All fluffed, and brushed and accessorized, extremely well-behaved pooches of every size and breed raced about in the large, grassy lot next door, which owner and new Orchid resident Priyanka Singh and her family had made available for the day.
While dog parents chatted and enjoyed the refreshments, the well-mannered pooches socialized and exchanged wag-and-sniffs. Among the guests: first-timers Ginger, a sheltie, with her mom Margaret Watkins; and Sir Bentley, a Cavalier King Charles, with dad John Hankins. Suki, a pug, attended with mom Nancy Milsten and looked fashionable in a red scarf.
Fredo introduced his BFF, Checkers, a Havanese, and Checkers’ brother Spanky, a Cocker Spaniel mix who came with parents Ken and Nan Morton.
Riley, there with humans Penny and Bob Campbell, was eager to greet his pooch pals and get the party started. Italian water dog Tufo, with parents Marty and Bill Paine, was busy looking for a place to put the special birthday card he’d brought for Fredo. Tufo’s older litter brother Luka also attended and the two wasted no time tumbling about in the grass. Luka, with help from parents Nancy and Ted Meredith, had brought an armful of chewy and squeaky toys for the shelter pups.
Resting after a morning at agility class was Airedale Sadie with mom Gale Dorsey, and Italian greyhound Will hanging out with mom JoAnn Daniel and niece Leah. Border collie Mulligan was enjoying the party with humans Kathleen and Tom O’Brien; Sassy, another Cavalier King Charles, looked sweet and girly with red ribbons in her curly ears and came with mom Nancy Hardy; and a sweet little pit bull Dazie, with mom Linda Kane, was party-ready in her purple collar.
Orchid Island Club Membership Director Jackie Kennedy is credited with pulling the event together and coordinating everything with the Humane Society. Kennedy estimates that at least 70 percent of the community’s residents have dog family members.
By the end of the day, the generous Orchid Island pooches and their owners had assembled another large assortment of donations to help less fortunate canines still waiting for their forever home.
