Bark in the Park, or some variation, is a staple at minor league baseball games in Syracuse and across the nation. The good it does to shine a light on our four-legged friends in need has to go into “extra innings.”
“We have another dog and we thought she needed a friend, he just found a perfect dog ever since he’s just a great boy,” said Jeff Martin of Liverpool who was enjoying the final Bark in the Park at historic NBT Bank Stadium.
But it was little George’s first time walking the midway about five months after the Martin’s found their little guy a forever home after talking to their neighbor.
“Ashley, She works for A Second Chance. We told her that we were looking for another dog, and she introduced us to George and we took him home shortly after that,” said Martin.
It was an instant match.
“That was a little more relaxed. We needed a dog that was a little more relaxed,” said Jeff’s wife, Danielle Martin.
But sometimes George remembers those who gave him a second chance.
“He looks for her so anytime we go for a walk, he’s like, looking to see if they’re out in their garage or what they’re doing,” said the Martinez’s neighbor Ashley Rotella, out in front of the Second Chance Adoption Shelter display along the third base line.
This bark in the park serves as a bit of a reunion.
“We picked him up from the city shelter and we pulled him into our shop, my neighbors are looking for a second dog, and they came in and met George and fell in love with them,” said Rotella.
Unfortunately, there are many more loving pups like George who need help.
“There’s a huge problem with stray dogs in the city,” she added. “With all of us helping pull the dogs out of there and bring them into our shelter we get more connections to get them adopted into a forever.”
The next bark in the park to raise awareness and hang out with these guys isn’t until next season.
“In the winter months, you’re gonna see him out there, you see a stray dog,” said Second Chance Food cCordinator David Sturgis. “Call somebody, let’s get him off the street. Let’s find him at least a foster home.”
The Martin’s can’t adopt everyone, but they’re glad they’ve got George.
“He’s the most laid back dog we’ve ever had. Where we couldn’t be happier with him,” said Jeff.
