Brunch with your best friend

BY RACHELLE YEUNG

A stroll through the park and then brunch at a nice restaurant: sounds like the perfect morning with your best friend. But how often does that happen if your buddy happens to have four legs and a little fur?

Animatch, a dog adoption organization, will be serving brunch to you and your canine companion at their Bark ‘N Brunch fundraiser Sunday at the Babaloo restaurant in Pointe Claire.

“This is the first time we’ve done breakfast with your dog,” Animatch volunteer Jo-Anne Massie said. “Dogs aren’t generally allowed into restaurants. But my brother is one of the owners, so he wanted to help out.”

In fact, both Babaloo co-owners, Paul Massie and Steve Traynor, adopted their respective dogs from Animatch.

A buffet spread will be available for human consumption, at the price of $10, while pets will be treated to Barney’s Biscuits, created by Massie and all made by hand. Ingredients include fresh fruit and vegetables, whole wheat, eggs, flax seed, ground herbs and even parmesan cheese.

“We buy our ingredients at the same place I buy my groceries,” Massie said.

This kind of care and attention seems typical of Animatch staff, about 40 volunteers who work with the animals to correct behavioural issues, keep them groomed and active, and place them in a “forever” home.

Families wanting to adopt a pet from Animatch typically go through two to three phone interviews with a placement counsellor, who examines their lifestyle, experience with animals and expectations for the dog, before even visiting the Animatch centre, according to Massie.

“Every family is different and is looking for a different dog,” she said. “One could be looking for a real energetic puppy, while another one just wants a little couch potato to cuddle up with.”

All animals are spayed or neutered and have all their vaccinations before leaving the centre. Most animals stay with Animatch for about a month before being adopted, but some have stayed much longer. There is no rush in finding a home for the dogs, because it’s more important that it is the right home.

“Really, the dogs are our customers, not the people,” Massie said.

The brunch will be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Restaurant Babaloo (1864 Sources Blvd.). Volunteers will be present to explain the program, as well as to introduce six to seven Animatch dogs to potential owners. Guests are encouraged to bring their own pets.

For more information, call Jo-Anne Massie at 514-983-1770, Cindy Hughes at 514-697-6312 or visit www.animatch.ca.