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Browning promotes responsible pet adoptions

Source: Toronto Sun
Date: February 20, 2009
Author: Ian Robertson
OSHAWA - Figure skating star Kurt Browning liked going to the dogs so much today – he'll do it again here tomorrow night.

Soon after arriving at the Humane Society of Durham Region's temporary home to promote responsible pet adoptions, Browning found himself on an unusual footing.

Taking over a leashed dog from one of the staff at the Taunton Rd.-Simcoe St. s helter, he was soon struggling to hold Sparky, a frisky fire survivor.

Laughing and eventually clamping his legs around the mutt as the loveable tail-wagger tried to touch noses with a low-down new arrival wasn't easy, on two counts, he said. Sparky, a pony-size black Lab-Great Dane cross, weighs 105 pound, "and he's really strong," Browning admitted.

"We're doing the Sparky dance," he laughed.

As spokesman for the Pedigree Adoption Drive, he was here on a cross-Canada campaign to raise awareness of animal shelters.

The bigger problem, however, was leaving empty-handed.

Attracted first to a friendly small black-and-white cat – one of 25 in the shelter's cages – Browning said "it looks like the one I had as a kid."

Though often tempted, he travels a great deal and there is no room at home for more pets.

His two children help, but his wife is still busy with the National Ballet of Canada, "and it wouldn't be fair to take home a dog," he said.

Being responsible both before and after adopting a pet is one of Browning's strongest, constant messages.

"People should visit a shelter first, look at all the animals first and ask a lot of questions before making a decision," he said.

But for some people, who either lack the time or a large enough home, there is another rewarding option at such shelters, Browning said. "You can always volunteer to take one of the dogs for walks.

"It will make you feel good and the dog, too," Browning said. "And who knows, you might end up deciding to take one home after all."

Starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, he will do a 20-minute, on-ice performance at the Legends Centre on Harmony Rd., north of Taunton Rd. Visitors, who will be asked for donations to the Humane Society of Durham Region, can then skate until 9 p.m.

Manager Ruby Richards said an offer for a piece of industrial land in Whitby was accepted Thursday, but the town must approve new zoning.

"It could take six months, we're told, but we don't have that long," she said. with time running out at the temporary shelter and some of the 2,400 volunteers likely to be tied up with other building projects after the winter, "we need to get started soon.

"Hopefully we will," Richards said.

Finally, after Browning was on the CBC's Canada AM program this morning, the shelter had several inquiries about Sparky -- who was down to 60 pounds after a fire on his owner's farm six months ago, she said. "We got him, but then our shelter burned down on Dec. 17, so he's come through a lot.

"Luckily he's come back and is in great shape," Richards said. "We're hoping he'll go to another farm family ... He's a big boy and needs a lot of exercise and room."