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Donation helps Animal Charity to keep going
By Denise Dick
BOARDMAN
A donation from a Hubbard dental office will help thousands of animals in need.
Dr. Mark Braydich of Braydich Dental presented Animal Charity with a $15,200 check Wednesday.
Gary Pilcher, chairman of the Animal Charity board, said the money will be used to buy a blood analyzer for the agency’s veterinary clinic.
“We saw Animal Charity was in need and thought it was a good charity to donate to,” Dr. Braydich said.
He was watching the news one morning earlier this year when he saw a report about the agency’s financial difficulties.
Each year, the dental office that Braydich operates with his brother, Rudy Braydich, selects a charity. They donate money paid by clients who come to the office for teeth whitening.
“We have a lot of animal lovers,” Braydich said.
The dental office plans another charity effort, Dentistry from the Heart, for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7. Adults can come in to the Liberty Street office for free dental services such as extractions, cleaning and fillings.
Pilcher said that when Animal Charity first learned about the dental office’s charitable campaign, it wasn’t expecting such a large donation.
“This is absolutely amazing,” he said.
He estimated that the money will help thousands of animals that need medical tests.
Animal Charity provides low-cost veterinary services and education programs. It is the only Mahoning County entity that conducts investigations of animal cruelty and neglect.
It fell on hard financial times last winter and planned to cease its humane department. When that announcement hit the news, though, Tony and Mary Lariccia, township philanthropists and animal lovers, stepped up with a $50,000 annual donation for as long as the agency needed it.
“We’re doing a lot better now, but we can’t let up,” Pilcher said.
The Market Street agency houses about 30 dogs and 30 cats at any given time.
The board chairman said Animal Charity is working to develop a collaborative among other area animal groups to maximize resources and help more animals.
The agency is continually seeking donations to enhance and provide more services. Pilcher said the board hopes to move a part-time humane agent hired this month to full time. One full-time agent isn’t enough to respond to all calls, he said.
Other recent donations include $15,000 from Marjorie Hartman Foundation to buy an X-ray machine and $2,500 from the Jane F. Lamb Charitable Foundation that will buy four or five medium-sized, stainless-steel dog cages that can be used outside.