Norwood Vigil Draws Over 70 Residents for Homeless Animals Day-September 2, 1995

Rescued Cats Ringo and Reba Symbolize Standish Humane Society’s Spay-Neuter Mission

Following an abandoned-pet call from a South Shore motel manager who discovered two cats left behind by evicted guests, the Standish Humane Society stepped in to rescue the animals, naming them Ringo and Reba. Transported to Holmes House—the humane society’s cat shelter in Duxbury—a veterinary examination revealed the cats to be an unneutered male and an unspayed female, both roughly a year old and in good overall health despite being hungry and thirsty.

Ringo and Reba serve as living symbols for the humane society’s extensive sterilization initiative. This year alone, the organization plans to sterilize approximately 2,000 pets at a cost exceeding $25,000, supported by nearly two dozen local veterinarians. To fund the program—which also assists low-income pet owners with sterilization costs—a benefit walk is scheduled for October 1 at Wompatuck State Park in Hingham. Sponsored by the IAMS Pet Food Co., the three-mile walk begins at 10 a.m. (dogs welcome), with day-of registration priced at $30 for a T-shirt and prizes awarded to top fundraisers. Founded in 1969, the Duxbury-based Standish Humane Society is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation across the South Shore.

Vigil Speakers and Community Advocates

The vigil was co-sponsored by the Canton-based Neponset Valley Humane Society and the Cat Action Team (CAT) of Norwood. Delores LaDisa, chairwoman of CAT and coordinator of the event, emphasized the staggering scale of the issue: “Last year over 12 million cats and dogs were euthanized in our nation’s shelters because there are not enough homes. We hope that people will become aware of this tragedy and spay and neuter their pets to prevent the births of more unwanted animals.”

The program featured an array of local speakers and artistic presentations:

• Proclamation:Ruth Rosenfield of Stoughton read the official Homeless Animals Day proclamation signed by Governor William Weld.
• Poetry and Readings: Canton writer Margaret Thurler read original poetry about homeless animals, while Canton artist Kate Linnett presented dramatic readings and visual displays illustrating prolific birth rates and shelter euthanasia statistics.
• Medical and Advocacy Insights: Veterinarian Dan Massoff of the Norwood Animal Hospital spoke on the medical benefits of spaying and neutering, while Neponset Valley Humane Society President Bonney Brown outlined proactive community steps to combat overpopulation.
• Featured Participants: Additional remarks and presentations were delivered by Karl Schmith of Foxboro, Linda Minsk of Norwood, Dr. Blair Barone of Sharon, Peter Kinch of Easton, and Cindy Allen of Woburn.
• Event Support: Assisting with the presentation were local residents Pat and Bob Lake of Norwood, LeeAnn Hagerty of Readville, Caronlanne Brown of Canton, Steve MacEachern of Brockton, June Mirlocca of Dedham, Frances Hecht of Walpole, Suzanne Brown of Hingham, Maureen McCarthy of Quincy, and Geoff Dunn of Quincy.

For more information on the Neponset Valley Humane Society or CAT of Norwood, residents can call (617) 341-2675.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger