By TERRY CASEY
Times Herald Staff

Original Story

CONSHOHOCKEN — Had “The New Colossus” been placed outside Spampinato’s instead of at the Statue of Liberty, it would have read a little differently Sunday.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled puppies yearning to breathe free.”

The Italian restaurant welcomed Home At Last Dog Rescue to its Grotto Sunday in an effort to spread awareness of the non-profit’s efforts.

Visitors were invited to dine with man’s best friend at their side as part of the fourth semimonthly “Yappy Hour.”

“People are thrilled to have it back,” said Marcie Spampinato, whose efforts first brought Home At Last to town in June. “They enjoy the music, the dogs and the pupsicles.”

The what?

“Pupsicles are frozen treats for the dogs.”

The Yappy Hour was first suggested to Spampinato by a customer at the East First Street restaurant, and the filled seats showed that the Conshohocken Community is keen on the idea.

Mingling throughout the crowd of patrons were some of the 50 Home At Last volunteers and some of the 20 dogs currently in foster care with the organization.

Co-President Jaime Crane, who was there with foster-puppy siblings Leia and Trixie, said she was optimistic at least some dogs will find a suitable home through the latest Yappy Hour.

“We never, never, try to talk someone into adoption, but we’ll do what we can to help someone who’s interested,” she said.

It’s important to rescue animals from groups like Home At Last, she said, because every dog was saved within hours of an often-inhumane execution.

“We get them from the South — North Carolina, South Carolina — where they are more likely to gas the dogs,” she said. “The dogs always suffer then and can struggle to breathe for up to 30 minutes before dying.”

Dogs are brought to Home At Last by a transport organization called Pilots N Paws, which flies the animals into Wings Field. They are then in foster care with Home At Last for two to eight weeks, Crane said.

More information on Home At Last can be found by visiting www.homeatlastdogrescue.com or calling 215-380-4728.

Conshohocken resident and labradoodle owner Raj Gupta took advantage of the Yappy Hour to set up a table of his own outside Spampinato’s Sunday.

His mission: Bring a dog park to the borough.

It isn’t just that he has to currently drive to Ambler or Radnor for a dog park; Gupta believes a dog park would be good for the community and local businesses.

“People will come from neighboring towns to visit the dog park, and then they’ll stay in town for a while,” he said.

Gupta is currently circulating a petition, which he then plans to bring to council.

More information can be found at www.conshydogpark.org.