Pet lovers play poker for shelter

PITTSFIELD — The top floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel might look a little like a famous Cassius Coolidge painting tomorrow night. But replace poker-playing dogs with dog-loving poker players.

The Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter will hold its first no-limit, Texas Hold'em poker tournament at 7 p.m. to benefit shelter renovation. "Ante Up for Animals" will feature tournament-style Hold'em, a catering spread and an array of animal lovers.

"There won't be caviar, but we already have 60 people lined up to play and to help us raise money for the animals," said tournament organizer and shelter volunteer Ray Gargan yesterday.

The tournament entry is a $110 donation, which Gargan said will go straight to addressing shelter needs and to the sizable Visa gift card presented to the winner.

Carol Lew, chairwoman of the shelter's nonprofit board, said the reward given to the winner pales in comparison to what the no-kill shelter will gain from simple generosity.

Lew described the shelter as a modest building lacking most in feline comfort. The shelter's cat room is the size of a small bathroom and can hold nine caged cats and three humans. She said that about 25
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cats are currently in foster care until a spot opens in the room.

"We have high hopes (that this tournament) will help give a better experience to every cat that comes through the shelter," said Lew, who dreams of expanding the cat room to three times its size. "We want the cats to get away from the stress of barking dogs; to be able to move around and stretch a little."

With medical expenses, equipment costs and veterinarian care piling up, Lew and her colleagues hope that the tournament will bring it a step closer to its ultimate goal.

A Labrador retriever recently received a $400 operation to remove a benign stomach tumor. The operation was paid for by a private donation.

A dog from the shelter will make a guest appearance tomorrow as poker players buckle down at the benefit table.

"If you like animals and you like poker, you can't be a loser," Lew said.

Players must be 21 or over and may register as late as tomorrow evening. For information on the shelter, donation or adoption, call the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter at 448-9800.

source: www.berkshireeagle.com