Helping Sweet Bane

Earlier this year, The Tortorella Family Foundation received a heartbreaking request to rehome a sweet, special needs pittie who lives in Ohio.  We attempted to contact some rescues we knew and to make a public appeal, but unfortunately, no one was able at that time to take Bane.

If anyone can help, we’d be very grateful as would his family.  Bane is two-year-old paraplegic dog who is terrific with dogs and cats and adores his two little human sisters who call him “Bean”. Due to financial reasons, his family cannot keep him. It is obvious that they provide him with lots of love and excellent care. They would like Bane to go to a good home or rescue that can provide him with the therapy he needs to strengthen his muscles. He is UTD on all vaccines and has been neutered. Please share Bane’s story far and wide… so everyone can see what a special pup he is! Anyone interested can contact us on the website or write to robin.meng11@gmail.com. Thank you so much!

John and Christine Tortorella Thank Go Fund Me Donors

 Fans and friends rallied      around Coach Torts recently to show their support and admiration for him and the family’s love for animals:

Our family would like to thank everyone who made recent donations to the programs of our family foundation through Go Fund Me. This support means so much to us and it will help us, help those, who work tirelessly to try stop the suffering of animals. There is so much to do and those people and organizations, on the front lines of this compassionate passion, need the help of the community. And you’ve given it. We pledge to use 100% of every donation in the best way possible to help animals! It takes a team!! Thank you all! And special thanks to Amanda Meyers!

To learn more about what our family foundation has been doing with our rescue partners, please visit our website: www.tortorellafoundation.org, our facebook page: www.facebook.com/tortorellafoundation and view our year-end video for 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U453Qu2miE&feature=youtu.be

Again, thank you, we are deeply touched by the support and excited about how the fundswill help Bear’s Angels!

Warm regards,

John and Christine Tortorella

Diana’s Journey

Diana is thrilled to have a new life.

This past Wednesday, CBJ Coach John Tortorella and radio host Anthony Rothman of 97.1 The Fan, kicked off another season of their “Hockey and Hounds” broadcast by discussing the amazing journey of an abandoned dog from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The story illustrates perfectly the power of people working together to provide hope and help.

Aimee Broussard of Baton Rouge, LA found a starving, skinny, female pit bull beside a dumpster in August.  The dog’s teeth were broken and when she went to the bathroom, Aimee only saw mud. Aimee took the suffering animal to her local vet and named her “Diana”. The vet confirmed that Diana had probably broken her teeth when she bit her chain to free herself, and indeed, she had been eating dirt when there was nothing else to eat.  Aimee had Diana examined  and spayed by the veterinarian and boarded her for a few days while she searched for a suitable place for her.

The Rescue Road Trip Truck

When no appropriate rescue or shelter could take Diana, Aimee reached out to a friend of the Tortorella’s, Darlene Healy, in the hope that someone could help. John and Christine Tortorella learned of Diana’s plight and were determined to help her further. They contacted some of the rescues and shelters they knew and were thrilled when their Bear’s Angels Partner, the SPCA of Westchester, offered to take Diana. The SPCA is a no-kill, animal-care organization located in Briarcliff Manor, NY. With the help of the Tortorella Foundation, the SPCA provides additional training and TLC to dogs like Diana who require more attention and love on the road to adoption through their The Way Home Program.

Aimee Broussard and the truck driver who took Diana on her long journey.

Aimee secured a rescue transportation group – Rescue Road Trips located in Zainesville, OH who could take Diana on the long journey to New York from Baton Rouge.  When the rescue truck arrived in Brewster, NY,  Christine and friends John and Eve Ianuzzi  were waiting to take Diana to the SPCA.  Once there, Diana was met with good food, a warm bed and loving arms. “Princess Diana” is a staff and volunteer favorite. She is enrolled in The Way Home  and is a great pupil.

The Tortorella Foundation is grateful for all the loving hands who helped Diana along her journey and is especially proud to support the SPCA of Westchester’s The Way Home Program.

Safe and sound at the SPCA of Westchester.

Saving Precious Lives in Ohio – SAVE Ohio Pets and Rascal Unit

Spay and neuter surgeries for companion animals provide one of the best ways to prevent overpopulation and unnecessary suffering. On Sunday, April 28^th, SAVE Ohio Pets, an animal welfare organization and its partner Rascal Unit, a mobile veterinary office, conducted a Wellness/Spay Neuter Clinic for the pets of  low-income and homeless individuals and families in the Columbus, Ohio area.

Volunteering their talents, veterinarians Dr. Todd Beckett, Dr. Brian Middlebrooks, Dr. Paola Vasquez, Dr. Adriana Martin and Dr. Natalie Thomas tended to 31 wellness clients. Rascal Unit’s dedicated crew, under the direction of Dr. Decker, performed 51 spay neuter surgeries. ‘Lady Jackets’ of the Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Team, Diana Davidson, Christine Tortorella, Mary Shaw and Hannah Larson comforted post-surgery patients with cuddle and lots of TLC.

According to Stacey Ann Morris, founder of SAVE Ohio Pets, the “Stars of the Show” were the volunteers who helped – as they do with every monthly clinic – by scheduling appointments, picking up and dropping off clients, collecting and passing out food donations and cleaning.

Thanks, too, go to Columbus-based Mutts & Co. for providing pet food at the event. As always, the clinic team were grateful for the assistance of Anthony Rothman of 97.1 The Fan and “Hockey & Hounds”, and Columbus Humane Officer O’Neill.

The Tortorella Family Foundation was proud to sponsor the April 2019 Wellness/Spay Neuter Clinic and salutes all the community members who came together on that day to make a difference for the animals of Central Ohio.

If you would like to donate to a future clinic or learn more about their services, you can reach SAVE Ohio Pets at www.saveohiopets.org or 855-243-SAVE (7283) and Rascal Unit at or www.rascalunit.com 614-389-3500.-

OHIO ALERT: Getting Animals Out of Dangerous Weather

 Sub-zero weather is in the area, posing a dangerous threat to humans and animals. If you have an animal that needs to come in out of the cold – or know of someone who needs help with their pet(s), the following organizations can help – FREE OF CHARGE. TAHO – The Animal Health Organization of Delaware will shelter the animals of homeless people and anyone who cannot bring their pets indoors. Call them at 740-549-1950. Homeless to Home in Marion will also take in pets. Call them at 740-272-0849. Hospets in Marysville invites people in Union County with pets who need protection from the weather to contact them by email: lisa@hospets.org.
If you see an animal struggling in the cold and feel intervention is necessary, please call Columbus Humane at 614-777-7387 x 250 for their animal cruelty investigation line.  Please keep in mind that conditions due to the extreme cold  are life-threatening. Look after neighbors living alone and keep your pets indoors.