Home > Out of the Cage! > November/December 2005 > Another Sweet Success!: Gingerbread Homes for Animals Once Again Delights New Yorkers

Another Sweet Success!

Gingerbread Homes for Animals Once Again Delights New Yorkers

Celebrating its third successful holiday run, Rational Animal's Gingerbread Homes for Animals awed and delighted New Yorkers, young and old, at the Dana Discovery Center on the northern edge of Central Park.

A multi-faceted celebration of animals, the event takes its inspiration from its centerpiece exhibit of whimsical, edible gingerbread houses, created and donated by some of New York City's most notable pastry chefs. From December 1–11, hundreds of children and adults swarmed the Discovery Center to view the dazzling gingerbread creations and take part in a wide range of activities — educational, entertaining, and focused on providing a greater understanding of animals.

Among the activities available to event-goers were opportunities to use the Mayor's Alliance Pet-Ark and meet (via Internet) many of the dogs, cats, and other animals awaiting adoption at shelters and rescue groups throughout the city's five boroughs.

A special appearance by Maddie, the human-size Schnauzer mascot of Maddie's Fund, gave dozens of children the opportunity to have their photo taken with the lovable Schnauzer — and raised awareness among these young New Yorkers about Maddie's Fund and its important role in transforming New York City into a no-kill community.

At the opening ceremony, covered by WABC, Susan Brandt, Executive Director of Rational Animal and the creator of the Gingerbread Homes event, acknowledged the many individuals and organizations who helped bring Gingerbread Homes to life again this year: The talented and dedicated core group of Rational Animal volunteers, the Central Park Conservancy, PastryScoop.com, The French Culinary Institute, ASPCA, and the dozens of event volunteers from the Key Club, One Brick, and other great volunteer groups around the city.

Jane Hoffman, Mayor's Alliance President, participated in the opening ceremony. Later, she expressed her pleasure that the Mayor's Alliance again this year had the opportunity to be a part of the Gingerbread Homes experience and participate in its educational objectives. "Gingerbread Homes for Animals is uniquely New York and wonderfully inventive," she said. "It spurs the imagination and, especially for children, is an excellent opportunity to start them thinking about the needs of at-risk animals and the role they can play on behalf of these animals."

Funds raised by the sale of the gingerbread creations were donated to the Picasso Veterinary Fund of the Mayor's Alliance and to Rational Animal.

The Picasso Veterinary Fund is a special fund administered by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. It helps pay for extraordinary medical care for sick and injured homeless animals transferred from NYC's Animal Care & Control shelters to other Alliance member organizations for placement into permanent homes. To learn more or to make a convenient on-line donation, please click here.

Rational Animal is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness about NYC's at-risk animals. To learn more or to make a convenient on-line donation to Rational Animal, please click here.