When Tim Terelli participated in the Landmark Education Self-Expression and Leadership program last year. He knew that he wanted to make a difference in the more than one million dogs that are euthanized in the United States each year. His project was to create a benefit concert for an Athens Georgia animal shelter and specifically help their efforts to promote dog adoption.

The project is now in it’s second year and was just recently the subject of an article in the University of Georgia student newspaper Red and Black.

40 Watt to host benefit concert for dog adoption organizationSaturday, you can rock out with your paws out at the 40 Watt.
Athens Canine Rescue, a local organization that rescues dogs from the shelter before they are euthanized, will host its 2nd Annual Rock for Paws benefit in order to raise money for their rescue efforts.

“The shelter is only able to house a dog for a certain amount of time,” said Angie Garcia, ACR’s fundraiser coordinator.

“A stray has five days. But if the owner has surrendered the dog, these dogs are the first to go. Sometimes, they are house-broken, and it’s sad that they will be euthanized just because the owners don’t want it anymore,” she said.

According to the Humane Society’s Web site, three to four million dogs and cats are euthanized by shelters annually.

A small volunteer-run organization, Athens Canine Rescue is an example of many communities’ attempts to lower that statistic.

Since its creation in 1992, ACR has grown to around 25 foster families and nine board members.

In 2007, Athens Canine Rescue rescued 146 dogs and successfully placed them into homes.

However, in order for the organization to continue assisting the pets, it continually needs volunteers and donations.

“Funding is always an obstacle when you are nonprofit,” Garcia said.

Fortunately for ACR, aid came in the form of Tim Terilli.

Terilli created Rock for Paws as part of a Landmark Education project last year.

“I think [that] because last year was a success, I wanted to feed off of that, to bring more awareness of the organization to the Athens community,” he said.

Through Terilli’s efforts, four bands are lined up to perform Saturday with local rockers, The Winter Sounds, headlining the benefit.

Patrick Keenan, lead singer of The Winter Sounds, said that aiding Athens Canine Rescue is just one out of many causes he would like to support.

“It’s the kind of stuff I always want to do, to get involved and have music be a vehicle that brings attention to an important cause,” he said.

Keenan, who recently relocated to New Orleans, understands the dire situation many animals face.

“Animals can get neglected easily,” he said.

“It’s a big deal in New Orleans [where] so many animals wander aimlessly.”

Besides providing the music, Athens Canine Rescue also will hold a raffle with prizes such as T-shirts and CDs signed by R.E.M.

Terilli hopes the benefit not only will raise money but also attract more volunteers and adopters.

“Maybe somebody who hasn’t heard of them will go up and say, ‘well I’ve got a big backyard, I love dogs’ and they can become part of the network,” he said.

Athens Canine Rescue hosts adoption days once a month, often at Petropolis, a boarding and training center.

Currently, ACR has 22 dogs in foster homes waiting to be adopted.

For More Information go to Athens Canine Rescue.