COUPLE DRIVEN BY NEED TO AID DOGS.Byline: Romy Jacobson Daily News Staff Writer Dogs are more than just pets to Lenny Iasparro. For five years, Iasparro and his wife, Jacquie Hilton, have been taking in stray and abandoned dogs, giving them food, shots and medical care and finding new homes for them. ``There were so many homeless animals that needed help,'' Hilton said about why the retired couple founded Hilton's Rescue. ``You look into those sweet little eyes Little eyes or Little Lize is a folksong popular in Cornwall but may have originated in America. It was first recorded in the 1950s by an American harmony group called the Delta Rhythm Boys but was later taken up a Cornish group from Camborne called the Joy Boys. and what are you going to do?'' Dumping of unwanted animals is a major problem in the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley , they say. ``The desert is a haven for animal dumping,'' Iasparro said. ``Law enforcement does the best job possible under the unfortunate conditions that exist.'' Every Friday and Saturday, Iasparro and Hilton bring in 10 or so dogs to the Lancaster PetsMart store's Luv-A-Pet section, where pet adoption agencies match up animals with new owners. Iasparro and Hilton support their rescue service through donations from people who adopt dogs, and spend a lot of money out of their own pockets. The dogs they give away they have found running loose in the desert, or have been brought to them by people who know about their work. Before they give away a dog, the couple talk to the prospective owner to make sure he or she is aware of the long-term commitment involved in having a pet. They ask whether there is an adequate fenced yard and shelter, and why they want a pet. They point out that a puppy won't stay a tiny ball of fur. ``A lot of times people get them on an emotional level and don't realize the costs involved,'' Iasparro said. ``You need to have a tremendous amount of patience.'' Iasparro finds it sad that some people will keep an animal for two or three years, then give it up. ``When people adopt an animal, they should know this adoption is for life,'' said Hilton. One of the main goals of Hilton's Rescue is to educate people about the importance of spaying spaying: see castration. and neutering neu·ter adj. 1. Grammar a. Neither masculine nor feminine in gender. b. Neither active nor passive; intransitive. Used of verbs. 2. a. their animals. ``We want to educate people to spay spay v. To surgically remove the ovaries of an animal. spay, spey to remove the ovaries. See also ovariohysterectomy. spay hook see spay hook. or neuter neu·ter adj. 1. Having undeveloped or imperfectly developed sexual organs. 2. Sexually undeveloped. n. A castrated animal. v. To castrate or spay. neuter 1. all the animals,'' said Hilton, ``Very healthy, beautiful, adoptable animals - pedigrees are killed every day because there aren't enough homes.'' CAPTION(S): 4 Photos PHOTO (1--color--ran in AV edition only) Sweety Pie, an 8-month-old mix, is a pooch in need of a good, loving home. (2--color in AV edition only) Jacquie Hilton holds three 2-month-old Lab mix puppies. She and her husband, Lenny Iasparro, have worked for five years to find homes for stray animals. (3--ran in AV edition only) Lenny Iasparro displays some dogs needing homes, including a Corgi corgi: see Cardigan Welsh corgi; Pembroke Welsh corgi. mix, three Lab mix puppies, a German shepherd and a mix breed. (4--ran in AV edition only) Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy, American film comedy team. The duo consisted of Stan Laurel, 1890–1965, b. Ulverson, England, whose real name was Arthur Stanley Jefferson; and Oliver Hardy, 1892–1957, b. Atlanta, Ga. are blind 2-year-old border collies. Hardy is on the left. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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