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Community Corner

Joanne's Gourmet Pizza Gives To Animal Shelter

Donations help the expansion of North Hempstead Animal Shelter.

We all know about man's best friend. But what about dog's best friend?

In Port Washington, two brothers, Rino and Louis Di Maria, are putting their money where their mouths are. Owners of Roslyn-base Joanne's Gourmet Pizza, the DiMarias have donated between $5,000 and $10,000 annually to Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter through Shelter Connection in Port Washington. It's a tradition they've carried out for the last 10 years. 

It's their love of dogs, giving back to the community, and honoring the memory of Nero, their beloved German Shepard, that drive the Di Maria brothers' commitment.  Their efforts play a role in not only the expansion of the shelter, which includes the addition of the new rooms and dog run, but also in finding good homes for the dogs and paying for veterinary care. 

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The brothers keep a donation box in their pizzeria, along with a digital picture frame that shows photos of adoptable dogs.

"Animal rescue is my life-calling, and all my customers know that," Rino Di Maria said. He added that the brothers "have always wanted to do something to better the lives of animals."

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That includes the "real-life room," resembling a living room of a typical house, Louis Di Maria said. "Adoptees get to hang out in the room with the dogs of their choice, so they can get a feel about the behavior of each particular dog and see if that dog suits their lifestyles. The funds we helped raise also helped to build an awesome walking trail for the dogs that are walked by trained animal handlers."  

Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter's Assistant Director Susan Hassett said that thanks to donors like the the Di Marias, along with those who have adopted dogs, in the last 10 years none of the shelter's dogs have been euthanized.

"I am calling the Di Maria brothers 'friends of the shelter,' and I want to thank them for all their help with funding for all our programs," Hassett said. "We have an inside and outside run for the dogs. It's really great that their donations are constant."

 North Hempstead's Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman said that the donations make a huge difference at the animal shelter and that both Di Maria brothers deserve to be honored for their generous gifts throughout the years.

"The animal shelter is such a positive place," Kaiman said. "JoAnne's Gourmet Pizza and others who donate to the shelter are making a wonderful contribution to a worthy cause."

The Di Maria brothers hope the dogs receive as much love as they give. Added Rino Di Maria, "Each person that works and volunteers at the shelter is truly an angel … as are the dogs."

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