Dog show a howling good time
BY Lauren Mortenson Correspondent

CHRIS KELLY staff Edison's Elaine Terry and East Brunswick's Karen Sternin pets Andrew Gallucci's, 11, Monroe, Lilly at a dog show for residents at JFK Hartwyck at Edison Estates on Sept. 27.

JFK Hartwyck at Edison Estates, a long-term care and rehabilitation center, held its first dog show on Saturday, Sept. 27. Residents, family and friends were invited to share an afternoon of competition, refreshments, and all the dance music a person can handle.

There were eight dogs entered in the dog show, with seven different categories of competition. The best look-alike prize was awarded to owner Renee and her Shetland sheepdog, Wiley. Wiley also won for best trick as he stole the show with a four-part routine. He sat, shook hands, lay down and jumped up.

The dog with the best bark was Maggie, a Border collie and Alaskan malamute mix, who is owned by Danielle. Lilly the cockapoo and her 11-year-old owner, Andrew, took home the prize for best tail-wagger.

Golden retriever Hero and his owner, Robin, won for best costume. Hero, who is also blind, dazzled the judges with his pirate costume.

German shepherd Bronco was the most obedient dog of the afternoon, as well as the best licker. Bronco also belongs to Robin, who left with three awards.

The other three dogs and owners participating in the show were Toni and her dog Ricky, a rat terrier; Lulu and her dog Kiko, a Boston terrier-Shih Tzu mix; and Kathy and her dog Bella, a boxer.

The winning dogs brought home goodie bags containing several different items, including toys and treats.

Robin Mathews, director of nursing at Hartwyck, said she thought the show was great. Mathews is the owner of winners Bronco and Hero. She joked and said the judges wouldn't take bribes.

Elaine Perry, a resident at Hartwyck, was one of the judges Saturday afternoon.

"They were so cute, it was hard to judge," she said. "All the dogs were well behaved … and so were the owners," she laughed.

After all the awards were given out, residents and guests enjoyed conversation, music and refreshments. One resident's voice overpowered the rest as he sang along with Frank Sinatra to "New York, New York."

"Everyone loves Allen," said Seymour Sternin of East Brunswick, who comes to visit his son every day.

Sternin is one of the founders of the Daisy Association, a camp for the handicapped. His son Allen, who has Down syndrome, was one of the first children to attend the camp.

Allen was transferred to JFK Hartwyck at Edison Estates on April 25 of this year, where he was put into long-term care after spending 80 days at Saint Peter's University Hospital. Sternin said Allen woke up one morning unable to move one of his legs.

"There was a 'code blue' called, and they came out and said Allen had died," said Sternin. "Ten minutes later, the doctors said they got his heart started."

Sternin said it's hard for his son to be confined to a wheelchair, because he has always been an active person.

"I'm not giving up on him," said Sternin, who said he's going to get his son to walk.

But even in the wheelchair, 51- year-old Allen was singing and moving to the music the entire afternoon. His father said he had a great time and loved the show.

"This was a necessary social event that the patients looked forward to," he said.

Toni Gallucci, director of recreation, said her staff did a great job putting the event together. It was also Gallucci's last weekend at Hartwyck, so she said it was good to be leaving on a high note.

"I loved working at Edison Estates, and I went out with a bang," she said.

While the event was Gallucci's first and last, JFK Hartwyck hopes the dog show will become one of many.

"Hopefully, it will be our first annual," Mathews said. "All the dogs had a great time."

Contact Lauren Mortenson at

sentnorth@gmnews.com.