Christmas trees for cats and dogs

BY LESLIE SULLIVAN
SPARTA — The Mohawk House and Franklin Sussex Auto Mall have joined forces again during this holiday season to give back to the local community. This season the fundraiser, which will benefit O.S.C.A.R. Animal Rescue, comes with a special twist: Cerbo’s Christmas Tree Farm. For the tree farm, a family owned and operated business for over 100 years, the importance of rescuing and fostering animals in need hits home.
“We really understand what kind of work animal rescue takes and that is why we are so excited to have the opportunity to help out with this event,” said Tyler Cerbo, co-owner of the family business.
The local collaboration of the Mohawk House, Franklin Sussex Auto Mall, and Cerbo’s Christmas Tree Farm points up the importance of community, especially during the holiday season.
“I have a vision, and Steve takes that vision and puts it together. Our vision this year was ‘how can we help the local community during the holiday season,’” said Eric Nielson, owner of Franklin Sussex Auto Mall, referring to Steve Scro, owner of the Mohawk House.
The back of the Mohawk House has been transformed into a Christmas tree nursery with pre-cut Norway and White Spruce trees ranging from 6 to 8 feet. The trees go for around $60 apiece and $20 of each tree sold goes to O.S.C.A.R Animal Rescue, a non-profit rescue organization that saves dogs and cats from desperate situations.
Franklin Sussex Auto Mall is a pillar of the event, currently broadcasting awareness of the fundraiser as well as a contest on stations 102.3 and 103.7 to win a free Cerbo Christmas Tree. The contest runs until Christmas day. However this is not just your average radio contest.
“This contest is used to create awareness about these animals, and how they need your help,” Scro said.
Nielson and Scro recognized the need to being attention to animal rescue during the winter months.
“This time of the year is hard because supplies don’t really come in and adoptions tend to be slow. Right now at our shelter we go through two big bags of dry food a day just to feed the dogs. We do our best but it’s hard to get the support we need during the winter months” O.S.C.A.R. director Cassie Kowalchuk said.
The hopes are to continue this fundraiser in years to come, making it an annual event to benefit not only the animals in need, but also local businesses in the area.
“This is a special event, the holidays are special enough to begin with and if we can all get together and make a difference I think that’s what it is all about,” Scro said.
To get a little and give a lot, head over to the Mohawk House in Sparta for a special tree of your choice and to help a furry friend in need.
“We are very grateful to have the opportunity to work on this fundraiser. We were lucky to connect with Steve during the year and the partnership we have had with him and Eric Nielson has fallen nothing short of awesome and we appreciate him and everything he does for the community for a great cause such as O.S.C.A.R,” Tyler Cerbo said..
For an up-to-date list of pets available for adoption from O.S.C.A.R. and all required paperwork, visit www.oscaranimalrescue.org.