Black Dog memorial fund grows

By: Carol Hazard | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: July 16, 2009

T-shirt details

To reserve a T-shirt, call the SPCA at (804) 521-1334.

The Friends of Black Dog T-shirt will be available this month. Sarah Murray, a caretaker of the dog, said she expects to take orders for a second printing in early August.

Details will be available on the Friends of Black Dog Facebook page or by calling Beverly Morano at (804) 355-0324.

Black Dog is gone but not forgotten.

The Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has received $4,185 in contributions to the Black Dog Memorial Fund from people as far away as West Palm Beach, Fla.

The fund was created a week ago in memory of the legendary stray dog that captured the hearts of hundreds of people in the Richmond area and beyond.

Meanwhile, three families -- the original Friends of Black Dog -- who banded together nine years ago to save, feed and protect Black Dog will put out a T-shirt featuring a picture of the black, shaggy dog and the words "King of Strays" on the front. On the back will be printed "faithful friend, fierce protector, forever free." The same group did a "Save Black Dog" T-shirt about seven years ago.

All the proceeds from that sale -- about $1,000 that was maintained in an account to pay for his medical expenses, if needed -- and this new one will be used to benefit the Association for the Support of Children with Cancer, a Richmond nonprofit group that provides emotional, financial and spiritual support to about 1,000 families a year in central Virginia.

"Black Dog loved being free, and he loved children," said Sarah Murray of Richmond, a caretaker of the dog. "We couldn't think of a better way to honor him than to help free kids from cancer."

Black Dog was found two weeks ago in the West End, apparently fatally struck by a car, in a neighborhood where he roamed free for nearly two decades.

"His spirit certainly will live on," said Colleen Eckard of Richmond, who donated money to the SPCA. "He was one of a kind."

In all, 110 people have donated to the SPCA fund, which will be used to pay for spay and neuter surgeries on dogs that were strays before coming to the SPCA or into the care of Richmond Animal Control.

Also, a dog run at the humane center will be dedicated to the memory of the shaggy chow.

Donations came from as far in Virginia as Staunton, Grottoes, Victoria, Irvington and Fredericksburg.

A separate T-shirt, this one a silhouette image of Black Dog designed by Mary Davenport Williams at Gibson Lane Studio in Richmond, will be sold in the next couple of weeks at the SPCA gift shop.

Contact Carol Hazard at (804) 775-8023 or chazard@timesdispatch.com.