New Britain Support for Group Helping Homeless Dogs While Serving Injured Veterans

A nonprofit organization that adopts homeless dogs and trains them to help disabled veterans enjoys considerable leadership and support from the New Britain community, particularly the city’s Polish community.

The Forever In My Heart Foundation is an organization, “founded to make an impact in the lives of homeless dogs in animal shelters and disabled United States Veterans in our communities.” Its website says that in its work with, “experienced, certified trainers and various animal shelters/rescue groups, we are able to save the lives of many homeless dogs and train them to become Service Dogs to serve disabled Veterans.”

The organization enjoys high profile support from the New Britain community.

The President of the City Council, Ald. Eva Magnuszewski (D-AL), who is an active animal advocate, has been promoting  Forever In My Heart Foundation’s upcoming Charity Gala.  That event, to support the work of the Foundation, will be held on September 16, 2018 at 3:00pm at the G.Fox Ballroom at 960 Main Street in Hartford. Tickets are available at the organization’s website.

“The work this Foundation does is a win-win for dogs and the veterans,” said Magnuszewski. “The dog is rescued from a shelter and trained to be a service animal for a disabled veteran.”

Magnuszewski is not alone in the city in her support for the organization.

Margaret Mazur, who owns Polmart, at 121 Broad Street, is Vice President of the organization. Also, New Britain resident Barbara Jurkowski is a member of the Foundation’s board.

Belvedere Restaurant, which is located at 82 Broad Street, is donating catering at the September 16th Forever In My Heart Charity Gala. The Foundation says that the successful New Britain restaurant, “will be offering our guests vegan/vegetarian hors d’oeuvres, dinner choices, and desserts.”

The Foundations says that two of the dogs in its programs are in foster families in New Britain.

The Foundation says that it is a, “volunteer-based animal welfare organization dedicated to rescuing homeless dogs from overcrowded shelters as well as neglected and abusive households.”

“By working with a network of volunteer advocates, foster caregivers, local veterinarians, trainers, and shelters,” the organization says, “we will select dogs based on their temperament, disposition, and age. We will train selected dogs to become service dogs and we will gift them to disabled veterans.”

In addition to its Charity Gala event, the Forever In My Heart Foundation also has a, “Pierogies for Paws,” program which includes Pierogi-making classes and homemade pierogi for sale.