ARF Adopt-a-Thon to Be Held at Dylan's Candy Bar on July 8

On July 8, Dylan’s Candy Bar and the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons are hosting their second annual Adopt-a-Thon event in East Hampton to support Dylan’s Candy BarN, an organization supporting adoption rescue efforts.

Although this is only the East Hampton store’s second year of hosting this event, the Adopt-a-Thon was first started 6 years ago to raise awareness for animal rescue and adoption. The foundation supporting the event, Dylan’s Candy BarN, quietly formed throughout the years and has gained nationwide recognition. This foundation not only finds pets good homes, but it also provides trainers on its website for anyone who is hesitant of adopting a pet and sells animal-themed candy to raise money for the foundation.

Dylan Lauren, founder and CEO of Dylan’s Candy Bar, created the Dylan’s Candy BarN foundation due to her strong passion and love for animals. As a child, Lauren’s infatuation with animals first began when she owned two rabbits, Chocolate and Vanilla. Years later, as an adult, Lauren decided to adopt her collie flat-coated retriever, Jersey, whom she rescued from a shelter. After learning about the abuse that her dog once faced in Puerto Rico, Lauren felt the need to take action.

“It’s just horrible that people don’t realize the torture they [animals] face… Shelters save dogs and cats from inhumanity and it made me feel so great to help animals find homes that otherwise would not make it,” said Lauren.

Lauren holds the Adopt-a-Thon events at her stores, which are located in highly populated areas. The event is held at 10 different locations across the country. At each Adopt-a-Thon, dogs line the sidewalks waiting to greet their potential new owners. If interested, adoptees can fill out an adoption application. After the two-hour long event, about 90% of the dogs are adopted. The most successful event that Dylan’s foundation held was in Miami where Dylan’s Candy BarN, along with the Humane Society, was able to immediately adopt eight dogs to new owners.

Last year, ARF placed nearly 1,400 cats, dogs, puppies and kittens into new, loving homes. At the Dylan’s event last year, ARF brought 4 dogs that have all since been adopted. Director of Marketing and Communications for ARF, Jamie Berger, thought that last year’s event helped ARF’s adoption efforts.

“It was a great day and it was a lot of fun. It brought awareness to the organization,” Berger said.

In addition to co-hosting the Dylan’s Candy Bar event, ARF holds an annual dog walk where hundreds of dog owners gather together to benefit the rescue organization. ARF also has a mobile adoption van, which travels all over Long Island looking for new homes for their pets.

Lauren believes that the family friendly event will bring together the Hamptons community, “This is a way to bring people together who love animals, candy and ice cream,” she said.

Update:

Rob Thomas, lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty, will also be at Dylan’s Candy BarN along with his wife, Marisol. Thomas and his wife are the founders of the Sidewalk Angels Foundations, a non-profit organization that help provide money and support to grassroots organizations that specialize in animal advocacy and rescue.

Dylan’s Candy BarN Dog Rescue Event will be held on Friday, July 8^th from 2-4 pm at Dylan’s Candy Bar, 52 Main Street, East Hampton. For more information, visit arfhamptons.org.