Lupa Family Zoo Raises $6000
 Friends
and supporters on January 15, 2005 congregated at the Polish American
Club in Ludlow, MA to raise money for the Lupa Family Zoo, also located
in Ludlow, MA. Guests including Springfield City Councilman Angelo
Puppolo enjoyed tasty homemade Polish, Portuguese and Italian foods.
And to live music the Lupa fundraiser featured exhibits of some of
the animals housed at the zoo. After immigrating from Poland, Henry
and Joan Lupa purchased the 58 acres that the farm stands on today.
Visitors can enjoy the zoo seven days a week from April through December.
There is no admission fee however small coin operated food treats for
the animals are available. Some of the animals sheltered there are
giraffes, bears, monkeys, reptiles and rescued rabbits, birds, and
geese. During this cold winter, furnishing heat has been an expensive
item in the farm's $300,000 budget. Stan Lupa stated that giraffes
need to be keep at 70 degrees.
 
In addition to running the successful zoo, Henry Lupa
has contributed his designing skills to the renovations of the new
Forest Park Zoo. The Lupa family also donated the two cougars located
at Forest Park facility.
 Lupa
Family Zoo is located at 62 Nash Hill Rd, Ludlow. For more information
visit their website at www.lupazoo.org .
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Remembering Rusty
 Half
awake this morning, I placed my hands on the side of the bed as I’ve
done for more than 17 years feeling for my dog, Rusty. After I was
fully awake, I realized that my good buddy had passed away several
days before. For those of you who love animals you will understand
my feelings of profound loss.
 When
Rusty was a young dog he would bound around the house and office saying “hello” to
all patients and friends. But in a greater sense he was most content
with his close relationship with me always positioning himself under
my feet when I sat on the couch, chair, or at the computer. He even
wanted to sit on my lap while I was driving my car (I had to break
him of that habit). I will always remember Rusty being more like a
gazelle when he jumped into my bed in the morning, wagged his tail
and looking down at me with his dark brown eyes.
 Not
wanting to put our dogs (we had 3) in a kennel or have a dog sitter
for long periods of time, Linda and I chose camping as an alternative
to leaving them behind. While at a favorite Cape Cod campground, Rusty
would wake me up before dawn for our annual morning walk to the Hole-In-One
Donut Shop. He would jump on the picnic table, sit beside me, drink
my coffee out of my cup and devour his own freshly baked donut. One
morning in particular Rusty woke me up before dawn and walked with
me along the bike path for a mile to get to the donut shop. Usually
by the time we reached the store it was light out. This morning it
was still dark when we arrived. A glance at the store’s clock
told me why. It was only 4 o’clock in the morning! That little
dog jumped the gun. After realizing the time Rusty and I went to the
beach and watched the sun rise and, of course, went back for our coffee
and donut.
 As
Rusty got older he lost his hearing and became lame. He also suffered
from Cushings Disease. We spoke loudly to him and constructed a handicap
ramp, both at our house and our camper; but time and age took its toll
and he finally passed December 23, 2004.
Hearing the news about Rusty, many of our friends sent
us cards and e-mails. We certainly appreciate that. I hope that someday,
if there is a dimension beyond this life, we will meet Rusty again.
Until that time we’ll always lovingly remember Rusty.
Dr. Dean and Linda Antoniucci
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