Stephanie and Anthony DeRosa, of Ocean City, bring their French bulldog Lily with them everywhere.
By Maddy Vitale
Michelle Benson took her 10-year-old beagle mix Sadie, who sported a bandanna with her to Barks on the Bay, a Humane Society of Ocean City event held on the grounds of the shelter Saturday.
Benson patted her pooch, and the two slowly meandered the booths, looking at items for Sadie and checked out some dog treats.
“I got her from the Humane Society of Ocean City this past year,” Benson, of Dennisville, said as she looked at her white-faced pooch. “I couldn’t leave her there. She was nine-years-old. No one would have taken her. We came today because I want to support the shelter and what they do.”
Michelle Benson loves her rescue Sadie she adopted from HSOC.
The event theme was Pirate Island dress, where pet owners dressed up their dogs in cool costumes and enjoyed a day of music by Cosmic Charlie of the band Dead Reckoning. There were games, a dunk tank, contests, prizes and food.
Dog lovers and their companions even got to check out some agility courses and splash pools.
Stephanie DeRose and her 10-year-old son Anthony, of Ocean City, brought along Lily, their French bulldog, who was in costume.
Anthony proudly displayed a caricature of him with Lily.
“A friend of ours is a volunteer here,” Stephanie DeRose said. “This is such a great event for the shelter.”
Stephanie and Anthony DeRosa, of Ocean City, bring their French bulldog Lily with them everywhere.
Stacy Supplee, of Cape May Court House, brought her schnauzer, Toby, along for some fun, complete with a butterfly costume.
“It is just a nice thing to do to make a donation to the HSOC,” Supplee said.
The real highlight came by way of Australia.
Anthony and Rachel Amos, along with their children Bella, Austin and Aria, joined HSOC for the day.
The family took their mobile pet grooming business on a “Bathe to Save Tour” out of Australia and into the United States. So far, they have traveled to 45 states.
“We love America,” Anthony Amos said, speaking outside of their tour van that has a giant blue dog painted on it.
Anthony Amos and his family made a stop at the HSOC to wash dogs with all the proceeds going back to the shelter.
Their stop at the HSOC was welcomed by shelter employees and the community.
All the proceeds from the Bathe to Save pet washes, went back to HSOC.
Amos, who was being videoed by Animal Planet for a special, during Saturday’s event, said they are about a positive message. 
Riley, a dog up for adoption at HSOC enjoys a bath.
Riley, a dog up for adoption at the HSOC, didn’t seem to mind a bath given by Austin Amos.
George Muller, a dog trainer at the HSOC, watched Riley gets soaped up and smiled.
He said the Amos family has done an incredible thing for HSOC and for all of the unwanted animals through their “Bathe to Save Tour.”
“The Amos family is awesome. All the money from the baths goes back to us. It is just really amazing,” Muller said.
HSOC dog trainer George Muller with Emery Keeler and her dog Jack.
Emery Keeler adopted her dog Jack from HSOC two years ago.
Jack just stepped off the mobile grooming van and into the hands of Keeler.
“He loves baths a lot,” Keeler said of her sparkling clean, companion, after he had his dip. “It is for a great cause.”
HSOC Director of Operations Phil Bellucci said the “Bathe to Save” event was really the best part of the day.
HSOC Director of Operations Phil Bellucci gets into the spirit in the dunk tank.
Bellucci said this year HSOC opted to do their celebration at the shelter, instead of at the Boardwalk. He said all the past years were very successful there, but it is important for people to know where the shelter is, since it is tucked away off Tennessee Avenue.
“We want people to know we are back here and people can come by and see us and see the animals.”
For Jessica Amoroso, her children Sophia, 9, Lilyanna, 7, Aurora, 6, and grandmother Bobbi Boyle, the day wouldn’t be complete without bringing their dog along. Steve, a 10-year-old pug mix, wore an “election suit.”
The family brought him to an HSOC event when it was on the Boardwalk.
“We love supporting the shelter. Steve was just a puppy when we took him years ago,” Jessica Amoroso said. “He won best dressed that year.”
For more information about HSOC visit hsocnj.org and for information about Bathe to Save go to www.bathetosave.com.
Anita Franchetti, of Ocean City, holds her dog Archie.
Stacy Supplee, of Cape May Court House, with her dog Toby.
Riley waits to take a dip.
