ELYRIA – An 83-year-old Westlake woman beat out 12 other people Saturday at the Lorain County Dog Kennel to adopt a dog rescued by the Lorain Fire Department last weekend after she fell into the Black River.
“I hadn’t expected this,” said Carol Zicarelli with tears in her eyes as she got acquainted with the dog affectionately known as “Frosty.”
June Arnesen, founder of Ziggy’s Friends, an animal rescue organization, actually had the winning ticket, No. 414058, but she gave it Zicarelli.
Zicarelli and her late husband dedicated their lives to rescuing animals and saved more than 100 cats and 50 dogs during their marriage. Their last name was the inspiration for Arnesen’s rescue group.
“I wanted to make sure she went to a good home,” Arnesen said of giving the winning ticket away.
Zicarelli, who lives with her grandson on one and a half acres that abut Bradley Woods, said she has six cats at home and a Pomeranian.
“I’d seen (Frosty) on TV and I wanted to make sure she had a good home,” Zicarelli said of her trek to the dog kennel.
“I only wish more dogs would get rescued by the fire department so we’d get this many people on a Saturday,” County Commissioner Lori Kokoski said just before she drew the winning raffle ticket.
Zicarelli said she was very surprised the well-taken-care-of dog hadn’t been claimed by her owners after her ordeal in the freezing Black River.
“She’s beautiful,” she said of the rescued dog. “She’s just beautiful.”
Zicarelli said she lost a chow and a boxer within a year of each other and is thrilled to have another dog.
It was also her first time in a kennel, Zicarelli said, detailing how her husband seemed to collect most of the strays they helped during his walks in the park.
“It’s wonderful,” she said of the dog kennel. “I just grieve for all of the animals not adopted.”
The fee to adopt from the kennel is $29, which includes a license, said County Dog Warden John Szelpa Sr.
The kennel also works with veterinarians who will accept a $50 discount coupon from the kennel to spay or neuter adopted dogs.
“Everybody should come here first for their dog,” he said.
Zicarelli isn’t sure if she’ll rename Frosty, but said she was happy to be taking her home.
“I’m so glad she was able to be saved,” she said.
Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.
