Written by Staff Reports Tuesday, November 05, 2013 11:00 pm
Marian V. Marchese founded the non-profit organization New Leash on Life USA.
Marian V. Marchese, a Philadelphia advertising executive and founder of the nonprofit organization New Leash on Life USA, will receive the 2013 Kennel Club of Philadelphia Dogs’ Best Friend Award Saturday, Nov. 16 at the National Dog Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.
The award will be presented by Kennel Club of Philadelphia President Wayne Ferguson as part of pre-event ceremonies in the stadium show ring as group judging begins in the early afternoon.
Marchese was selected for the award because of her dedication to saving shelter dogs through her nonprofit, New Leash on Life USA. New Leash takes at-risk dogs into prisons, where inmates learn to train and care for them for 12 weeks, living together in the cellblocks. Dogs are prepared for adoption to loving families, and inmate trainers are supported with workshops they can use to find full-time work in the animal care field when they re-enter society. She is a resident of Penn Valley.
One of Marchese’s constituents is Vivian, a therapy dog “ambassador” for the National Dog Show presented by Purina, who spent three months in the Philadelphia prison system last year helping inmates prepare for release and life in the outside world.
In announcing the award, Ferguson said, “It is our hope that this award will inspire and motivate others to contribute to animal welfare in our community and to protect our region’s dogs, whose service and companionship are a critical and enriching part of American life.”