What could bring a hundred animals, a rock band, the ASPCA and more than two hundred people to a restaurant in New York City’s Staten Island on a Sunday afternoon?

Perhaps the food at Lorenzo’s Café – a dog-friendly restaurant– was a factor, but everyone was there to help NYSAVE (Saving Animals in Veterinary Emergencies), an organization founded to assist cash-strapped pet owners in emergency situations. The group’s mission statement is “to aid and assist persons with sick pets who cannot afford veterinary treatment, to alleviate the suffering of companion animals and to make grants to further [these] purposes.”

Attractions at the Lorenzo’s fundraiser included Pet-Rox, a rotating band of veterinarians that perform for charity events ( Click here to find out more about Pet-Rox). In addition, famed animal trainer Bash Dibra was there autographing copies of his book, and officers from the ASPCA of New York – the stars of Animal Planet’s Animal Precinct – were there to meet the crowd and answer questions about their work. All told, the event brought in nearly $7,000 to help pet owners in need.

Lorenzo’s was a special place for such an event. The owner, Richard Nicotra, and his wife Lois named it after their dog and pets are welcome on their terrace.