A graffiti artist and a police facility. Two things you don’t expect to see together. Mural artist Mr. P is raising awareness of homeless animals through larger than life-size depictions of a cat and dog at the Rochester Police Department’s Animal Services Center. The Center is located at 184 Verona Street with the mural on the outside wall facing Brown Street.
Those passing the Center may not be aware it houses Rochester Animal Services and dozens of adoptable animals. Some know the building only as the home of the Rochester Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit, which shares the building with RAS. “We are always looking to educate the community about RAS and it’s programs,” said Director of Animal Services Chris Fitzgerald. “This artwork not only beautifies the community but increases visibility for the shelter.”
Mr. P’s work recently played a role in education and awareness through murals at Wild Wings Bird of Prey Sanctuary (located in Mendon Ponds). The street artist has both a connection to animals and to the growth of art in Rochester. Verona Street Animal Society provided the funds for the painting supplies used by Mr. P to complete the project. The mural will be completed by Wednesday, September 17 and the public is invited to view the art and then visit the shelter and the Play Yard at Rochester Animal Services. The shelter is open late Wednesday evenings until 7:30pm.
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Rochester Animal Services is the City of Rochester’s animal care and control agency located in Rochester at 184 Verona Street just north of Kodak and Frontier Field. For more information on adoptions, spay and neuter, volunteering, or becoming a foster care-giver, contact the Center at (585) 428-7274 or visit us online at www.rochesteranimalservices.com.
More Information about Rochester Animal Services (RAS):
● RAS provided shelter for 2,419 cats and 2,763 dogs during Fiscal Year 2013-2014.
● RAS has achieved a save rate of over 70% throughout 2014
● RAS operates the animal shelter where stray and surrendered pets are temporarily housed.
● The animal shelter serves as a pet lost-and-found resource, pet adoption center, and low-cost spay neuter clinic.
● The shelter is open to the public Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Wednesday until 7:30 p.m.), and is closed Sundays and select holidays.
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The Verona Street Animal Society is dedicated to raising awareness and providing the resources necessary to enable Rochester Animal Services to more effectively serve the public need for animal care and control, pet sterilization, and animal adoption services. In cooperation with the City of Rochester, the Verona Street Animal Society supports the mission of Rochester Animal Services. For more information about the Verona Street Animal Society visit our webpage at www.premium-verse.flywheelsites.com and “Like us” on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/VeronaStAnimalSociety. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/vsas_ras.
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Rochester, NY native Mr. P is known for his elaborately detailed stencil work and largescale freehand murals. Much of Mr. P’s work focuses on the duality between humans and animals. In his spare time, Mr. P works as a handler with permanently injured birds of prey.
www.mrprvrt.com
IG- @mrprvrt