Bellmore man plans to swim 9 miles to promote animal adoption and raise money for rescue group


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Tom Collings plans to swim nine miles later this month in honor of Rosy, his 15-year-old golden retriever, who died three weeks ago.

But Bellmore’s man does it for others like her, too – rescuing dogs in shelters, stalling until their forever home arrives.

“She was my girlfriend,” said Collings, who turned 70 on Friday. “It breaks my heart, you know, when people go to pet stores or breeders when there are thousands of beautiful dogs in the shelter just waiting for houses.”

To raise awareness and raise funds for a non-profit animal rescue organization in Wantagh, Collings said he would swim from a public boat launch at Billy Joel Park in Cold Spring Harbor to Lloyd Harbor and vice versa. His swimming is due to take place on Sunday, October 17, depending on weather conditions.

Collings, a retired State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision parole officer, said he would be accompanied by two friends on kayaks so people on jet skis or boats could better spot it.

Collings said he regularly swims three miles, but never attempted nine miles.

“We [will] know, ”he said when asked if he could handle the distance. “I enter an area where even after three miles I only come home because it’s dinner time. I don’t really want to quit. And I also know how to relax. I just become a piece of seaweed every now and then and I meditate, float, and regain energy. “

Collings said he did not plan to get out of the water during what he estimated to be a seven to nine hour swim, but would take breaks. His kayaker friends will offer him water or juice during these breaks, he said.

Joanne Anderson, outreach coordinator for Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation, said Collings had not embraced the organization but had heard of its work through a mutual friend.

“It’s so unique, when it comes to fundraising [goes]”Anderson said.” We used to do sit down dinners, supermarket bingos and things like that. “

The 40-year-old organization typically adopts 300 dogs and 500 cats each year, Anderson said. Money raised from Collings’ swimming would go towards veterinary care for older animals and those with chronic illnesses, she said.

Collings said he removed about two dozen street dogs, of which he ended up keeping half. He found Rosy in a yard on his multiple trips to locate a parolee in Roosevelt 14 years ago.

“Like most street dogs and stray dogs, I open the door on my side. And that’s for them to decide,” he said. “If they come in, they go with me. And if they don’t, it was their choice. And Rosy jumped in.”

Collings said he hopes more people will consider adopting rescue dogs.

“There are thousands of animals in shelters that could not be adopted,” he said. “It’s always been kind of a pain in my life that I couldn’t do anymore. So it’s a little thing I could do.”

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