A Dog for Deven

It wasn't all resolutions and ordinances at the Feb. 14 Berkeley Township Council meeting.

Several people came to the microphone during the public portion of the meeting to ask residents across the township to chip in to buy a Diabetes Awareness Dog for Central Regional Middle School student Deven Rusnak.

Terry Restaino is trying to spread the word through the senior communities in the western section of the township.

She urged people to attend the next fundraiser for Deven from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Forked River House in Lacey Township.

Tickets for the event are $20 and includes a buffet, cash bar, a Chinese auction, and a D.J. A representative from Virginia-based Warren Retrievers also will be on hand to demonstrate how the specialty dogs are trained to alert if a child's blood glucose levels dip too low or spike too high.

The price of a Diabetes Awareness Dog runs from $18,000 to $20,000.

"We are trying to raise money for this child," Restaino said. "Ticket sales aren't going too well."

Restaino has already collected $1,200 from Holiday City at Berkeley residents, mainly in donations of $1, she said.

"I'm going to shake every tree in Holiday City and Silver Ridge," Restaino told council members. "Everybody, please. Let's get this kid a dog. I'm just going to keep coming back every two weeks and annoy everybody."

Restaino even tried collecting money at the meeting.

"I take cash," she said.

Bayville resident Cheryl Altieri also asked that as many people as possible attend the Feb. 25 event.

"This really is a very good cause," she said.

Deven suffers from hypoglycemic unawareness, which means he doesn't know when his blood sugar plunges or goes too high.The boy has to test between 10 to 12 times a day to determine his blood glucose levels. His mother, Sherry Kriss-Dillane,  stepfather, Frank Dillane, and Deven's father, Christopher Rusnak, must check his blood glucose levels at night, while the boy sleeps.

Tickets for the Forked River House fundraiser are available at RPM Auto Sales, 980 Route 9 in Bayville, the Forked River House and Mayor Carmen F. Amato's office in Town Hall at 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road.

People who can't attend the event but want to donate for Deven's dog can do so online at www.GuardianAngelServiceDogs.org and donate under the name "the Dillane family."