METHUEN — After spending more than a month being nursed by staff at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Rocky the English bulldog is about to be adopted.
Rocky was found malnourished and living in filth in a Lawrence apartment last month. He had been stolen from Sea World Pet Center on Feb. 11, 2008, and police charged the couple who live in the apartment where he was found with cruelty to an animal and receiving stolen property over $250.
Rocky's story made headlines, and about 40 people applied to adopt him, said Mike Keiley, manager at the MSPCA's animal adoption center.
The MSPCA is whittling down the list to find the right new owner for Rocky, and the dog is undergoing his final treatment for pneumonia and is set to go through eye surgery. He could be adopted as early as next week, but the MSPCA still needs help paying for his $3,000 worth of medical treatment. Keiley said people can donate at www.mspca.org/rocky. Any extra money raised will go toward the other animals at the shelter, Keiley said.
Two yard sales in Haverhill on Saturday
HAVERHILL — Bargain hunters may want to head to Haverhill, where two nonprofit groups are having yard sales Saturday.
The Hilldale Cemetery Association is having a sale in the cemetery on Hilldale Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Everything from antiques to household items and books will be sold. Proceeds will be used for cemetery restoration and maintenance.
And, on Bradford Common, the First Church of Christ in Bradford is having a yard sale, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church is also hosting a sale on Aug. 22.
Golf tourney raises money for elders
LAWRENCE — Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley raised more than $25,000 at its annual golf tournament in June.
Some 104 golfers took part in the event at Meadow Creek Golf Course in Dracut. The event, co-chaired by Leslie Brebner, Michael Collins, and Barry Egan, was sponsored by Intercity Home Care in Malden and Trinity EMS in Westford.
Tournament team winners were: first place, the Kissel Family of Hampstead, N.H.; second place, The Graziano Team; and third place, the Holy Family Hospital team.
The longest drive winners were (male) Mark Kissel and (female) Nancy McKenna of All Care VNA. Closest-to-the-pin winners were (male) Andy Brittan of Right At Home, and (female) Diane Galvin, Pentucket Bank.
Proceeds will benefit the Elder Care Fund, a financial resource used to provide in-home services, community programs and basic necessities, such as food, fuel, prescriptions, to older adults and those with disabilities living in their own homes.
Lawrence resident wins Fulbright award
LAWRENCE — Matt Porter was one of 17 students from Boston College to receive a J. William Fulbright grant.
Porter, of Lawrence, was a member of the Class of 2005 of Boston College High School. He graduated from Boston College in May with a degree in political science and theater. Porter will be an English teaching assistant at a university in Kayseri, Turkey. During his time there, he will also do a documentary about Turkey by Turks and use an interactive Web site to bring Turks and Americans together on a Web forum.
Porter plans a career in journalism to foster understanding and better coverage of Muslims and the Middle East.
