THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 1, 1994 TAG: 9408310157
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Wiggles and Sunflower will become Army brats, going to the Salvation Army.
Daisy goes to a neighbor, and Mickey of John goes to the individual holding the winning raffle ticket.
These are small, fluffy, white American Eskimo dogs that Gabriel DiGiovanni is reluctantly giving away. The breed has been part of DiGiovanni's life for 30 years after a stray entered his heart.
``Then,'' he said, ``I started breeding them.''
All was well until a neighbor complained recently to the city, which noted in a letter that the sale of pups is a business and that the DiGiovanni residence on Normandy Drive is not zoned for business.
That took care of the current group of puppies, the reason for giving them away for good causes.
The raffle is for the benefit of the Knights of Columbus. The winner will be announced Oct. 9. Tickets, and the snowy white prize, will be at a K of C booth during Peanut Fest.
DiGiovanni says he is not angry at the city and its reaction to the one complaint, saying, ``They've been nice about it.''
He and his wife, Joanne, will continue to keep mom and pop American Eskimo dogs, and they say they will continue to have puppies.
``There's no law against breeding,'' DiGiovanni said. ``I'll keep breeding them.'' MEMO: For information on the raffle, call 925-0881.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Kristen, left, and Jaclyn Morris hold the American Eskimo pups that
belong to Gabriel DiGiovanni. Two will be raffled, with the proceeds
going to the Knights of Columbus.
by CNB