Animal advocate Gary Rogers gets Nassau appointment

Gary Rogers, the founder of Suffolk County’s SPCA and one of Long Island’s most well-known animal advocates, has been appointed Nassau’s coordinator for the prevention of cruelty to animals, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced yesterday.

Rogers, a Massapequa resident, will serve in an unpaid volunteer role developing new programs focused on animal safety, community education, and spaying and neutering pets, as well as recruiting volunteers to work at emergency pet shelters during natural disasters, officials said.

During superstorm Sandy, Rogers helped run Nassau’s emergency pet shelter, which took care of 500 animals for more than four months, Mangano said.

“Gary has dedicated his life to the protection of animals and his credentials as a humane law enforcement officer will be a great asset to the animals of Nassau County,” Mangano said.

Rogers, who formed the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals nearly three decades ago, later served as a humane law enforcement officer. He also helped care for search and rescue dogs after the Sept. 11 attacks.