Tattoo Artist Does More in Attleboro Than Inject Ink

Given his profound love for music, especially from the era when he was growing up-  the 1950’s through the 1970’s- it would be appropriate that a theme for ‘Electric Eric’ Berghman might be from “Gimme Shelter,” that famous song by the English rock band, the Rolling Stones.

But those who truly know this owner of his two-year-old on 5 Park St. in Attleboro associate this tattoo owner with his love of animals and for the support he’s provided the Attleboro Animal Shelter that cares for hundreds of stray pets each year in the city.

And for his contributions this past year on behalf of the Friends of Attleboro Animal Shelter (FAAS), the all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial and volunteer support to the shelter, he was named as the 2010 Golden Paws Award winner.

“It was a total surprise when I received it,” Berghman said of the award presented in March. “I couldn’t make it then, but I sent my wife, Jodi, to receive it for me. It is a beautiful plaque that I display in the store.”

The Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter that does not euthanize stray animals found throughout the town. So volunteers provide for the care and well-being most of the unwanted, stray and needy cats and dogs found in the city each year.

Berghman immediately threw his support behind the shelter once he discovered how much they do for the stray animals in town.

He fondly remembers the nights he picked up his adult cats, Blizzard and Shi-Wu, at the shelter. “I found out about Shi-Wu on Friday night and picked her up on Saturday morning,” he recalls. “I saw how scared she was that day and since she has been like Velcro to me.”

“About two years ago, I adopted Blizzard. She was found in a field alongside a road bleeding and Dr. Truesdale fixed her up and spayed her."

The amount of time some animals might spend at the shelter before hopefully being adopted can sometimes be an extended stay. “Some end up being there for two or more years,” he says. “Many of them are older cats and dogs.”

Of course, his biggest wish and that of the for a larger shelter.

In the meantime, he says there are more immediate concerns, too. “They could always use kitty litter, dry cat food, pet carriers, paper towels, bleach and maybe some antibiotics like neosporin,” he says.

“The there are so nice and so friendly,” he says. “They get to know the animal’s personality and can match up anyone with a pet there once they do a background check on a prospective owner to see how many pets they own, what kind of pet they would like to have and what kind of owner would be best for that cat or dog.”

The social media is also play a vital, if not critical part- at least for Berghman- in spreading the word about the shelter. That especially applies to an adoption of an animal that has been at the shelter for a long time. “It seems everyone gets on Face Book then and goes crazy when that happens,” he says.

“Once a month I get a notice from the shelter and hear about an animal and I will try to contact all my friends through Facebook, or tell some customers about animals that were just picked up or others that need to be adopted,” he continues. “A lot of friends and customers have come through and adopted some cats and dogs.”

“For any municipal worker such as a policeman, fireman or anyone who works for the city, I will donate a portion of what I what I am paid toward the shelter,” he says. “I donate most of my tips to helping out the shelter and have a donation box in the store. Once a month I dump out any money from a vending machine I donated to the shelter and hand that right over to them.”

Yes, the two worlds of Electric Eric” delightfully coincide once in a while too. “I get a lot of requests by customers who want me to put tattoos of their pets on them,” he says.

Finally, Berghman points out this is not a good time of the year concerning stray animals and pets. “This is kitten and puppy season,” he says. “Unfortunately, some people who can not afford pets or who do not want to care for them anymore will often leave them at the shelter. Others are just dumped somewhere.”

He also reminds anyone he sees as well as displays a sign on his Stray Tatts store of a special fundraising event on June 25 sponsored by the Moose Lodge called the Friends of Attleboro Animal Shelter - Petwalk at 241 Thacher St. at the Moose Lodge starting at  10 a.m.