The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Adopt-A-Dog

Finding Alvin: A Story of Love, Loss & Renewal on Three Legs

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On April 6, 2021, six months after the loss of our 13-year-old husky Keira, I clicked on a site and saw Alvin, a smiling, young husky with three legs. He’d been shot in Georgia, medically treated there, rescued, and brought to a New Jersey rescue organization, where he was being fostered.

I closed my browser, left the room, and tried to focus on my resolution never again to adopt a dog. It had been a grief-filled six months, my husband and I were now in our 60s, and I didn’t feel capable of enduring such pain again. 

But something drew me to the photo of this puppy, who, described on the site as a “gem,” seemingly refused to be cowed by his two-month-old ordeal. Could he bring joy back into a home that had seemed so dismal these past months? Was Keira somehow engineering this? Don’t be dramatic, I told myself, and closed my Mac. 

We had rescued Keira in October of 2013, during yet another grief-filled period, as our rescued rottweiler had died suddenly. Keira, described as “depressed” by the rescue organization, had not only been abandoned by the only family she’d known in her seven years, but had been rejected as an adoptee because of her age. I felt we needed each other–and the rescue organization agreed. It was a wonderful seven years. 

When we noticed a limp in the summer of 2020, we attributed it to a low-grade Lyme infection for which she was being treated. When she fell one day, we rushed her to the emergency room and learned the worst: it was non-operable bone cancer and our choice was euthanasia or amputation. We waivered, sobbed and ultimately followed the advice of Keira’s loving doctor: “Go see Keira. Her eyes will tell you if she wants to live.” We did and they did. 

In the months that followed the amputation, we put as much of our lives on hold as possible, cheering Keira as she adapted to her new gait; sleeping with her in the living room since she could no longer traverse stairs; renting a beach house in a town she loved–and beginning the treatment regimen that we understood was designed not to cure, but to enhance her quality of life in the limited time we’d have.  As it turned out, it was, indeed, limited. 

In early October, I heard a piercing yelp and found Keira on the floor. The cancer had spread, and it was time to say goodbye.  My husband and I lay on the floor at the emergency room with Keira, holding and kissing her for 30 minutes. it was clear that she was ready to say goodbye. 

As I returned to my computer on April 6, 2021, I felt again the eerie notion that Keira was urging me to buck up and read about Alvin. The adoption requirements seemed onerous: a home 50 miles or less from the rescue organization’s headquarters; experience with a northern breed such as a husky; and a fenced yard. 

No way, I thought. We did have two out of three, but the rescue organization was in a New Jersey city I’d never heard of. Nonetheless, I did a quick map search of the town. My iPhone GPS read, “50 miles, one hour and two minutes.” Not 51 miles, not 53 miles, but 50 miles! The distance requirement, check! Northern breed experience, check! Fenced in yard, check! And, certainly not a requirement, but we had experience with front-leg amputation in a northern breed! Could there be a more perfect family? 

I sent the 12-page application, went to lunch with a friend, and waited for the call that came that very day. While the rescue people were trying to be circumspect, I sensed that they, too, felt this was meant to be. After various steps to verify our appropriateness, including a home inspection, the rescue organization–apparently agreeing that there could be no more perfect a family–decided to forgo additional steps.  Alvin was ours! 

As a young amputee, Alvin has surprised us with his agility. He climbs–no, leaps–up the stairs two at a time, jumps into my SUV with no assistance, swims–and exudes joy. I often think of the encouragement that President Joe Biden brings to those in a state of grief, having himself grieved deeply. “One day,” he says, “you’ll remember that loved one, and a smile will come to your lips before a tear comes to your eye.” 

I often smile these days, even after only one year, thinking of Keira. She had her way. Alvin is home. 

Adopt-A-Best Friend

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adopt a petBy Heather Skolnick

We’ve all heard the adage about how a dog is Man’s Best Friend, but really, in today’s age, shouldn’t it really be amended to be Everyone’s Best Friend? As a dog owner myself, I know I believe it. And this community is certainly a great one to raise a canine child, with its abundance of parks and trails for our four-legged friends to run around and play.

While there are many options for a family to find a dog (or cat!), one terrific, local option to consider is Adopt-A-Dog, a recognized charitable organization based in Armonk. The organization’s stated mission is to “Save, Socialize and Secure Loving Homes for Unwanted or Abandoned Dogs and Cats,” according to their website.

With so many unwanted pets, adopting from Adopt-A-Dog is a wonderful way to bring a pet into your family. Adopt-A-Dog just celebrated its 35th anniversary at the end of April. In their 35 years, over 13,500 animals have been saved and placed in loving homes. That’s an incredible number of animals who found forever homes thanks to Adopt-A-Dog’s wonderful efforts. This amazing statistic can be attributed to three friends who saw a need in their community to address the growing number of dogs in need of a home.

Executive Director Kristen Rice explained the organization in these words: “The dogs here have lost their homes, their families, and their world. These poor animals don’t know where their families are, or why there were put in this situation. That’s why we go above and beyond to accommodate the needs of every animal entering our shelter. We focus on all aspects of our animal’s quality of life to ensure a smooth transition into an adoptive home.” And they sure do.

Local resident Felice Erlich brought a new pet into her home about two-and-a-half years ago from Adopt-A-Dog. Her family’s experience with the organization started when she and her daughter began volunteering.

That is when they saw first-hand how amazing and loving the staff were to the animals. Felice said of the staff, “They were very clearly doing what they loved.” Felice and her family ultimately took home Dali, a two-year-old dog who had recently undergone surgery. Felice remembers, “The staff was so dedicated that they even insisted on her staying on at the shelter for one more week after her surgery so that they could be sure she was ready to ‘go home.’” Felice’s daughter was so moved by her own experience with Adopt-A-Dog that she began her own fundraising campaign called ‘Sarah’s Blanket.’ She makes pet blankets with all the proceeds going directly to Adopt-A-Dog.

There are many ways to be involved with this wonderful organization. First, of course, if you are looking to add a pet to your family, please consider Adopt-A-Dog. Fostering a pet is another option. This shorter term commitment can be for a puppy or kitten to an older dog or cat. Sponsoring a pet financially is a great choice if you want to support the organization but are not ready to add a pet to your family. Or, volunteer! Time can be spent with the animals or in other ways. Adopt-A-Dog also has an Amazon Wishlist–items can be purchased directly through Amazon and will help support Adopt-A-Dog’s needs. Adopt-A-Dog is a wonderful asset to our community. People come from both near and far to find their new best friends right here in Armonk!

Heather and her husband became New Castle residents nine years ago, at which time canine child Freddie joined their family. Since then, a daughter and twin sons followed suit. When Heather isn’t spending time with her family (including Freddie!), she works for a footwear company.

Pets Make a House a Home

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Kristen Rice, Executive Director of Adopt-A-Dog, a pet rescue, shelter and adoption agency in Armonk, with Petey, one of the dogs currently available for adoption.
Kristen Rice, Executive Director of Adopt-A-Dog, a pet rescue, shelter and adoption agency in Armonk,
with Petey, one of the dogs currently available for adoption.

Article and Photos by Marianne A. Campolongo

Nothing is better after a long day at work or school than coming home to a pet at your door. Whether it’s a dog wagging her tail and waiting to join you on a walk outside or a cat purring as he rubs against your legs waiting for you to pick him up, when you have a pet, coming home is always a treat.

Whether you have a dog or a cat, exotic fish or birds, or some other creature, your home is never empty when you have a pet.

Pet ownership has “a number of benefits,” according to Dr. Mary Padilla, a veterinarian who has owned North Castle Veterinary Hospital in Armonk for more than 30 years. “For some people, it’s companionship; for some people, it’s structure. It’s an easy relationship. There is not as much emotional stuff going on. It can be an undemanding, non-judgmental situation,” she said.

She said that pets are great for children as they both tend to be more “in the moment.” She added, with a laugh, “It’s someone else to blame when something is broken.”

Dr. Padilla said, “Research has been done about the benefits of touch. For some people, it’s the only contact that they have,” she added, stressing that the calming aspects of touch provide both physical and emotional benefits for those of all ages.

“We are an animal ourselves. They [pets] make a family complete.” –Jim Dempsey

Besides treating all kinds of animals in her daily veterinary practice, Dr. Padilla has a small menagerie at home. In addition to two cats, DD and Ludie, she has a small flock of finches in a flight cage, a large piece of furniture filled with plants and birds. It allows them to really stretch their wings. “Birds are social. They like to be with other birds,” she said. Adding to the mix, her husband has two large tanks filled with tropical fish.

Kristen Rice is the Executive Director of Adopt-A-Dog, a non-profit rescue and animal shelter that began in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1981, but has been housed in Armonk since 2002. Though the shelter has housed and found homes for cats as well as dogs in the past, it is currently home to about 35 dogs of all ages seeking homes. “I’m very blessed to have a job I don’t dread going to. I love my work, being around dogs and people who love dogs too,” she said.

Owning a pet “is an opportunity for parents to teach their kids about being kind and respectful, being able to enjoy the presence of someone else in the world,” Rice said. Echoing Dr. Padilla she continued, “There’s no judgment, just natural play. They have a lot of fun together and they’re also buddies.”

Rice has three senior dogs, ages 14-17, that she adopted from the shelter: Kirby, Jillian, and Rusty.

Tyler Zuckerman owns Pleasant Grooming of Armonk with his father, Stu. His dog Nike, a Golden Retriever, comes to work with him each day, greeting customers and acting as the store’s mascot. In addition to grooming, they sell accessories, run a dog training school, a doggie day care, and also connect customers with dog breeders to help them find the right pet. His father has a Cockapoo which he rescued eight years ago. All-in-all, Tyler has had nine dogs over the years, one of whom used to pick him up from the bus stop. “It was a good thing growing up with dogs,” he said. Despite taking Claritin daily due to an allergy to dogs, he wouldn’t be without one in his life.

Armonk resident Jim Dempsey is the editor and publisher of Pet Gazette, a pet magazine he and his wife have published in Armonk since 1998. They now publish four editions of the magazine in Westchester, Long Island, Fairfield, and New York City.

Dempsey said that bringing a pet into your home “is a connection to the natural world. We share the earth with them. We are an animal ourselves. They make a family complete. I’ll never forget watching my cat give birth. I was probably eight years old. Wow! That taught me more about life. That’s just unbelievable. Having a pet in a family allows a family to understand caring for something other than themselves. For a child to understand that in life, it’s important. Especially these days, a pet forces you to put that technology down.” Currently, Dempsey gets his pet fix by playing with a neighbor’s dog. “I just lost the best dog I ever had,” he said. “I’ve had every pet–birds, cats, dogs, bunnies.” He is considering getting a pair of Great Danes, but needs time to mourn the loss of his dog. Pets truly become a member of the family, and their loss can be difficult due to the depth of the bond between human and pet.

This bond is one of the great benefits of bringing a pet into your home. “The beautiful thing about Great Danes–they have a short lifespan–I’m 60 now so since we’re in a transition period I’m thinking about how long I’ll be able to chase after a dog,” said Dempsey.

Dempsey, Rice, and Zuckerman all stressed that people need to think about finding pets that are suitable for their stage in life, their children’s ages, and temperaments. “Because I work so much, having older dogs is good,” said Rice. They sleep all day and just need a shorter walk. I can give them a nice quiet place to spend their golden years. For my lifestyle an older dog is great. If I had kids and was home more, I’d look into a younger dog.”

Adopt-A-Dog always aims to have a mix of dogs of all ages, Rice said, to meet the needs of those looking to adopt. Zuckerman said, “We locate dogs for people from various breeders around the country. Do they have kids, how many, are they active, do the kids have allergies? There’s a lot of different things to look into. They become part of the family.”

When you bring an animal home, said Rice, you will receive “a lifetime of unconditional love. The companionship is unparalleled in my opinion. It’s not just a pet, it’s a member of your family. For me coming home to my dogs makes me happy. It’s just an amazing experience. Overall the experience is just one of happiness.”

Marianne Campolongo is a freelance writer and photographer from Chappaqua. She has had six cats, two dogs and a variety of fish in her life. Having recently lost two cats after 14 years, she gets her pet fix enjoying her daughter’s two new kittens. Visit campyphotos.com.