Adopt A Dog, based mostly in Armonk, NY, had an incredible turnout for his or her reunion of adopted dogs on Saturday on the garden of Second Congregational Church in Greenwich.
As the skies cleared, and adoptees reconnected with shelter employees and volunteers, households shared their heartfelt adoption tales.
Volunteer Jeff Bianchi, who joked that he went ‘from Wall Street to dog walker,’ was key to organizing the occasion. He stated eight years in the past he adopted Lucy from Adopt A Dog. From there he made donations for a number of years. Then, when he retired, he grew to become a volunteer.
Bianchi stated 3.1 million dogs are adopted within the US yearly, although 3.5 million dogs enter shelters every year.
“That difference, unfortunately, is bad news,” he stated. “That’s what our mission is – to save dogs from euthanasia, and to place dogs with loving families and to reduce that number of 400,000 dogs.”
Bianchi famous that within the US the variety of euthanized dogs was 2 million in 2010 and the decreased quantity was encouraging.
“And it is due to people like you,” he stated to the alumni households.
Bianchi requested households to speak up the trigger, share their adoption experiences with others, and share posts on social media.
Also, he stated the shelter welcomed volunteers together with highschool college students who can obtain neighborhood service hours. And, in fact, they at all times recognize monetary assist.
The reunion invitation went out to households who adopted dogs previously two years, however phrase unfold via the Adopt A Dog’s alumni Facebook web page.
Among the alumni was Kramer who was adopted again in 2014. Kramer, whose identify was Brownie when Donna Herman and Jack Newman adopted him, traveled from Ossining for the occasion.
Mr. Bianchi launched director Courtney Bellew who described the adopting households as “the real heroes.”
“I’m the one who makes decisions daily about what dogs we take into the shelter, and we get so many more requests than we can handle, because unfortunately there remains a very large gap between how many animals get adopted and make it out of the shelter,” Bellew stated. “It’s a very tough position to be in – to decide who we are able to save. It’s stressful and there are a lot of ups and downs, but having an event like this and seeing the dogs come back, grown up, and the ones who were terrified in the shelter and now playing, it’s wonderful to see.”
Ms Bellew stated that within the 3+ years she had been the director at Adopt A Dog, adoptions had elevated five-fold, and this 12 months they anticipated one other enhance.
She stated foster properties had been very useful within the course of as they liberate area on the shelter for extra dogs to be saved.
Kramer who was adopted again in 2014, attended the reunion with Donna Herman and Jack Newman from Ossining, NY. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Kramer who was adopted again in 2014, attended the reunion with Donna Herman and Jack Newman from Ossining, NY. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Adopt A Dog director Courtney Bellew and Lauren Ferrara greet the DelGiudices and their adopted canine, Roo. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Local household the DelGiudices – Craig, Liz, Madison, Annabella and William – attended the occasion with their adopted canine, “Roo,” who was considered one of 12 dogs rescued from the south and given names with an Australian theme – assume Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Outback, Boomerang, Vegemite, and Geoff, whose identify was included in honor of a donor from Australia.
Mr. DelGiudice stated the household fostered puppy, “Roo” via Adopt A Dog earlier than adopting him. He was initially known as Knox, after town in Australia.
Max, Henry, and Ezra, with their dad and mom Marin and Joe Rothenberg and their rescue canine, Lucky (certainly!). April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Marin and Joe Rothenberg attended the occasion with their boys Max, Henry, and Ezra. The household introduced their adopted boy, Lucky. Originally named Kinkaid, Lucky was pulled by Adopt A Dog from Tennessee when he was six months old.
Adopt A Dog’s Director of Operations Brian Gordiski greeted Jess Reid and her two chiweenies, Ruby and Fiona at Saturday’s reunion. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Jeff Bianchi and fellow volunteer Sherry Winter on the reunion for adopted dogs on the grounds of Second Congregational Church in Greenwich. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Brian Gordiski who has labored at Adopt A Dog for over 20 years, stated again in 2020 the organization placed about 55 dogs.
In 2023 they placed 285 dogs.
What has modified? For starters, Gordiski stated the organization purchased a used college bus and remodeled it.
While many used college buses are retired whereas they’re nonetheless serviceable, many grow to be tiny properties, and others are offered for scrap steel.
In the case of Adopt A Dog’s former college bus, Gordiski noticed it on Facebook Marketplace. Its seats had already been eliminated, which lowered the work required to rework it to a car to move dogs to adoption occasions in addition to make the journey forwards and backwards to the south to canine transport dogs.
The course of concerned portray it pink and bolting rows of crates to the partitions and flooring.
Inside Adopt A Dog’s huge pink former college bus. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The bus, which is absolutely air conditioned and has working water, incorporates a handicapped carry on the again that’s ultimate for bringing crates, tents and tables to occasions. And, not like the smaller blue van they beforehand relied on, it’s doable to leash up a canine whereas inside the previous college bus earlier than heading to an occasion.
There is an space behind the bus that they retailer tools for native occasions, however when eliminated, extra crates may be added for journeys to locations like North Carolina and Tennessee the place Adopt A Dog has established partnerships.
“They know the types of dogs we’re looking for – especially dogs who get along with other dogs and fit in with families who have children,” Gordiski stated. “It’s all kinds of dogs – from puppies to adults.”
Brian Gordiski, Jess Reid, Ruby and Fiona on the Adopt A Dog reunion. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich resident, Jess Reid, who has recognized Mr. Gordiski since their days at Greenwich High School, stated her household adopted Chiweenies, Ruby and Fiona, from Adopt A Dog 1-1/2 years in the past.
Morgan Kelly and John Sprague traveled from Carmel, NY, with their Adopt A Dog boy, Graham (initially named Lookout), and a second canine, Keller, who’s blind in a single eye and deaf in a single ear. Ms Kelly defined that after their household buddy handed away, they adopted his canine Keller, who’s quick associates with Graham.
Ms Kelly stated the method of adopting a canine began with on-line analysis, together with on Petfinder. She stated she crammed out the required paperwork and have become pre-approved earlier than finally adopting Graham.
Graham is a purebread Australian Shepherd. He was three when she and Mr. Sprague adopted him a 12 months in the past.
Check out the dogs available to undertake or foster from Adopt A Dog here.
Adopt A Dog’s shelter is situated at 23 Cox Ave in Armonk. Tel (914) 273-1674
Adot-A-Dog Executive and Medical Director, Courtney Bellew, on the reunion for adopted dogs on the grounds of Second Congregational Church in Greenwich. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
David Hemenway, Jeff Bianchi, Brian Gordiski, Courtney Bellew, Lauren Ferrara, and Bobby Caldwell at Adopt-A-Dog’s first the reunion, held the grounds of Second Congregational Church in Greenwich. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Adopt A Dog board chair David Hemenway talked in regards to the number of methods individuals might help the organization and save dogs lives. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Henry and Lucky on the Adopt A Dog’s reunion. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Making associates on the Adopt A Dog reunion. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Families with their adopted dogs attended the Adopt A Dog reunion. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Veronica DiPaul and Matt Longo traveled from Yonkers with their adopted canine Marcus, initially from Tennessee. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Morgan Kelly and John Sprague from Carmel, NY, with their Adopt A Dog boy Graham (black and white markings) and second adoptee, Keller, blind in a single eye and deaf in a single ear, whose unique proprietor, their buddy, handed away. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Lucky was completely relaxed on the reunion. April 20, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
