Dog Habitat stands out from other rescues for an array of reasons, the least not being its position as the only rescue in Greenpoint. Sharing a space with two other welcome additions to the neighborhood–the pet boutique District Dog and green boarding facility and doggie daycare Unleashed–Dog Habitat also acts as a local reminder of co-owner Rob Maher’s overarching mission.
Maher, along with wife Bea, rescue coordinator Emily Tanen and chief operating editor Jeff Latzer, co-runs Adopt NY, an online gathering for a collective of charities and rescues supporting one cause: to make New York a no-kill state. Maher was kind enough to answer a few questions on what goes into running a pet charity.
In addition to organizing the Greenpointer’s Sandy Benefit for Adopt NY, my roommate and I opened up our apartment to foster an amazing pup after Sandy. I thought I would share info on Swiss in hopes that maybe she ends up in loving local home!
Swiss is a one-year-old pit mix with a heart as huge as her vertical. As puppies tend to be, she is a mix of high energy playfulness and a lazy bum. Both Swiss and her future owner will be happiest with lots of exercise. Her current foster parents curb her energy with many walks and trips to the dog run.
Above all, Swiss is a lover. Lover of both humans (adult and children) and animals (dogs and from what her foster parents can tell, cats as well). With dogs she plays with lots of energy, lots of licking, but usually is the one to play submissively.
She will spare you from the grief that other puppies may give:
-chews objects known to be hers (she loves her kong)
- potty trained, crate trained, and rides well in cars -And… she is not a barker! She does snort and oink, but that’s just adorable
Swiss’s current foster parents hope that her future owners will be able to provide her proper training. She is food motivated and has all the potential in the world.
As a special offer, Swiss’s award winning costume is included with adoption!
An animal loving Greenpointer found Chico, this adorable Black and White Pit Bull in Williamsburg, near Graham and Withers on Tuesday 12/18. Chico is an intact male, about 60 pounds, is very friendly with people and wants belly rubs constantly.
If you have any information about the owner or are interested in fostering or adopting Chico, please call (917) 609-0624.
The kind woman who found him is boarding him for 2 weeks until the owner is found, has had him vaccinated and will be neutering him soon. She has spent over $400 on his care so consider donating anything for Chico’s care.
She noticed the signs she put up have all been removed so Chico has likely been abandoned.
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Below is info on the current situation at ADOPT NY
Many rescue groups and NY shelters sustained extensive damage to their facilities, as well as many fosters becoming homeless themselves.
So here’s what we’ve been up to at Adopt NY in response:
We’ve developed a plan to assist our 44 rescue groups as directly and quickly as possible, providing them with the two most important needs: new fosters and new supplies.
What’s needed now are supplies — things like mass quantities of food, animal crates, blankets, beds, toys, etc. Using our contacts in the pet industry, we’re going to get as many of these items for wholesale prices as possible, and aim to have everything shipped out and in our rescues’ hands ASAP.
Together with your help, we want to provide the assistance all our rescue groups who so desperately need.
Today, Sunday 11/4, Muddy Paws (447 Graham Ave) is having a Pet Food Drive & Cat Adoption Event from 2-6pm. Bring pet food and supplies to be donated to neighbors who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.
I spent all of yesterday out and about in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg area and the sense of comradery I experienced was inspired, sincere and so special to me.
The blood drive in Williamsburg was the place to be yesterday morning. Seriously, I wasn’t even cool enough to give blood (just kidding, it was an iron related thing).
Then I spent a couple of hours shuttling loads of donations that my roommates and I pulled together. If you were one of the kind neighbors who helped me as all my bags toppled over on my trek to the Greenpoint American Legion (519 Leonard St 718-383-9822), I thank you!
The scene at the legion was so systematic. They were organized and taking in tons of donations, getting them processed and then getting them out to Howard Beach and Broad Channel as quickly as possible. Hours later I ran into Sally one of the women who was volunteering at the legion. As she was telling me they are taking donations though Sunday (11/4) and are really in need of over the counter meds like aspirin, as she started to cry. I think it was a mix of exhaustion, sense of loss for our surrounding neighbors and feeling grateful to the outpouring support from the community.
Not all donations spots are able to move with as much ease as the legion. I passed a sign on the street with a cell # instructing passerby’s to call if they had donations. The dude on the phone had some insightful info.
THE DONATION LOCATIONS NEED HELP DISTRIBUTING. Everyone has been doing an amazing job donating but the drop off locations need help in the next step. If you have access to a car and gas now or in the next couple of weeks, this can be your BIG way to help out.
Soma Fitness (107 south 6th St, South Williamsburg) is in major need of some transportation assistance. They are inundated with donations and need help getting them to Rockaway/Breezy Point, Howard Beach and Staten Island. They are taking donations the entire month of November so they could use help all month! Contact Karolina (718) 387-7662
Later in the evening I received a surprise call from Rob over at Dog Habitat . The animal shelters are full and in the next couple of days there will be waves of dogs dropped off, so there is a great need to get these pups out of the kill shelters. In response to this Rob has processed over 400 foster applications in the past couple of days. After speaking with Rob for five minutes you understand how much rescues mean to him – it was awesome.
My roommates and I feel so lucky to foster Swiss (nicknamed Swizz Beat). If you are interested in adopting fill out the application on the Dog Habitat website.
All of the positive energy I encountered yesterday in the midst of this overwhelming tragic event further solidified my love for Greenpoint.
“PLEASE HELP. I know a lot of you are dealing with personal losses and already helping friends who lost everything. But if you can find it in your heart to FOSTER kittens or pups please call me ASAP. Due to the storm, the city shelter is killing about 200 animals tomorrow morning. If you can please take 1 or 2, they can be tiny kittens or anything you would like we will be forever grateful to you. I will provide all food and medical. THANK YOU. PLEASE EMAIL US AT BEA@DISTRICTDOG.COM”
It’s terrible to lose a pet, but during hurricanes it’s even worse.
Greenpointers is dedicated to helping lost pets find their homes, so send us any photos and all information to greenpointers (at) gmail.com
The fire on Norman and Jewel left one Calico cat named Clementine missing. If you find her, don’t try to catch her. Please call: 315-415- 7336.
I also received this email from Chris:
I’m sending you a picture of Herman the German 2. He’s currently riding out Frankenstorm in my kitchen. We found him last night wandering around outside of Shayz. Need to get this guy a home….he’s pretty tame and seems to be a good guy. Might be a pet in the neighborhood, since his beak is trimmed and what not. FrankenRooster!
Email: photos (at) mottalini.com to claim or adopt him.
Here on Greenpointers we are dedicated to helping out animals and rescue organizations in need. On Easter, when I was at a guido Easter celebration with my Sicilian family in Long Island, I drove to Bobbi & The Strays to adopt this German Shepherd, Dutch. That day I learned a few things. If I eventually want my boyfriend to move in with me, then adopting a sweet but untrained horse is something WE should talk about, first. Communication is key.
And while we didn’t adopt my big boy, we did get to meet the amazing volunteers who work tirelessly to keep this no-kill shelter running. The place is great. You can feel the love. The animals are happy and well cared for.
Bobbi & the Strays is in desperate need of special pet food for their dogs and puppies who have mange. They specifically need Natural Balance Limited Ingredients, Dry & Wet food, and treats, DUCK & POTATO flavor. If anyone wants to donate food and drop it off to me in Greenpoint, I can personally (and by that I mean ask my boyfriend) to drive it out to Long Island. Or if you want to give me money, I will go and buy it on your behalf. Or you can make a donation directly to Bobbi & The Strays.
Noodles the cat successfully has been place in a new forever home that coincidentally is right around the corner from Greenpointers HQ on Nassau Ave. Noodles and her lovely new owner got along well from the moment they met each other and Noodles has a great new perch to watch birds from in the backyard. We love happy endings! Thanks Jon for taking the time to make two people and one adorable fluffy cat very happy!
