Blogging the News

Designer clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, home décor, and animal rescue organizations. What do these all have in common? The answer is absolutely nothing, until you step foot into Gramercy’s trendy thrift shop, Cauz for Pawz.

At first glance, the store may appear like any other thrift shop until you take a closer look behind the counter. How many stores have you been to lately where a tiny dog sits by the register? Currently, the store acts as a home to Buster, a Chihuahua mix that was abandoned and left to die in the backyard of a Queens home. An anonymous customer and friend of Cathryn Duhigg, owner and founder of Cauz for Pawz, was horrified to find the condition in which Buster was left, and immediately brought him to the store. Today, Buster spends most of his days prancing around the upper level of the store, or lying behind the counter watching the customers as they pass by. Duhigg is in the process of finding Buster a permanent home, but in the meantime he seems quite comfortable just where he is.

Although Buster has been the main attraction lately, the store offers much more than a cute dog to gawk over. What makes Cauz for Paws so unique is its dedication to helping and protecting animals in need. Cauz for Pawz generates revenue by selling gently used items, ranging from clothes, to accessories, to home furnishings, which “provides animal welfare organizations, rescues and no-kill shelters with financial funds and supplies,” according to its website.

Some of the recipients of these funds include organizations such as Woof NYC Dog Rescue, Ferils in Peril, Riddles Elephant Sanctuary, Mighty Mutts, Out of the Pitts, Social Tees Animal Rescue, and Hooves and Paws Rescue. The “Wall of Fame” displays photographs of local animals that belong to owners who support the efforts of Cauz for Pawz or have made a contribution of any kind. In the center of the collage of photos rests a list of organizations that the store has donated to, however, since the shop’s grand opening in 2010, Cauz for Pawz has donated funds to over 40 no-kill shelters throughout the country.

The success generated by this one store can be attributed to the devotion of Duhigg, a lifelong animal lover and owner of several adopted pets, opened the shop thinking that it would simply be a store dedicated solely to raising money for shelters. With time, this vision took a bit of a turn, as people began to view the store as a haven for animals in need, which explains Buster’s temporary stay in the shop.

Love animals? Love fashion? Look no further than 23rd Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. Buy something that makes you look good, and feel good while doing it.

Contact Cauz for Pawz:
212 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday: 11am-7pm

Designer clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, home décor, and animal rescue organizations. What do these all have in common? The answer is absolutely nothing, until you step foot into Gramercy’s trendy thrift shop, Cauz for Pawz.

The store, located at 212 East 23^rd Street, may appear like other thrift shops surrounding it, presenting its latest merchandise on the mannequins, visible to passerbys from the front windows. However, this store has set itself apart from the rest, vowing its dedication to helping and protecting animals in need. Cauz for Pawz generates revenue by selling gently used items, ranging from clothes, to accessories, to home furnishings, which “provides animal welfare organizations, rescues and no-kill shelters with financial funds and supplies,” according to its website.

Some of the recipients of these funds include organizations such as Woof NYC Dog Rescue, Ferils in Peril, Riddles Elephant Sanctuary, Mighty Mutts, Out of the Pitts, Social Tees Animal Rescue, and Hooves and Paws Rescue. The “Wall of Fame” displays photographs of local animals that belong to owners who support the efforts of Cauz for Pawz or have made a contribution of any kind. In the center of the collage of photos rests a list of organizations that the store has donated to, however, since the shop’s grand opening in 2010, Cauz for Pawz has donated funds to over 40 no-kill shelters throughout the country.

Cathryn Duhigg, a lifelong animal lover and the owner of Cauz for Pawz, opened the shop thinking that it would simply be a store dedicated solely to raising money for shelters. With time, this vision took a bit of a turn, as people began to view the store as a haven for animals in need. Currently, the store acts as a home to Buster, a Chihuahua mix that was abandoned and left to die in the backyard of a Queens home. A regular customer and friend of Duhigg, who wishes to remain anonymous, was horrified to find the condition in which Buster was left, and immediately brought him to the store. Today, Buster spends most of his days prancing around the upper level of the store, or lying behind the counter watching the customers as they pass by. Duhigg is in the process of finding Buster a permanent home, but in the meantime he seems quite comfortable just where he is.

Love animals? Love fashion? Look no further than 23rd Street between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.

Contact Cauz for Pawz:
212 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday: 11am-7pm

https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/themanpettanproject/

Riley posing for the camera in the kitchen of the Perdoch home.

“I saw him sitting all alone in his own cage in the corner, and I knew that I wouldn’t be leaving the place without him,” said Susan Perdoch, a resident of Little Neck, New York.

Perdoch was explaining her experience as she walked through North Shore Animal League for the first time. The dog she was describing is Riley, her black Labrador retriever mix, who is now five years old and an integral member of the family. Hearing her story hit especially close to home, as my first pet was a blonde Labrador retriever from North Shore Animal League.

My first dog, a blonde Labrador retriever mix, and I circa 1996. (Photo by Stacy Lockwood)

“As soon as we brought him home he started running around the house and jumping on everything. We knew he’d be a perfect fit for this crazy family,” added Olivia Perdoch, Susan Perdoch’s daughter.

Riley is now in good health, however when the Perdoch family first encountered him at the shelter, he was undergoing treatment for parvovirus, a disease common among dogs from puppy mills. Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks dividing cells and white blood cells in a dog’s body. If the virus remains untreated, it may result in irreversible damage to the intestinal tract, as well as lifelong cardiac problems.

When Riley was taken to his new home, he had to continue taking antibiotics to combat the disease. Thankfully, North Shore Animal League has on on-site veterinary medical center, fully equipped with a highly trained medical staff, where Riley had been nursed back to health before going to a new home.

Riley at his favorite spot in the house… the couch.

It is not uncommon to find out that someone’s pet was adopted from North Shore Animal League, as the website boasts that since 1944, the organization has saved the lives of over one million dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens to date. It is widely known for its policy against the use of euthanasia, as the volunteers and staff focus their efforts on rehabilitation for animals in all conditions.

North Shore Animal League, located in Port Washington, New York, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. Today it ranks as one of the most reputable adoption services in the New York area, however this widespread notoriety did not occur overnight.

The organization acts as a pioneer in the field of adoption, as it has implemented several new innovations that have influenced similar and nearby adoption agencies. It rose to prominence, especially within the last 20 years, through the use of advertising, a tactic that was never before used for adoption purposes.

Perhaps the most revolutionary program was the Pet Adoptathon, an event in which the doors of the establishment were kept open for 36 hours on end in an effort to gain attention and promote adoption. After receiving praise from the press, other shelters observed the success of the event and launched their own, turning it into an annual event that generates nationwide participation. According to North Shore Animal League’s website, “Today, over 2,000 shelters in the U.S., and in 26 other countries, join us for Pet Adoptathon with one common goal – to join forces and adopt over 20,000 animals into permanent homes over a single weekend.”

The organization emphasizes its mission to save the lives of innocent animals and reduce animal cruelty, while simultaneously promoting adoption as an accessible, worthwhile choice. If anyone is interested in adopting a dog or cat, a trip to North Shore Animal League almost guarantees that you will come home with one. After all, how could you leave the place empty handed after seeing a face like this…

Every bed in the house belongs to Riley.

Contact North Shore Animal League:
25 Davis Avenue
Port Washington, NY 11050
[email protected]
(516) 883-7575

Hours of Operation:
Sunday-Thursday: 10am-9pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am-10pm

“I saw him sitting all alone in his own cage in the corner, and I knew that I wouldn’t be leaving the place without him,” said Susan Perdoch, a resident of Little Neck, New York.

Perdoch was explaining her experience as she walked through North Shore Animal League for the first time. The dog she was describing is Riley, her black Labrador retriever mix, who is now five years old and an integral member of the family. Hearing her story hit especially close to home, as my first pet was a blonde Labrador retriever from North Shore Animal League.

My first dog, a blonde Labrador retriever mix, and I circa 1996. (Photo by Stacy Lockwood)

“As soon as we brought him home he started running around the house and jumping on everything. We knew he’d be a perfect fit for this crazy family,” added Olivia Perdoch, Susan Perdoch’s daughter.

Riley is now in good health, however when the Perdoch family first encountered him at the shelter, he was undergoing treatment for parvovirus, a disease common among dogs from puppy mills. Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks dividing cells and white blood cells in a dog’s body. If the virus remains untreated, it may result in irreversible damage to the intestinal tract, as well as lifelong cardiac problems.

When Riley was taken to his new home, he had to continue taking antibiotics to combat the disease. Thankfully, North Shore Animal League has on on-site veterinary medical center, fully equipped with a highly trained medical staff, where Riley had been nursed back to health before going to a new home.

Riley at his favorite spot in the house– the couch. 

It is not uncommon to find out that someone’s pet was adopted from North Shore Animal League, as the website boasts that since 1944, the organization has saved the lives of over one million dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens to date. It is widely known for its policy against the use of euthanasia, as the volunteers and staff focus their efforts on rehabilitation for animals in all conditions.

North Shore Animal League, located in Port Washington, New York, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. Today it ranks as one of the most reputable adoption services in the New York area, however this widespread notoriety did not occur overnight.

The organization acts as a pioneer in the field of adoption, as it has implemented several new innovations that have influenced similar and nearby adoption agencies. It rose to prominence, especially within the last 20 years, through the use of advertising, a tactic that was never before used for adoption purposes.

Perhaps the most revolutionary program was the Pet Adoptathon, an event in which the doors of the establishment were kept open for 36 hours on end in an effort to gain attention and promote adoption. After receiving praise from the press, other shelters observed the success of the event and launched their own, turning it into an annual event that generates nationwide participation. According to North Shore Animal League’s website, “Today, over 2,000 shelters in the U.S., and in 26 other countries, join us for Pet Adoptathon with one common goal – to join forces and adopt over 20,000 animals into permanent homes over a single weekend.”

The organization emphasizes its mission to save the lives of innocent animals and reduce animal cruelty, while simultaneously promoting adoption as an accessible, worthwhile choice. If anyone is interested in adopting a dog or cat, a trip to North Shore Animal League almost guarantees that you will come home with one. After all, how could you leave the place empty handed after seeing a face like this…

Contact North Shore Animal League:
25 Davis Avenue
Port Washington, NY 11050
[email protected]
(516) 883-7575

Hours of Operation:
Sunday-Thursday: 10am-9pm
Friday & Saturday: 10am-10pm

“We decided not to adopt a dog because we were afraid of the health problems it could have,” said Stacy Lockwood, my mother and one of the biggest animal lovers I know. “I never expected that our ‘purebred Maltese’ would become blind at the age of two, develop an underactive thyroid at the age of three, and pass away at the age of five,” she said about our former dog, Lacey.

This is the unfortunate fate that many dogs, born and bred in puppy mills, will face. It is estimated by the Humane Society of the United States that there are at least 10,000 mills in the United States alone, and more than two-thirds of them operate without enforced regulations. As someone who has dealt with the untimely loss of a pet, I understand the frustration that one may feel toward breeders.

Puppy mills work similarly to factories that exist for the purpose of mass production. They function in such a way as to produce a maximum amount of puppies for sale, while disregarding the welfare of the dogs performing the breeding. According to the ASPCA’s website, “A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that places profit over the well-being of its dogs—who are often severely neglected—and acts without regard to responsible breeding practices.”

Lacey, a dog my family purchased from a local pet shop, and I circa 2001. (Photo by Stacy Lockwood)

From these mills, at as young as eight weeks of age, the puppies are then sold to pet shops and are put on the market. It is often hard to tell whether or not a puppy is the product of a puppy mill at such an age, however severe health problems usually manifest themselves within a few years, or even just a few months. The most common of these problems include epilepsy, heart disease, kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders, endocrine disorders, blood disorders, deafness, eye problems, and respiratory disorders.

“After going through a loss that I was clearly not prepared for, I knew that I would never get another dog unless I was sure that it was coming from a safe, reputable place.”

At four years of age, Lacey had completely lost her vision and developed an underactive thyroid. (Photo by Stacy Lockwood)

A few months after Lacey’s death, the pet shop we had purchased her from, known as the American Kennel Club, had shut down overnight with no explanation. There now stands a new pet shop at the location, but to this day, the cause of the shutdown remains unknown.

When my family began considering welcoming a new dog to our home, we were referred to a pet store called Petite Pets Puppy Boutique, a store in Huntington Station, New York, dedicated to small toy breeds. After just one visit we were proud to introduce Delilah, a two-pound yorkie and poodle mix, to the family.

At almost seven years old, Delilah is still in excellent health.

Petite Pets Puppy Boutique sets itself apart from traditional pet stores by partnering only with breeders that they have visited and have deemed acceptable. As seen on the website, the only breeders the store maintains relationships with operate with “the utmost integrity.” They ensure that any dogs entering the store come from breeders that “do not inbreed or over-breed. They especially do not re-breed any congenital problems.”

Barbara Maple, who founded the store in 1983, commented, “I treat each and every dog like family, as if they were my own.” This is clear from the unyielding attention that the puppies in the store receive while they rest and play in baby cribs instead of cages. She added, “I won’t let my babies go to any home that I think will be unfit because they all deserve a future filled with love and happiness.”

Anyone who purchases a dog from the shop receives a pedigree certificate, listing where the puppy was bred, as well as information regarding the puppy’s parents. With an extensive list of satisfied customers, it is clear that the legitimate and thorough practices of the store generate great success.

Although purchasing a dog from Petite Pets Puppy Boutique is not technically considered a means of adoption, it is a possible alternative that one may seek. While pet adoption and rescue are perhaps the best choices to make a difference in an animal’s life, buying from reputable pet shops such as this one is just as effective in fighting the war on puppy mill prominence.

Contact Petite Pets Puppy Boutique:
2385 New York Avenue
Huntington Station,
New York 11746
petitepetspuppyboutique.com
(631) 424-6262

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Sunday: 10am-5pm

My yorkiepoo (and love of my life) from Petite Pets Puppy Boutique.

“We decided not to adopt a dog because we were afraid of the health problems it could have,” said Stacy Lockwood, my mother and one of the biggest animal lovers I know. “I never expected that our ‘purebred Maltese’ would become blind at the age of two, develop an underactive thyroid at the age of three, and pass away at the age of five,” she said about our former dog, Lacey.

This is the unfortunate fate that many dogs, born and bred in puppy mills, will face. It is estimated by the Humane Society of the United States that there are at least 10,000 mills in the United States alone, and more than two-thirds of them operate without enforced regulations. As someone who has dealt with the untimely loss of a pet, I understand the frustration that one may feel toward breeders.

Lacey, a dog my family purchased from a local pet shop, and I circa 2001. (Photo by Stacy Lockwood)

Puppy mills work similarly to factories that exist for the purpose of mass production. They function in such a way as to produce a maximum amount of puppies for sale, while disregarding the welfare of the dogs performing the breeding. According to the ASPCA’s website, “A puppy mill is a large-scale commercial dog breeding operation that places profit over the well-being of its dogs—who are often severely neglected—and acts without regard to responsible breeding practices.”

From these mills, at as young as eight weeks of age, the puppies are then sold to pet shops and are put on the market. It is often hard to tell whether or not a puppy is the product of a puppy mill at such an age, however severe health problems usually manifest themselves within a few years, or even just a few months. The most common of these problems include epilepsy, heart disease, kidney disease, musculoskeletal disorders, endocrine disorders, blood disorders, deafness, eye problems, and respiratory disorders.

“After going through a loss that I was clearly not prepared for, I knew that I would never get another dog unless I was sure that it was coming from a safe, reputable place.”

At four years of age, Lacey had completely lost her vision and developed an underactive thyroid. (Photo by Stacy Lockwood)

A few months after Lacey’s death, the pet shop we had purchased her from, known as the American Kennel Club, had shut down overnight with no explanation. There now stands a new pet shop at the location, but to this day, the cause of the shutdown remains unknown.

When my family began considering welcoming a new dog to our home, we were referred to a pet store called Petite Pets Puppy Boutique, a store in Huntington Station, New York, dedicated to small toy breeds. After just one visit we were proud to introduce Delilah, a two-pound yorkie and poodle mix, to the family.

Petite Pets Puppy Boutique sets itself apart from traditional pet stores by partnering only with breeders that they have visited and have deemed acceptable. As seen on the website, the only breeders the store maintains relationships with operate with “the utmost integrity.” They ensure that any dogs entering the store come from breeders that “do not inbreed or over-breed. They especially do not re-breed any congenital problems.”

Barbara Maple, who founded the store in 1983, commented, “I treat each and every dog like family, as if they were my own.” This is clear from the unyielding attention that the puppies in the store receive while they rest and play in baby cribs instead of cages. She added, “I won’t let my babies go to any home that I think will be unfit because they all deserve a future filled with love and happiness.”

At almost seven years old, Delilah is still in excellent health.

Anyone who purchases a dog from the shop receives a pedigree certificate, listing where the puppy was bred, as well as information regarding the puppy’s parents. With an extensive list of satisfied customers, it is clear that the legitimate and thorough practices of the store generate great success.

Although purchasing a dog from Petite Pets Puppy Boutique is not technically considered a means of adoption, it is a possible alternative that one may seek. While pet adoption and rescue are perhaps the best choices to make a difference in an animal’s life, buying from reputable pet shops such as this one is just as effective in fighting the war on puppy mill prominence.

Contact Petite Pets Puppy Boutique:
2385 New York Avenue
Huntington Station,
New York 11746
petitepetspuppyboutique.com
(631) 424-6262

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Sunday: 10am-5pm

An ASPCA van containing cats for adoption on the corner of First Avenue and 18th Street.

“I went out today to go shopping but I didn’t expect to be bringing home a cat instead of a pair of shoes,” said Evelyn James, 28, who lives in Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan.

This was the beginning of an exciting conversation I shared with James one afternoon as we stood beside an ASPCA van at one of their mobile adoption events. As an animal lover myself, and someone who was raised by a family that has adopted several dogs over the years, I was intrigued by James’ decision to adopt that day.

I met James, who currently has no pets and had no intentions of getting one in the near future, while walking to Starbucks one recent afternoon. I noticed a group of people huddled around an orange van on the corner of First Avenue and East 18^th Street. Out of curiosity I decided to take a look at what was going on, and as I drew nearer I could see that branded across the side of the van were the letters “ASPCA.” Better yet, the van was filled with cats and kittens, all of which were up for adoption by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“I hope my boyfriend isn’t allergic to cats,” she said with a chuckle. James explained that while growing up, her family always had a cat in the home. Since moving out of the house, she always felt her apartment was lacking something without a furry friend to come home to.

An orange Tabby cat that was adopted at the mobile adoption event.

Thanks to an impulse decision, this little guy will finally have a home for the first time. The two-year-old Tabby mix has known nothing but a life of neglect and abandonment.

“He was found on a street in the Bronx, with matted fur and bones sticking out,” explained Dan Rizzo, an ASPCA volunteer working at the pop-up adoption van. “We believe he probably belonged to someone at some point because he seemed pretty comfortable around people and his nails looked like they hadn’t been clipped too long ago.”

Pet adoption is a process that benefits both the animals being rescued, as well as the adopters themselves. Despite the large amount of dogs, cats, and other animals that live in shelters and need to go home to a loving family, many people continue to buy animals from pet stores. It is my hope that by promoting the mobile adoption events that the ASPCA holds, people will become curious about adoption and feel compelled to take further action.

The ASPCA has several of these “mobile adoption events” throughout the city, which have so far been a great success. All of the pets presented are spayed and neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, and micro chipped.

“It’s one thing to look at pictures of the cats and dogs we have up for adoption on our website, but it’s a completely different story when a person sees an animal in person and can’t help but fall in love,” Rizzo said.

The van was surrounded by men, women, and children of all ages. Most people looking through the glass at the available cats were people simply admiring the tiny kittens, yet there were a few interested people who were interested in either adopting one of the cats within the van, or another cat that the ASPCA has available at the main headquarters at 424 East 92^nd Street. People stood around the van and observed these cats and kittens, which ranged in size, color, age, and breed.

According to national estimates released by the ASPCA, 41 percent of cats, and 31 percent of dogs, entering shelters are eventually euthanized, so the ASPCA strongly advocates the spaying or neutering of pets. Besides just having mobile adoption events, they also offer low cost spaying and neutering services at several of their mobile clinics throughout the five boroughs.

It warmed my heart to watch Evelyn hold her new cat for the first time with a smile from ear to ear. Finding this ASPCA van was an unexpected, but gratifying, detour. Eventually I did make it to Starbucks after a few minutes of obsessing over the kittens and considering how mad my roommates would be if I actually brought one home. Kittens and coffee… not a bad way to begin my day.

My very satisfying hazelnut iced coffee. Apparently my name is not Nicole… It’s Michol.

Contact the ASPCA Adoption Center:
424 East 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128
www.aspca.org
(212) 876-7700 ext. 4120

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday: 11am-7pm
Sunday: 11am-6pm

“I went out today to go shopping but I didn’t expect to be bringing home a cat instead of a pair of shoes,” said Evelyn James, 28, who lives in Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan.

This was the beginning of an exciting conversation I shared with James one afternoon as we stood beside an ASPCA van at one of their mobile adoption events. As an animal lover myself, and someone who was raised by a family that has adopted several dogs over the years, I was intrigued by James’ decision to adopt that day.

I met James, who currently has no pets and had no intentions of getting one in the near future, while walking to Starbucks one recent afternoon. I noticed a group of people huddled around an orange van on the corner of First Avenue and East 18^th Street. Out of curiosity I decided to take a look at what was going on, and as I drew nearer I could see that branded across the side of the van were the letters “ASPCA.” Better yet, the van was filled with cats and kittens, all of which were up for adoption by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“I hope my boyfriend isn’t allergic to cats,” she said with a chuckle. James explained that while growing up, her family always had a cat in the home. Since moving out of the house, she always felt her apartment was lacking something without a furry friend to come home to.

“He was found on a street in the Bronx, with matted fur and bones sticking out,” explained Dan Rizzo, an ASPCA volunteer working at the pop-up adoption van. “We believe he probably belonged to someone at some point because he seemed pretty comfortable around people and his nails looked like they hadn’t been clipped too long ago.”

Pet adoption is a process that benefits both the animals being rescued, as well as the adopters themselves. Despite the large amount of dogs, cats, and other animals that live in shelters and need to go home to a loving family, many people continue to buy animals from pet stores. It is my hope that by promoting the mobile adoption events that the ASPCA holds, people will become curious about adoption and feel compelled to take further action.

The ASPCA has several of these “mobile adoption events” throughout the city, which have so far been a great success. All of the pets presented are spayed and neutered, up-to-date on vaccinations, and micro chipped.

“It’s one thing to look at pictures of the cats and dogs we have up for adoption on our website, but it’s a completely different story when a person sees an animal in person and can’t help but fall in love,” Rizzo said.

The van was surrounded by men, women, and children of all ages. Most people looking through the glass at the available cats were people simply admiring the tiny kittens, yet there were a few interested people who were interested in either adopting one of the cats within the van, or another cat that the ASPCA has available at the main headquarters at 424 East 92^nd Street. People stood around the van and observed these cats and kittens, which ranged in size, color, age, and breed.

According to national estimates released by the ASPCA, 41 percent of cats, and 31 percent of dogs, entering shelters are eventually euthanized, so the ASPCA strongly advocates the spaying or neutering of pets. Besides just having mobile adoption events, they also offer low cost spaying and neutering services at several of their mobile clinics throughout the five boroughs.

It warmed my heart to watch Evelyn hold her new cat for the first time with a smile from ear to ear. Finding this ASPCA van was an unexpected, but gratifying, detour. Eventually I did make it to Starbucks after a few minutes of obsessing over the kittens and considering how mad my roommates would be if I actually brought one home. Kittens and coffee… not a bad way to begin my day.

My very satisfying hazelnut iced coffee. Apparently my name is not Nicole… It’s Michol.

Contact the ASPCA Adoption Center:
424 East 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128
www.aspca.org
(212) 876-7700 ext. 4120

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday: 11am-7pm
Sunday: 11am-6pm

Mission Statement 

With a statistic of one pet per every three households within New York (specifically Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn) it is only inevitable that this city holds a great deal of uplifting, inspiring tales of pet rescue. It is not uncommon to find yourself talking to a pet owner, whom you’ve merely crossed paths with on the sidewalk and known for just a few minutes, but is nonetheless delighted to share the story of how they rescued or adopted their pet, and explain the cruel conditions from which their pet was saved. These are stories that deserve to be heard in an effort to promote the importance and necessity of adoption.

This blog could spark the interest of a range of readers, from those who are interested in adopting and would like to learn more, to those who have already participated in the adoption process and are supporters of the cause. Who doesn’t enjoy a good success story when it comes to animals? The purpose of each story would not just be to brighten someone’s day with an account of how an innocent animal was saved by a person’s simple act of kindness, but to also act as a gentle push in the right direction for people who would like to make a difference in an animal’s life.

Each post would begin with a focus on a specific story as told by the owner of an adopted pet. It could include ideas such as where his or her pet came from, what conditions the pet was saved from, the overall adoption process, how the pet reacted to a new home and owner, how the pet has transformed, and so on. This would include direct quotes from people, as well as pictures of the pet and their happy owner. The idea is to begin each post with a focused and in depth story, similar to those found on Humans of New York. Instead of dedicating an entire post to just a story from an owner, the blog would only use these stories as a starting point to delve deeper into more factual content. The bulk of each story would consist of statistics and information relevant to adoption in New York, revolving around a central topic that relates back to adoption story told earlier. The posts will be concluded by information that one could utilize in order to obtain information about adoption, as well as places they can visit if they are ready to begin their adoption process.

A blog of this type is necessary because of the fact that it would convey important information regarding pet adoption in New York, while being presented in in the form of and enjoyable, heart-warming personal account of how their pet was able to overcome a harsh upbringing and become a valued member of the family. There are not many other blogs out there that contain as much pertinent information as this one will. The world needs a blog like this in order to demonstrate how meaningful and beneficial adoption could be, which will hopefully in turn compel others to do the same.

There are many other blogs out there devoted to the general topic of pets or animals. Some blogs focus primarily on promoting a single adoption agency, and some exist solely to provide an audience with cute pictures and stories of pets. This blog would be unique in the sense that it would incorporate a mixture of photographs, personal accounts, data and statistics of adoption, and vital information to learn more about adoption in New York. This could be a blog that people turn to for a variety of reasons. Some readers may just be looking for a light-hearted, entertaining read, while other may be people with serious inquiries about pet adoption. If someone is interested in adoption but has their doubts and worries, it may comfort them to read about other who have made the decision to adopt and are very content with the choice they made.

Upon researching other blogs revolving around the same topic, I found some that were similar, but none that were really comparable to the vision I have for this blog. Most of the blogs I found were simple websites created by a pet adoption foundation such as Homeward Pet, Pets Alive, Adopt A Pet, and so on. These blogs in particular are only interested in promoting pet adoption at their own facilities. They feature pets they currently have on site, and limited information on the process of adoption. My blog would go well beyond that. I hope to create an online community of animal lovers and adoption advocates alike.

In all, the ideal blog I wish to create would be both relevant and entertaining. By combining both interesting tales and factual data in one presentable manner, the blog could be a great success. It could have the capability to attract a variety of readers with varied interest. This unique blog could act as a great platform to promote pet adoption throughout New York, benefitting both animals in need and people seeking a loyal companion.

Editorial Plan

The overall aim of this blog is to promote pet adoption in New York while incorporating relevant, factual data revolving around adoption in such a way that is entertaining yet compelling. In order to do so, I will need to actively interview people whose stories of adoption could be featured, as well as do extensive research regarding the facts and figures known about pet adoption in New York. With that said, I think an appropriate name for this blog could be The ManPETtan Project.

As far as the type of content, each blog would begin with a person’s story as a starting point and use this to frame the rest of the piece. The post would continue on to factual reporting relevant to the preceding story. Each post would end with information as to where one could go to learn more about adoption or actually begin the adoption process.

Within just my neighborhood, I have met many people who have adopted and have very interesting stories to tell. I believe that finding people to interview will be fairly easy, as most people are readily willing to give information. I already know several neighbors and relatives who would be more than willing to be featured on the blog. One potential idea I have is to write a piece specifically about puppy mills, as I already know much about this topic because I had a dog that came from a puppy mill, however my family did not find this out until years later. Throughout the entirety of my dog’s life, she had several health problems and passed away at a very early age, which we believe may have been the result of being bred in a puppy mill. Another idea I have is to cover certain events. I’m aware that sometimes North Shore Animal League comes to areas in New York City or states surrounding New York to create pop-up adoption centers in which people can go to see the available pets and adopt one on the spot. I could attend some of these and create blog posts about it, or I could do some sort of live coverage in the form of a tweet. As for other blog posts, I would like to incorporate interviews with people who work for adoption agencies or are in some related field.

As for the multimedia aspect, pictures will definitely be used frequently in order to attract readers. I would like to highlight pictures of animals with their owners. In addition, if people have any pictures from when they first adopted their pet, maybe they would be willing to let me use that to create a “Then and Now” side by side comparison. If this proves successful, I would like to make it a recurring post to show how many animals’ lives have been significantly improved since being adopted. I believe videos would also be powerful if I could get the opportunity to take videos at certain shelters.

I feel as though social media outlets would be extremely useful and effective for a blog of this type just due to its nature. Many people spend time scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram when they are bored but would pause if they saw an image of some cute animal. A picture is a useful way to draw attention, but it would include a follow through link leading the reader to the actual blog post. On Facebook, I would try to make the blog interactive by holding contests. Each week these contests would be themed, and would encourage readers to submit their own stories based on the topic at hand. I would then choose the winner each week and feature them in a “Guest Writer” blog post. I would also like to hold similar contests on Instagram each week. At the beginning of each week I would announce a hashtag (such as #MyFavoriteToy, #AWalkInThePark, and so on) and people could post their photos with the hashtag. From there I could pick a few finalists and post the pictures on the Instagram page to have followers like the picture they think is the best. In doing so, I hope to gain more readership and followers.

In an ideal world, I think one solid blog post a day with several smaller updates in between would be effective, however for this class I don’t think it’s realistic. Since I am working by myself, it will some take time to interview pet owners, adoption agency representatives, and shelter workers. The statistical research aspect of this blog would be a bit quicker and simpler, as most of this information can be readily found online. In all though, I think I will be able to achieve most goals I have set for myself in creating this blog.