Lindsey Jones poses with pup, Vicki
Lilly shows off her sweet face
Bobby Caldwell has his arms full (of adorable puppies)
My first experience of donating to a shelter was when I was a little girl. I was on Martha’s Vineyard, and my dad gave me money to get ice cream. He handed me $50 and expected change, but before I came back, I’d donated all of it to a local shelter,” says Christine Amato, Adopt-A-Dog’s executive director. The organization and its dedicated volunteers have been changing the lives of our four-legged friends since 1981, and the number of dogs that have been rescued and rehomed just keeps growing. “When we first started, we were operating out of our founder’s home in Greenwich, and then eventually we bought a facility in Armonk, where we’re able to house between 30 and 40 dogs at a time, ranging in age from puppies to seniors. Some have specific challenges and require special accommodations and might even be with us for the long haul, and we become a sanctuary and provide them with extra TLC,” says Amato. “Last year alone, we rescued nearly 350 dogs.”
While Adopt-A-Dog frequently takes in animals from the local community, the greatest need often comes from the southern U.S. where regulations around spaying and neutering differ significantly, resulting in higher risk of homelessness. Dogs from Texas and North and South Carolina are often transported long distances to the organization’s Armonk facility for refuge.
“Dogs end up homeless for all different reasons—it can be due to cost, people being hit with unexpected circumstances, dogs needing medical interventions or behavioral issues. While we can’t take an unlimited number of dogs, we always try to help as many as we can,” says Amato. In addition to rescue efforts, Adopt-A-Dog relies heavily on its passionate network of volunteers and foster families for support. “Our volunteers find us through word of mouth, so many people who have been fosters share their experience or do it and then want to do it again,” she adds.
Sally (yawning) makes a new friend
Zephyr poses for the camera
Peter shows off his tongue
Longtime volunteer Sherry Winter with her granddaughter Leila and lapdog, Kermit
Dog rescues are a vital connection between vulnerable animals and families looking to open their homes. The application for adopting and fostering is the first step for those interested in helping to be part of the re-homing process. “Finding the right match is always the most challenging part,” says Amato. “But no matter what, they are all so loved during their time with us, and they are so much better off when they are here, even if it takes some time to get adopted,” she adds. The impact that Adopt-A-Dog has on its animals is transformative, for both the dogs and the people involved.
Every year, Adopt-A-Dog partners with multiple shelters in the surrounding area and holds its annual fundraiser/adoption event “Putting on the Dog” at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich. This year, the event will be held on Sunday, September 27. Drawing a crowd of between two and three thousand people, the annual festival consists of live music, demonstrations, competitions, local vendors, food trucks and fun activities for both humans and their animals. adoptadog.org