I’ve been writing the past couple of days about Bideawee in New York City, and I thought I should mention that I got to visit Bideawee last year. While I was there I learned that on average, pets stay with the Center around 32 days before being adopted by their forever family. They usually have around 100 animals available, with more cats than dogs (25-30 dogs/70-75 cats). Bideawee does its best to set the pet up for successful adoption—and they succeed! The national average for pet returns is 15-20%. Bidawee’s returns is only 5%! People come from all over the country to find their match at Bideawee. And the pets come from all over too! While I was there, I got to meet some Chihuahuas from California (where there has been an outbreak of “purse” dogs) and some puppies from Tennessee.
Unlike other adoption centers I’ve visited, Bideawee Manhattan is more horizontal than vertical. Instead of being laid out on one level, Bideawee has four floors to accommodate all its services and facilities. And every available space is used with economy and efficiency.
One of the cat rooms
Puppies being socialized
Hello! Wanna play?
One of the veterianry clinic's exam rooms.
Surgery room within the veterinary clinic
The Intensive Care Unit
Penny, one of the office cats.
Another office cat.
One Sweet face looking for a home
This kitten is climbing the walls looking for his family.
Come play with me!
A sweet face and a gentle purr.
Waiting patiently for a new family.
When Fiora D’Auby Kibbe founded Bideawee in 1903, she had a revolutionary idea: shelter unwanted pets until they could be placed in good homes instead of destroying them. Mrs. Kibbe was inspired to do this work after visiting Paris (France) where she had seen the Barrone d”Herpents Dog Refuge at Gennevilliers. This small French humane group sent its dog ambulance all over Paris to pick up unwanted and stray dogs. What was unique was that instead of destroying the dogs—as was the custom of the time—the group kept the dogs until new homes could be found.
Mrs. Kibbe’s humane efforts were not limited to unwanted pets. At the turn of the century, horses were the main mode of transportation. Through the efforts of Bideawee, fresh-water troughs were placed and maintained throughout the city—some of them still exist to this day.
Initially, Bideawee (“stay a while”) was located in a small building on Lexington Avenue, near Mrs. Kibbe’s home. But by 1909 there were nearly 200 dogs crammed into the makeshift space—in a very elegant residential area. The neighbors were very unhappy with the incessant barking, and Mrs. Kibbe was forced to move her shelter to Harrington, New Jersey. In 1912, after several moves, Bideawee found its own home (formerly a garage) on 38th Street, near the East River. This was a premium location for their work because at that time people brought unwanted pets to the river to drown them.
By 1915, Bideawee was overflowing and needed more space. A property in Wantagh, Long Island was purchased. And by 1916, the spacious grounds around the Wantagh Country Home also included a beautiful Pet Memorial Park.
As the years passed, Bideawee changed with the times. The area around Wantagh evolved from rural to densely populated and once again Bideawee needed more space. In 1956 the first kennel was built on 200 acres on Old Country Road in Westhampton. This was quickly followed by a second kennel and then a cattery. By 1966 a new adoption center was opened and a second Pet Memorial Park was established in Westhamption.
Today, Bideawee is one of the oldest and largest humane organizations in the United States. And Mrs. Kibbe is regarded as a pioneer in the “no-kill” movement.
Programs and Services
- Two Adoption Centers: Manhattan and Westhampton, NY; all pets receive a complete medical exam, socialization or basic training, spay/neuter, micro-chip.
- Second Start Program: Bideawee staff visit overwhelmed municipal shelters on a regular basis to rescue pets about to be euthanized due to lack of space/resources giving them a second chance at a new home. .
- Veterinary Medical Services: a fully equipped medical center in both adoption center locations provides affordable, high quality care for the pets living in the centers as well as pets living in the vicinity.
- Veterinary Medical Assistance Fund: gives assistance to private pet clients to offset the high costs associated with emergency treatment, catastrophic illness, or other special medical care when they might not otherwise be able to afford vet care for their pets.
- Three Learning Centers: Located in Manhattan, Westhampton, and Wantagh offer educational programs that promote healthy, positive relationships between people and pets of all ages.
- Reading to Dogs: Reading to a non-judgmental, non-critical, and loving four-footed friend helps children with reading challenges become better readers
- Doga: Yoga for dogs brings dog and owner together for a relaxing session of massage and stretch. Regular sessions are held at both Learning Centers
- Pet Therapy: Bideawee trained pet therapy pairs bring the healing effect of pets to schools, youth centers, homeless shelters, nursing homes and hospitals in the NYC and Long Island regions.
- Pet Behavioral Training: at all three sites; group and private classes as well as “Ask the Trainer” sessions at community events help pet owners better understand and communicate with their pets.
- Humane Education: Trained volunteers help teach responsible pet ownership, pet safety, training, animal health, licensing, and ethical animal treatment.
- Pet Memorial Parks: at Westhampton and Wantagh; two of the oldest (1916) and largest (over 65,000 pets) parks offer a final resting place for cherished animal companions and include the support and guidance of compassionate Bideawee staff and counselors.
- Bereavement Counseling: Pet loss support groups meet on a regular basis to help pet owners deal with their loss.
- Dog Park: located in Westhampton, is “Love Unleashed.”
- Locations & Hours of Operations
2009 Stats
- 1,176 Adoptions
- 645 Second Start Rescues
- 275 Volunteers
- 113 Pet Therapy Pairs
- 28 Reading to Dogs Program Locations
- 13,791 Veterinary, Shelter and Private Pet Patients
- 1,093 Pet Memorial Park Interments and Cremations
I’m going to New York City!
On Monday, June 13, I will be in NYC to attend Bideawee’s June Gala. Bideawee (a Scottish term for “stay a while”) is one of the oldest animal pet adoption and animal welfare organizations in the United States and serves the New York metropolitan area and Long Island communities. I’m going to the Gala because Iams has been named Bideawee’s 2011 Corporate Honoree!
Bideawee is presenting the celebrated “Bideawee Corporate Award” to Iams in recognition of our corporate contributions to foster the health and well being of pets. It makes me so proud to have this incredible organization take notice of our long-standing commitment in promoting responsible pet adoption and our support of animal adoption organizations across the country. Bideawee is part of our Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign. This past year, you may recall, we helped more than 1.1 million pets to find forever homes and donated 5 million meals to shelter and rescue pets in need. It’s icing on the cake for Bideawee to honor us with this award!
Petfinder is up for a “Webby” Award!
Voting for the 15th Annual Webby Awards closes today. What’s a “Webby?” According to the Webby web site:
Unlike other award shows that crown just one winner chosen by the people, we think the public should have a say in who wins big. That’s why we give you the chance to crown a Webby winner in every category.
The Webby People’s Voice Awards honors the year’s best work in Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video and Mobile. And while our esteemed judges have their own opinion, we want to hear from you. You can vote in every category, so go ahead. Step up on your soapbox and let the web know who rules your digital world.
Petfinder’s iPhone app has been nominated. This is an incredible tool that allows you to search for your perfect furry match right on your iPhone! You can find the furry love of your life on you iPhone through the Petfinder app!
Not only do I love this because I love Petfinder, but also because it’s putting adoptable pets in the spotlight and exposing more people to the pet adoption message. It’s the only pet-related app in the category, so it would be a big win for adoptable pets if the Petfinder app won.
TODAY is the last day to vote! Here’s how you do it:
Step 1: Go to the Webby site and register to vote (you can use your Facebook account to register).
Step 2: Go to the Mobile and Apps page and vote in the Utilities and Services Category.
Step 3: Ask your friends to do the same and help us help homeless pets WIN!
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A new adoption in my work family! One of my teammates recently adopted Boone from her local shelter! 
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In the email that brought me the photos, my buddy Sandy says:
We are now the proud parents to Boone. He is a four year old Aussie rescue from the shelter, with some wild bed head. He is very laid back and very tolerant of being brushed. He has visited our home and seems to like the yard and doesn’t seem very concerned with the cats (and vice versa). We’ll get him tomorrow as he is getting a “procedure” done today to keep the Boone population down,…I should have a stork in the front yard screaming “It’s a BOY!!” What a silly Mommy I am, but I know you understand.
He is such a handsome boy! Congratulations, Sandy!
Jaxon Small Paws in his foster home in Ohio
Jaxon is an older Fluff who’s former owner died. The family wanted to put him down, but he was rescued when a friend brought in Small Paws Rescue. He will signal when he needs to potty by lifting his paw. But he doesn’t mind wearing a belly band–just in case you don’t notice that lifted paw the first time. He has a little bit of separation anxiety, so he needs to be crated if left alone. And he’s a stinker! If you leave food or drink within his reach, he’ll steal it! He especially likes caramel lattes. He is a snuggle-bunny lap dog, just ready to deliver some fluffy lovin’!
Is Jaxon the right pooch for your lap? Find him on Petfinder!
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Small Paws saves dogs! Can you give a couple bucks?
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Billy Boo Small Paws
Little Billy Boo is another Small Paws Bichon who was rescued from a commercial puppy mill. He needs a home where there’s a socialize pooch already in residence who can show Billy Boo how to be a family member.
He has had some skin problems, and needs special food. And he’s working on the house training thing. But he walks well on leash. And he likes to sleep in his crate at night.
Once he gets to know you, Billy Boo is a sweetie! He loves to play chase with other dogs and he enjoys the company of cats. That’s a pretty special dog!
Billy Boo is waiting for you at his foster home in Illinois. Find him on Petfinder!
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Small Paws saves dogs! Can you give a couple bucks?
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Newton Small Paws
Newton is doing very well in his foster home–he is house trained and walks well on leash. He does not like to be crated because of the hard start he had in life–he spent his first years in a commercial puppy mill. He loves to run and play in the fenced-in yard, and he especially loves belly rubs! He will need a special home with a socialized dog already in residence.
Is Newton your dog? Find him on Petfinder!
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Small Paws saves dogs! Can you give a couple bucks?
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I’ve been featuring some heart-warming Small Paws Rescue stories this month as I nag my readers, my friends and my family into make a contribution to my fund raiser. But I need to take a step away from Small Paws and mention a very wonderful side event of Iams Home 4 the Holidays, the 3-month long adoption event that we (Iams) do with Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) every year. It’s the essay contest.
Every year, Mike Arms and HWAC collect hundreds of stories that detail the adoptions that happen during Iams Home 4 the Holidays. These stories are read and narrowed down to the top four.
I just finished voting for my favorite story on the HWAC site. And you can too–up until Monday March 21 (YIKES! That’s now!)
Go! RUSH! To the HWAC blog where you can read the rest of the details and then read the stories of Darby, Mama Mia, Fred, and Rose. These stories may at first bring a tear to your eye, but ultimately your heart will indeed be warmed by the happy ending each of these sweet orphans experiences in finding their furever home.
HURRY! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!! GO READ! GO VOTE!!
You may have noticed that every day this month, I am featuring adoptable Bichons and Bichon Blends who are fostered by Small Paws Rescue.
Small Paws is a community of foster families spread across the country where Small Paws Fluffs are housed until their forever family is found. There is no “brick-and-mortar” facility like your local humane society or SPCA. But you can still view all the Small Paws Fluffs available for adoption. The Small Paws “adoption center” is located online at Petfinder.com.
This month, Petfinder celebrates 15 years of service to pet adoption! Since 1996, Petfinder has helped more than 17 million pets find homes! Now that’s something to celebrate!
On Tuesday March 15, I’m going to help Petfinder ADOPT THE INTERNET–and you can too! Here’s what I’m going to do:
On this blog:
- I’ve already added a badge on the right side of my blog to show my support.
- On Tuesday, I will be posting an article about what pet adoption means to me.
On my Facebook Page:
- On Tuesday I’ll be changing my Facebook profile photo to an adoptable pet from Petfinder for the day.
- I will post a special message of support for Petfinder on my wall.
I’m taking over the Iams Facebook Page: (I have admin rights on the Iams Facebook account.)
- I’ll be changing the Iams Facebook profile to the “Adopt the Internet Day” logo
- And I’ll be encouraging all of the over 165,000 Iams Facebook fans to change their profile photos too!
On Twitter:
- I’m going to tweet about it on Monday and Tuesday and use the hash tag #adopttheinternet
So, is pet adoption important to you? What are you going to do to celebrate and support Petfinder on it’s 15th birthday?
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Read more…
