By Christina Santucci
Bobbi & the Strays animal rescue and adoption center will be ringing in 2014 in a new spot in Glendale.
The no-kill shelter, which opened up in The Shops at Atlas Park about seven years ago and serves all of Queens, moved to another storefront within the mall, at 71-03 80th St. A grand opening celebration was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Founder Bobbi Giordano said she was grateful the organization was provided with the space by Atlas Park so close to its former location.
“I love it. It’s wonderful that we are staying in the mall,” she said. “It almost makes me cry because everyone is so nice there.”
The spot, which has room for 10 cats and 12 dogs, is closer to Cooper Avenue and therefore easier to take pups for walks, but is a bit smaller than the previous facility, which could hold 16 cats and 20 dogs.
Andrea Lopilato, who manages the Glendale location and started working with Giordano by fostering dogs 15 years ago, said the majority of the animals at Bobbi & the Strays in Queens are from the city’s Animal Care & Control. Lopilato monitors which animals in the city’s shelters are scheduled to be put to sleep to see if any would match with the Glendale facility’s potential adopters.
“Ninety percent come off a list that they were going to be euthanized the next day,” she said. “I really try to give that animal a second chance.”
Before the move, about six of 12 cats were adopted. The remaining felines were boarded in Bobbi & the Strays’ Freeport, L.I., shelter, and all of the dogs were sent home with volunteers as the space was transformed from cinder block walls to a fully functional shelter over the course of two weeks.
Both Giordano and Lopilato praised the Atlas Park location because shoppers are able to take a look at potential pets while meandering through the mall.
“Some of them weren’t even looking for an animal. It may be an eye connection or a pet that reminded them of a childhood pet,” Lopilato said. “When they go there for shopping, they see an animal through the window and say, ‘That’s going to be my pet.’”
Giordano also heaped praise on her 35 volunteers, who work shifts of two hours once per week, and a handful of foster families, who rehabilitate animals before they are ready to be adopted.
“Once you see what they came from and what they get through at home,” Lopilato said, “it’s amazing.”
Lopilato described one brindle and white pitbull, named Jasmine, which she believes was tied up with cable wire around its neck. It took several weeks at Lopilato’s Maspeth home before the dog looked healthy and was adopted last month.
Organizers said abandoned pets are often found during the holidays and summertime, when their owners want to go on vacation without paying to board them.
“If no one finds them, they starve,” Giordano said.
Lopilato said the Glendale shelter has already accepted two cats, a calico named Mystique and a black and white kitty named Lugo, from ACC for the Glendale location, and on Sunday afternoon staff were settling in and readying for the official re-opening as rain poured outside.
“We are all very happy to be home,” Lopilato said.
Reach managing editor Christina Santucci by e-mail at timesledgerphotos@gmail.com by phone at 718-260-4589.
