Rescue Dogs Rock NYC (RDRNYC) will be holding a special pet adoption event on 26th Avenue in Bayside on July 9. The event is set to take place from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. at Modern Pet in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center.
According to RDRNYC director of operations Joyce Savino, there are expected to be approximately seven kittens and 10-14 dogs up for adoption at the event. After holding pet adoption events approximately every other week throughout the spring, Saturday will mark the organization’s last event until September.
“Our organization typically has anywhere from 80-120 volunteers at any given time from across the country,” Savino said. “We have fosters from New Hampshire all the way out to Virginia. We’re looking forward to getting as many of these doggies and kitties into their forever homes [this Saturday.]”
Founded in 2015 by Jackie O’Sullivan and Stacey Silverstein, RDRNYC focuses on saving the most urgent and critically injured dogs. The organization attempts to address concerns about dogs that many shelters don’t, such as those with physical and emotional needs after being victims of abuse.
“We want to introduce these animals to the public and educate people that unwanted companion animals are not damaged goods or unworthy, but really can be great family pets,” RDRNYC said. “Because the abuse, neglect, cruelty and medical cases cost shelters the most money and are the most urgent, these animals are often the first euthanized. It’s our goal to focus on the rescue of these urgent animals and provide them immediately the routine, emergency, or specialized medical care they need and deserve. We’ll go beyond just vet care and get these animals rehabilitated as needed using trainers and behaviorists to help overcome issues related to past trauma.”
The organization recently acquired its first rescue center, located in Suffolk County on Long Island. However, they’re still trying to raise funds to rebuild and repair the property so it has better conditions for both the animals and the volunteers. As of July 7, RDRNYC has been able to raise a little over $90,000 as it works towards reaching its targeted $250,000 goal. With the shelter not yet ready, the organization will continue to rely upon fosters to take care of the dogs until they get adopted.
Each of the organization’s animals is vaccinated, heart worm tested, micro-chipped and altered. Foster and adoption homes are screened to ensure the animal(s) would fit there, with references and vet checks, an interview with the applicant and a home visit occurring.
RDRNYC has a history of working with Modern Pet for adoption events. They last held one there on Nov. 13, 2021. This came shortly after RDRNYC resumed holding adoption events during the spring of 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic, holding them outside in order to ensure safety and maintain social distancing guidelines.
After averaging one event per month last year due to the pandemic, RDRNYC was able to return to its normal pre-pandemic schedule this past spring, averaging an adoption event every other week.
