Two shelter dogs are taken off the van that brought them to New York from Houston.
By Emily Tannenhauser
After a terrifying hurricane and a 1600-mile van ride across the country, about 100 dogs rescued from Hurricane Harvey got to be pampered like furry princesses on Friday at Camp Canine, a doggy daycare and grooming business at 46 West 73rd Street. They closed down the street to make way for the rescued animals.
As they emerged one by one from large vans on Friday afternoon, the pups got their first glimpse and first sniffs of New York City. Greeted by loving volunteers who were equipped with hug and treats, the dogs were escorted into Camp Canine where they would be groomed, pampered, fed, and loved. Some of the dogs would be headed to foster homes while others would be taking up residence at Camp Canine until they were placed in “forever” homes.
Look at that adorable face!
It all started when Muddy Paws Rescue, one of the organizations that Camp Canine partners with decided to take action and help the animals affected by the hurricane. With the help of North Shore Animal League, Muddy Paws Rescue was able to get down to Texas and empty out the shelters there so that those shelters would have room to take in animals that were displaced by the storm and help to reunite them with their owners.
Sparky, a little white dog, whose fur was matted and dirty, was carried off the van. Camp Canine planned to give him food and the full spa treatment, which includes a bath, a “pawdicure”, and a blueberry facial, said Tania Isenstein, owner of Camp Canine as she cradled the frightened puppy in her arms.
Tania Isenstein at the hurricane rescue event.
Isenstein, a lawyer who left her former job at Goldman Sachs in order take over Camp Canine five years ago, has made community service part of the business. At any given time, she fosters multiple dogs and helps get them adopted (a wall at Camp Canine is covered with about 70 photographs of dogs that they fostered, just a fraction of the 1,000-plus they’ve helped.) Isenstein was coordinating the Harvey rescue operation. “These dogs have been through a lot.”
More Houston shelter dogs waiting to be adopted.
Several other Camp Canine employees also helped out and live-streamed the event on Facebook.
“We put a call out 48 hours ago and we were overwhelmed with donations — crates and toys food blankets everything,” one employee said. “The community was amazing.”
If you would like to help by either donating goods or fostering pets you can contact Camp Canine at 212-787-3647 or email Tania@NYCAMPCANINE.com. You can also check out Muddy Paws Rescue at www.muddypawsrecue.org.
Photos by Emily Tannenhauser.
It seems I always hear about fun events after the fact. I might have even gone and adopted, but I had no idea this was going on
You can still go to the Camp Canine at 43 W. 73rd Street. They dogs are still in our neighborhood. They are looking for both fostering and furever homes. Reduced prices, I think.
It’s never to late to adopt!
Bravo! You are a true hero. Thank you for all you are doing for these precious animals. When I get back to the city I’ll stop by to see if you still need anything.
Good job. What an amazing bunch of people. The rescuers, North Shore Animal League and Camp Canine of course all the volunteers. We need to head on over an find pups who need fostering or furever homes.
This is so wonderful! After Sandy we can all appreciate this type of generosity. Thank you so much Camp Canine & Tania Isenstein for being more than just a local business and showing these pups how much New York cares.
I think this is great.
My only question is, why don’t they try to reunite some of the animals with their owners? Weren’t some of them torn away from their family’s who probably are devastated that they are gone? I know this isn’t the case for all of them and some of them were abandoned, etc.
These were animal in shelters who were evacuated to make room for flood victim’s pets. So these are animals who had no permanent homes.
Good question C! What we helped to do was clear the shelters of pets who had already been abandoned to make way for those separated from their families during the storm. This way there is room in those shelters to care for those dogs whose owners may be looking for them!
Oh, ok! The article says they were rescued from the hurricane, so it makes it sound like they were.
These animals are from the local shelters in Houston, they did not have homes. They were rescued to make room in the shelters for animals who may be displaced from their homes due to the hurricane.
The correct email is nycampcanine.com
It’s very good work, I’m wondering how will people who lost their dogs in the Texas Hurricane find the dog if you shipped them to NYC.
That wasn’t done. Read comments here. These were homeless dogs.
Good question RWC10025! What we helped to do was clear the shelters of pets who had already been abandoned to make way for those separated from their families during the storm. This way there is room in those shelters to care for those dogs whose owners may be looking for them!
The email addresses given do not work, please correct and advise
Sorry, fixed.
These are dogs that were in shelters waiting to be adopted. They sent them out of state to make room for the displaced dogs so hopefully they can be reunited. Let’s all just remember the three city shelters that euthanize have dogs and not to be forgotten cats that need homes or fostering. Why does it take a catAstrophe to wake people up to help these homeless animals.
Bunny Hofberg Absolutely right! We are advocates of and do foster on a regular basis. If you or anyone you know is interested in helping by fostering, give us a shout! We’d love to help people get involved! Thank you!
I actually have my own rescue. Frankie’s feline fund. We rescue senior cats. Always looking for fosters or adopters.
you are so right, Bunny. We must be mindful of our local, homeless critters, as well as those CATS and dogs who are being abandoned in the horrific hurricanes down south.
Great job! My friend from upstate came down and is now fostering a dog and cat through you guys!! love it! wish I could help out.. but my two cats would pack up and leave if I took in anyone else. 😉
I agree though.. if you can find the place and time to foster/ adopt Harvey rescues.. you should also look to foster/ adopt from our already overcrowded kill shelters in NYC.
This is an awesome project and the rescue of these pups is the work of heros! Thanks