Let me tell you a story. Picture it. Sicily, 1922… Seriously, though the story of these 2 babies and their sisters, Rose and Blanche, is a doozy.
In Queens, a member of the Muddy Paws Rescue community observed horrid conditions of backyard breeders. Their adult male and female bloodhounds had a litter of 4 puppies in mid-December. The parents and puppies were left outside, in all weather conditions, with no shelter and not enough food. Muddy Paws offered resources to have the adult dogs altered. The people refused that help though they did agree to give her the puppies so we could find homes for them. (I’m going to find out what can be done to help the adult dogs who are still with those people. More on that later…)
Despite their difficult start, Sophia and Dorothy are incredible dogs. They don’t show any signs of trauma. They are floppy, happy, energetic, gorgeous puppies. They love each other, share everything, and are either wrestling, eating, or napping on top of each other. That they’re even alive is amazing. That they’re alive, completely healthy, and well-adjusted is a miracle. They’ll need training of course, as all dogs do, and I can’t wait to see them shine in their new forever homes whenever they get adopted.
Right now, they’re indoor only puppies until they get all of their vaccines. They’ve been keeping me busy as we figure out how to set up my apartment and get into a routine. I think we’re doing pretty well considering I’ve never had puppies this young and never had 2 dogs at once. I haven’t looked much at the news, which has been a welcome reprieve, and they’ve brought me so much joy and laughter.
Today I sent their photos and wrote their profiles for their adoption pages that will be on the Muddy Paws Rescue website this week. They’ll be at the adoption event this coming Saturday, February 22nd. No matter how long I end up having them – whether it’s 1 week or many weeks – I’ll be forever grateful to them for showing me that how we start is just that. It’s only a beginning. Those we meet along our path can change everything.
IN BRIEF
Author, journalist, digital product manager, and licensed New York City tour guide. Creator and host of NYC's Secrets and Lies. Alumna of the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA), Arizona State University (Biomimicry), and the University of Cambridge (MSt in Sustainability Leadership).
I build digital media platforms, report on urban climate resilience and biodiversity, and produce live narrative experiences that connect communities to history, nature, and place.
THE DEEP DIVE
My work centers on a single thread: building systems and stories that foster deep connection to our shared world. Across digital streaming, environmental reporting, and live civic storytelling, I design experiences that help people understand complex ideas and the environments around them.
DIGITAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & MEDIA LEADERSHIP
At Carnegie Hall, I serve as Digital Product Manager, leading product strategy, operations, and technical delivery for the video streaming platform Carnegie Hall+. I translate artistic mission into scalable, high-performance streaming architecture that reaches audiences globally. Previously, I led agile product and delivery teams across operations and compliance at American Express, managed Broadway theatrical productions and national tours, and guided strategic initiatives across cultural institutions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM & AUTHORSHIP
As a freelance journalist, I investigate how living systems, urban infrastructure, and human culture intersect. My reported features on urban decarbonization, biodiversity, coastal resilience, and biomimicry appear in publications including Smithsonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Mongabay, Natural History Magazine, and Foreign Policy Magazine. In fiction, I write the Emerson Page young adult novel series, alongside upcoming historical fiction and nonfiction works on New York history, mythology, and human resilience. I also write Togetherhood, a LinkedIn newsletter focused on urban ecology and community restoration, and co-host the podcast Frameworks in the Wild.
LIVE EXPERIENCE & CIVIC STORYTELLING
As a licensed New York City tour guide and live event producer, I transform urban landscapes into shared narrative encounters. I created, produce, and host NYC's Secrets and Lies, an interactive live storytelling series staged across cultural landmarks including the New York Transit Museum, the South Street Seaport Museum, and the historic tall ship Wavertree. I also design and lead site-specific walking tours exploring coastal ecology, food history, and neighborhood evolution, often with partners at Climate Week NYC and the Natural Areas Conservancy.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING MEDIA
Through my independent production studio, Double or Nothing Media, I develop ventures across media, ecology, and public history:
Digital Products & Strategy: Architecting scalable digital platforms, streaming experiences, and operational models for mission-driven institutions.
Environmental Reporting & Publications: Delivering long-form reporting, books, and newsletters grounded in climate resilience and regenerative design.
Site-Specific Live Storytelling: Producing immersive live shows and educational walking tours that engage public audiences in community history.
CONNECT
Website & Production Hub: doubleornothingmedia.com and christaavampato.com
Newsletter: Togetherhood on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/newsletters/togetherhood-7273771832221089792/
Instagram & Threads: @christarosenyc
Emerson Page Novels: emersonpagebook.wordpress.com/
View all posts by Christa Avampato
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