Tag: adopt

creativity

When a Being Needs You: Meeting Tony

Christa Avampato
Me and Tony today

Yesterday, I volunteered at the Muddy Paws Rescue adoption event because they needed some last-minute help. Afterward, I was supposed to pick up two 4-pound puppies who needed a temporary foster overnight. I had my apartment all set up for them; I was so excited. I haven’t had puppies since Dorothy and Sophia, my bloodhound babies, and I’ve never had puppies quite that small. I even caught myself wondering if one of them might be “the one.”

But at the event, plans shifted. A foster arrived and explained they wouldn’t be able to pick up their foster dog if he didn’t get adopted. As excited as I was for those puppies, I knew it would be much harder to find an emergency placement for this 50-pound adult dog who suddenly had nowhere to go.

So, meet Tony: my first foster of 2026.

Tony is a total “hidden gem.” He is an expert snuggler, a master of the “lean,” and a dog who clearly just wants to make his person happy. In the short time he’s been with me, I’ve discovered he is housebroken, a fantastic napper, and surprisingly unphased by other dogs or city noises. While he’s a big boy, he has no prey drive—he’s just a curious guy who is very eager to please, especially if you have a pocket full of treats!

Truthfully, I wasn’t ready to take a foster. I am personally looking to adopt, and I have a massive week ahead with work. I definitely wasn’t looking for a foster this big and strong—I actually had to get a mini-lesson on the best ways to walk a dog of his size while protecting my back, since I’m quite petite and still mindful of my back injury recovery and physical limitations.

Because of my own physical recovery, Tony is looking for a “takeover” foster or—even better—his forever home! He would thrive with someone who has experience with bully breeds and the physical stature to handle his curiosity on walks. He’s already making great progress on the leash and loves working on his brain games, Kongs, and lick mats.

Sometimes, when a being really needs us, we do things before we’re ready. If we all step up just a bit when we see a way to help, the whole system gets better. Every foster dog I’ve had has taught me something. None of those lessons were ones I anticipated; they were lessons I didn’t even know I needed. I’m sure Tony is here to teach me something that will make me a better person, and I’m so happy to be the bridge to his forever home.

Tony is available for adoption through Muddy Paws Rescue.

animals

Remembering Phineas on his 15th birthday and 14th Gotcha Day

Christa Avampato
Me and Phinny in the parking lot of the shelter. This was our first of many photos together. Taken by my Mom. I so wish we could take one today.

September 18th will forever be my favorite day of the year. Today is my dog Phinny’s 15th birthday and 14th Gotcha Day. My first without him as he once was. His first over the rainbow bridge. In his honor, I made donations to Animal Care Centers of New York City to help homeless pets in our city and to White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary near Buffalo, New York to help homeless senior dogs with medical issues. 

14 years ago today I took a train to a shelter in Harriman, New York to rescue a dachshund that New York Dachshund Rescue told me about. I had been talking to them for a few months about rescuing an adult black and tan male dachshund because I’d heard adult dogs who are black are less likely to get adopted than others. (This is actually not true though at the time it was a persistent online story.) They told me there was a little guy who matched my description in a very underfunded shelter. Even if I wasn’t sure if I was ready to adopt, if I could just go get him they’d help me find him a permanent home. I agreed. They didn’t even have a picture to send me much less any information about him other than his breed, sex, and color. His name was Beasley.

As I walked from the train station to the shelter, I was nervous. Was I ready to have a dog on my own in New York City? I had a demanding job. I’d never had a dog whom I was solely responsible for. I had a small apartment with not-so-pleasant neighbors. There were a million reasons to not get a dog and only one reason to get one — I really wanted a dog.

To calm down, I reminded myself that I had only committed to getting him out of this very underfunded shelter and fostering him. If it didn’t work out, we would find him a good home and I would have helped him on his journey. I walked into the lobby and said to the woman at the desk, “I’m here to get Beasley.” She sighed, and went into the back.

Less than a minute later, a little black and tan wire-haired dachshund wiggled out into the lobby. That was it. Love at first sight. This was my dog. I picked him up and he happily gave me a smooch as if to say, “I’m so glad you found me. Let’s go!”

“You want him?” the woman asked.

“I’ll definitely take him,” I said.

“200 dollars. Cash or check.”

I wrote a check for $200. She handed me an envelope with some health papers and we stepped out into the world together. Me and my dog, Phineas. We never looked back. I miss you every day, bud. Happy birthday. Happy Gotcha Day. Thank you for being my boy all these years.

creativity

JoyProject Podcast: The Joy of Fostering Animals with Mary Talalay

Christa Avampato
The Joy of Fostering Animals with Mary Talalay

What could instantly elicit more joy than a puppy or kitten? This week we talk to Mary Talalay, an expert in fostering animals to get them ready to find their forever homes. She also mentors new fosters, especially first-timers. Mary offers advice to those new to fostering and potential fosters who are curious about what’s involved in the process. She shares stories of fosters that hold a special place in her heart and how she and her daughter initially got involved in their foster community in Maryland.

At the end of the episode I share two resources created by Best Friends Animal Society. They put together a foster program training playbook with an e-learning module, care manuals for dogs, cats, and kittens, and other helpful links. They also have free online recordings of webinars, town halls, online courses, and helpful tips on fostering.

This is a heart-warming episode for all the animal lovers out there and those who want to play a part in animals rescue and adoption.

Topics discussed in this episode:

  • What it’s like to be a foster as well as the commitment needed (it can be as a big or as small a commitment as you have time for!)
  • The community of fosters that Mary and her teenage daughter discovered and are now a part of
  • Memorable fosters that found shelter and safety in Mary’s home
  • Ways to get involved in the foster community even if you can’t take an animal into your home

Links to resources:


About Mary:
Mary Talalay has a BS in Journalism from Temple University, an MS in Organizational Dynamics from University of Pennsylvania, and an MPH from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She played goalie for Temple University’s Division 1 Final Four Women’s Lacrosse team and was a member of Phi Sigma Sigma.

She also studied Epidemiology in Krakow, Poland with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has certifications from Quality Matters, Sloane Consortium, (Online Learning Consortium) and is a Blackboard Exemplary Course reviewer.

Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Mary worked as a technical and medical writer for companies such as Baxter BioScience, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and many local biotechnology companies.

She worked as a project manager for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s MD-PhD program, creating a comprehensive database of the program alumni and assisting with grants and admissions.

She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Slovak Republic, working as a project manager for the Slovak Ministry of Health, helping the government achieve compliance in the area of Public Health for accession into the EU. She continues to assist her Slovak colleagues with manuscript preparation pro bono.

She enjoys photography (her work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Maryland Zoo Annual Report, and KIWI Magazine), writing children’s books, travel, and kayaking.

One of her favorite overseas trips was spending Halloween in Transylvania.  Her family fosters animals for the Maryland SPCA and they lost count after the 100th kitten.

creativity

Wonder: Crowdsourcing the adoption of a new dog

Christa Avampato

Gabbi, a sweet rescue pup, wasn’t a match for Phin and I. She’s still very much a puppy and chews everything in sight. Yesterday she chewed through her foster mom’s leash! I’m sad, but also hopeful that we are one step closer to finding our perfect new pack member.

In addition to continuing the search with Operation Paws For Homes & Washington Animal Rescue League, I’m also crowdsourcing our search. Do you know a sweet, small, adult dog who loves dogs and people and needs a forever home? Phin and I would love any referrals!