Tag: dog

creativity

Marking the one year anniversary since my soul dog, Phineas, passed away

Christa Avampato
The last photo I took of Phinny before I rushed him to the ER 4 hours later.

Dear Phinny,
Today marks one year since I held you. One year since I felt the weight of your perfect body in my arms. One year since I kissed your forehead between your sweet honey eyes. And yet, you have never left me. Not really. Your spirit has been with me every day. Your ashes sit on your ofrenda, next to your portrait and photograph, toys, food bowl, sweater, harness, collar, and leash. The last bed you slept in and the last blanket you rested your head on are exactly where they were the last time I saw you peacefully resting in them.

I still talk to you every day. I ask you for help and guidance. I tell you I love you before I go to sleep and when I wake up. You have visited me in my dreams and showed me around your home across the rainbow bridge. The forest, the beach, the mountains. We’ve gone hiking together there. You are happy and healthy and youthful. You are living now, forever, as you did during your best days with me.

And still, what I wouldn’t give for one more day, one more hour. Something I will never get and always want. I know I did the best I could for you, and it never feels like it was enough. I know you don’t feel that way, that you have always continued to love me, even at my most imperfect moments. I’m still trying to forgive myself for making that terrible that decision a year ago.

Though I didn’t think it would be possible, I love you and miss you more today than I did a year ago when we said goodbye. The grief of losing you is even heavier now; you have helped me get stronger so that I am better able to carry it. The joy I have for all the years we spent together is also greater; you have helped me become even more grateful for our bond. You are and always will be my soul dog. I was meant for you, and you were meant for me.

In your honor, I’m fostering dogs who need help and love to heal. I know you’re working your magic behind-the-scenes, and we’re doing this together. I know you will always be looking out for me, just as you always did when you were here in your physical form. And as crazy as it sounds, I know when you’re ready you will find a way to infuse a ray of your bright, shiny spirit into another dog who will find their way to me. I will take one look at that dog and know. I trust the process. I trust you. That will never change. Our love story continues now, and always.

Love forever,
Your Mom

creativity

My favorite organizations for Giving Tuesday

Christa Avampato
Photo by Sticker Mule on Unsplash

Today is Giving Tuesday, a day during the holiday season that raises awareness for giving to nonprofit organizations. I’ve worked professionally in the nonprofit space for many years in different capacities including fundraising, product development and product management, program direction, strategy, operations, and communications. These have been some of my most gratifying career experiences. I’ve also been fortunate to be an active volunteer and donor.

If you want to make donations this holiday season, and / or get more involved with nonprofit organizations, here is a list of the ones I support as a donor and volunteer:

Animals and Pets
Muddy Paws Rescue
I’m a foster parent for dogs through Muddy Paws Rescue. The support, guidance, advice, and services they provide to dogs, fosters, and adopters is unparalleled. Through a partnership with Tito’s Vodka, donations today will be matched.

Animal Care Centers of NYC (NYCACC)
This is our city shelter system for animals who are homeless. They don’t turn away any animals and work closely with groups such as Muddy Paws to help these animals find forever homes. With the help of the Mayor’s Office of Animal Welfare, they also provide support for people who are struggling financially to take care of their pets with food assistance and medical care so that people can keep their beloved pets. With the help of the pet food company, Ollie, I’ve arranged to have an entire pallet of Ollie treats shipped to NYCACC to support the shelter pups.

White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary
I learned about this organization when I wanted to make a gift to a senior dog organization in honor of my soul dog, Phineas, who passed away in January. I love their mission to find loving homes for sweet senior pups.

15/10 Foundation
This organization is doing the tough work of providing funds for medical care for pets to help them find forever homes. This is the same group that runs We Rate Dogs, famous for their joyful posts on social media that make everyone’s day. I adore them. I became a monthly donor as a way to thank all the people who have supported my Emerson Page novels which feature Friday, Emerson’s service dog who is also a rescue!

Climate and Environment
Prospect Park Alliance
I moved to Brooklyn in June 2023, a short 15-minute walk to Prospect Park. I love having that nature sanctuary as my backyard and I’m happy to support them. Today, your donations will be doubled.

National Parks Association
The U.S. is so fortunate to have so much protected public land in our national parks. In 2025, they will need our help more than ever as we navigate a new federal administration. Today, all donations will be tripled!

Arbor Day Foundation
Trees provide us with so many gifts – clean air, water filtration, food, and storm protection to name just a few! A gift to the Arbor Day Foundation makes sure our trees receive the protection and care they deserve.

The Climate Reality Project
Since 2006, Vice President Al Gore has trained over 45,000 climate leaders and change makers in all 50 states and 190 countries, me included. (I was trained in NYC in April 2024.) Today, all gifts will be matched.

Humanitarian and Health
World Central Kitchen
Hands-down, World Central Kitchen founded by Chef Jose Andres is the premiere organization for humanitarian relief. With a small staff, mostly employing local people on the ground in areas they serve, they feed anyone and everyone in need. I’m a proud monthly donor.

Coalition for the Homeless
This year I provided a donation to support their back-to-school program that provides new backpacks filled with new school supplies for New York City children who are homeless. They do so much to help our most vulnerable neighbors.

Fisher House Foundation
Most of the members of my small family have served in the U.S. military. As a Christmas gift every year for my uncle who served in Vietnam, I donate to Fisher House. With 98 locations, they have housed 500,000 military families for free when a loved one is in the hospital.

Education
Brooklyn Public Library
I use my local library all the time and our city is made better for all of the services our library systems provide to everyone. All donations to Brooklyn Public Library will be matched today!

Letters to a Pre-Scientist (LPS)
I’m now in my second year of being a STEM pen pal for students in grades 5 through 10 in low-income communities. LPS pairs students with a worldwide network of STEM professionals for a yearlong pen pal program during science class. We help broaden students’ awareness of what STEM professionals look like and do at work and inspire all students to explore a future in STEM.

creativity

What’s it like to foster a dog? Meet my first foster, Ace

Christa Avampato
My foster dog, Ace, from Muddy Paws Rescue NYC

Welcome to Brooklyn, Ace! I picked up my cutie foster dog from Muddy Paws Rescue NYC, and he lives up to his name. By all accounts, he is absolutely aces! Below are some photos from our first day together.

We don’t know much about his history. He’s 6 months old and 19 pounds with a cute trot that makes him look like a little fox. He was found with his siblings in Kentucky and ended up in a shelter. They all had terrible mange (a skin infection) and are healing up well now. Ace has a few bare spots where his fur is growing back. His siblings were also transported by Muddy Paws and are being fostered, too!

Despite all of the new sights, sounds, and scents in NYC, Ace is adjusting incredibly well. We’re working on crate training and he’s taking to it so quickly. He walks well on a leash though it’s clear he’s never had a leash or collar before. He does shake is head when wearing the collar trying to figure out what the heck this is! He listens well and is very smart. We’re working on some basic commands and structured walks. Though he had two accidents in my apartment when we got home for the first time yesterday, I realize now I didn’t know his cues. By this morning, I completely understood when he was telling me he needed to go. He caught on to house training at lightning speed!

Ace is definitely a velcro dog. He loves to cuddle and he’s a sweet, loving pup. Belly rubs, kisses, and pets are his favorite. Never enough love for this guy. Working out at home today with him out of his crate was hilarious to say the least. Try doing burpees and sit-ups when a dog just wants to sit in your lap!

He’s motivated by treats and affection. He doesn’t know what a toy is so hasn’t shown any interest in them (also very common for street dogs who are new to a home.)

He’s unsure about other dogs at the moment, either ignoring them, giving a bark or 2, or freezing in place when he sees a dog. This is very normal for strays as they have been taught to be wary of other dogs just to survive on the streets.

Ace shows absolutely no aggression nor any prey drive. I can touch all his food and treats without him doing a thing. I left him alone in his crate for about 30 minutes today and within 15 minutes he settled down. He slept in his crate as well and slept through the night (except when he had a dry throat and needed some water, which I got for him.) We’re going to try a walk in Prospect Park this afternoon.

Ace will be available for adoption applications on the Muddy Paws website starting on Tuesday, November 26th. Since he is small, sweet, smart, and a puppy, I think there will be a lot of interest in him. Happy to answer any questions about Ace, fostering dogs, or Muddy Paws Rescue.

creativity

Joy today: My dog, Phineas, is 10 today

Christa Avampato

It’s a happy 9th Gotcha Day for this little guy! Today my sweet dog, Phineas, is 10 years old and he’s been in my life for 9 years. How grateful I am that when I rescued him, he rescued me right back. I’m the luckiest. Here’s to two pawfuls of life, buddy, and many more ahead.

Phineas Day 1
Our first photo together on the day I adopted Phineas

Phineas October 2010
Our first My Dog Loves Central Park festival photo

Phineas October 2010 2
His first close-up

creativity

A Year of Yes: Happy Halloween!

Christa Avampato

Happy Halloween from me and my little caped crusader! You can vote for me and Phineas here for his daycare Halloween costume contest here: https://woobox.com/9rtqyk/gallery/519moZsOBzg

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creativity

In the pause: It’s time to be patient with yourself

Christa Avampato

Be patient with yourself. You’re getting there, wherever there is.

Right now I’m in the process of doing the equivalent of crate training Phineas. He didn’t respond well at all to an enclosed crate when he was younger but he’s making good progress, knock on wood, behind a gate that keeps him in the back of the apartment away from the door and the too-loud lobby of my building. Crate training takes discipline, patience, and time, three things I am also trying to give to myself as I give them to him.

We all want what we want right now. It takes time to learn a new skill. It takes patience to let ourselves evolve and grow into the very best version of ourselves. As hard as I drive myself to achieve and succeed, I also try to give myself a break and celebrate every once in a while. I look back on my life and see how far I’ve come from my days on the apple farm. It’s been a long and winding road. It wasn’t easy though from my view now, life is pretty spectacular despite the many difficulties along the way and the challenges I’m facing now. I can’t help but have this overwhelming feeling that everything really is going to be okay eventually. I’ll find what I need in every area of my life. It’s going to take time and effort, but it’s out there. It’s out there for you, too. Keep going.

creativity

Wonder: Be an explorer every day

Christa Avampato

Since moving to our new apartment, Phineas has become a morning dog. He’s up at the crack of dawn, and that means I am, too. This morning we took a long stroll / walk / run past Union Station, the Folger, the Library of Congress, and on to the Capitol. Phineas was rolling around in all the grassy areas and greeting everyone who wanted to talk to him. He had the time of his life.

It reminded me that we are constantly explorers, everywhere we go, every day. We take in what’s around us, we learn, and we make the most of it.

creativity

This just in: The art I made for my dog, Phineas, for Christmas

Christa Avampato

What do you get for the dog who has everything he needs? The same thing you get for people who have everything—art. I made this paper collage for Phineas to capture his philosophy on life. Merry Christmas, Phin!

Here’s the Phineas Way:

  • Join a parade whenever possible
  • Don’t be afraid to lead the way
  • A first snow is a very happy thing
  • Sometimes the best thing to do is sit and be quiet like a yogi
  • “How good can you feel?” is a question you should ask every day, and answer
  • Share something wonderful with everyone, always
  • Fall in love with as many things, and people, and animals, as possible
  • There’s cool stuff out on the edge
  • Be excited
  • Embrace the wild
  • You’re perfect just the way you are
  • Stay unique
  • Learn how to be a good copilot
  • You can never have too much joy
  • New York is my soul city, and always will be
  • Embrace tomorrow, no matter what happened today
  • Live color fully, in many different directions
  • Sing loud and proud like a bird
  • Be unstoppable
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the greatest places in the world to hang around
  • I love snuggling; snuggling’s my favorite
  • I have one goal: to be the best dog ever. (And, for me, he absolutely is!)