Tag: pets

creativity

Saying goodbye to foster dog, Harold

Christa Avampato
Harold at my home

This is Harold, a sweet, gentle senior dog who I watched overnight. He had a vet appointment the next morning and his full-time foster wasn’t able to take him so I offered to help.

When he arrived, I fed him his dinner. He was still hungry so I made him some chicken and rice, which he happily gobbled up. He was so incredibly sweet and trusting.

I walked into my bedroom at one point and Harold followed me. He went right to my full-length mirror and inspected himself. I felt like he was telling me he was seeing a younger version of himself.

I was up all night with Harold. He was restless, anxious, and confused, walking back and forth between his food bowl and the front door. He had some pain in his back legs and the meds didn’t seem to help. Sometimes, he walked in circles. His behavior reminded me of Phinny’s end stages. I tried getting him to lay down, taking him for multiple walks throughout the night, putting him in his crate. Nothing worked. He was so uncomfortable and I felt terribly for him. I asked Phinny if he could help me figure out what to do to help Harold.

At one point, I nodded off in the middle of the night. I had a dream about Phinny. He was standing in front of an empty food bowl, just staring at me with sad eyes. When I jolted awake, I was afraid something was terribly wrong. I looked in my kitchen and Harold was hovering over his food bowl. Then, I understood what Phinny was telling me: Harold was ready to cross the rainbow bridge. I got Harold to sit down next to me for a bit. I stroked his soft, curly fur and tried to soothe him with my words. He was telling me it was his time.

The watercolor of a dachshund at the vet’s office

Morning arrived. I got ready and then walked to the subway with Harold. He was an absolute champ on the train. When we got to the vet, we had a short wait. In the lobby there was a watercolor print of a dachshund. I knew Phinny was with us.

The nurses did an intake and asked me some questions. I explained I’d just had him for one night and told her what I observed. As I watched Harold walk away with the nurse, he looked exhausted and worn out. My eyes welled up. I’d only had him for 16 hours and yet I felt like I’d known him much longer. I was afraid I might not see him again.

I texted with his foster and another rescue volunteer. We were talking about him having fospice (foster hospice) vibes. She said he’d improved some since he’d been with her. I gave her a rundown of everything I observed while he was with me.

The vet messaged me a few hours later that Harold was ready to get picked up. I went to get him since his full-time foster couldn’t get there before the vet closed. They wouldn’t give me any info directly about his check-up. He looked about the same to me. We walked back to the subway to go home and wait for his foster mom. Again, he was a star subway rider with perfect manners. As we walked home, he seemed to be giving me the same message: It was his time.

When we got home, he drank a whole bowl of water, and had a full plate of chicken and rice. He was so hungry from having to fast for his vet appointment. Then for the first time since he arrived at my house, he curled up in Phinny’s bed. Another sign that it was time.

Harold’s foster mom arrived at my apartment soon after Harold laid down. I got him up and we went outside. His foster wasn’t convinced that it was his time yet. He had improved so much since he’d been with her and she thought what I observed was just anxiety about being in a new home. I knew it was something more, and said so. I had to advocate for him.

His foster messaged me that night about some of the symptoms he was now exhibiting. She was seeing now what I saw. She messaged me again the following morning. The rescue made the painful decision to help Harold cross the rainbow bridge.

My eyes welled up again. I knew it was the right decision for Harold and still, I was heartbroken. I’m grateful he didn’t die alone on the streets or in a crowded shelter. He left this world surrounded by people who loved him. He got to go with dignity.

Run free, sweet Harold. I sent Phinny to meet you and show you around your new forever. Thank you for giving me the honor of looking after you when you needed me most. Thank you for trusting me to be your advocate. I will never forget you.

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

I became a monthly donor to 15/10 Foundation

Christa Avampato
Honoring Phinny through 15/10 Foundation. Painting of Phin under the cherry blossoms by Ashley Semrick.

My rescue dog, Phineas, was my writing buddy and he inspired the character of Friday in my Emerson Page novels. To honor him as part of my book launch, I pledged to make a donation to 15/10 Foundation for every person who attended the launch party. Because you packed the room, I became a monthly donor to help shelter dogs who have medical challenges get the care they need to restore their health and be adopted into their forever homes. I know Phinny would be so happy to help other rescue dogs like him. Every time that monthly donation happens, his spirit will shine a little brighter. Learn more about 15/10 Foundation and the incredible dogs they help at https://15outof10.org

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

The time I almost put my dog down

Christa Avampato

I almost said goodbye to my beloved dog, Phineas, on June 30th. He wasn’t able to eat or drink that morning. I got scared and called my local vet. They said to bring him in to assess. The vet was so kind. She said this decision is never easy, and there is no wrong decision. I’m still processing the series of events that followed.

I signed all the papers with the vet and crematorium. Then we inserted the catheter in Phin’s front right leg. After the light disappearing from his eyes this morning, he rose up and screamed out loud “NO!” He was so loud even the nurses were alarmed. I looked in his eyes, and they were wide and wild and full of light again. He began to shake.

The nurses gave me some time with him. I held him and looked into his beautiful marble eyes. Something in my gut said I would regret doing this. It wasn’t a fear. It was an emphatic “ABSOLUTELY NOT! He has more time.” I felt him say, “Not yet. Not like this. Mom, please don’t do this.”

This reminded me of the time I was in the hospital for my severe allergy to a chemo drug that nearly killed me. All the doctors wanted to send me to the ICU and have me intubated because my oxygen levels were falling. I was terrified because the ICU was filled with COVID patients and vaccines had not yet rolled out widely. 

An ICU nurse was called to take me down, and she fought to not send me. She wanted to try one more machine to see if my body would take up oxygen. 

“You have 10 minutes,” said the attending physician. 

“Then let’s give her 10 minutes,” said the nurse. 

Against all odds, within 10 minutes my oxygen levels surged on the new machine. 

“Holy shit,” said the attending doctor as she stood at the foot of my bed watching my monitors.

That ICU nurse saved my life. I’m certain that if I had gone to the ICU and been intubated, I would have gotten COVID and died. Now, I was that nurse for Phin. He needed me to protect him just as that nurse protected me.

As the doctor was about to come in and administer the final medication to put Phin to sleep, I ran to the lobby of the vet’s office and said, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this. I’m not ready and neither is Phin.” Instead, we gave him some injectable medication in an attempt to stabilize him and get him eating and drinking again. 

I walked out of the office with Phin in his carrier. We both breathed a sigh of relief. We got home. He drank some water, ate a very small meal, and rested. There are so many other details to this story that I will write about eventually. The signs to not do this presented themselves and I didn’t see them. Phin did, and he spoke up. I can only see them now in retrospect.

I don’t know what tomorrow, or even today, will bring for my boy. But I do know that June 30th was not Phin’s time to leave this plane. I would have regretted not trying to give him more time to come out of the sedation he got late last night at the ER. He’s still here, still with me, not in pain, and I am at peace, glad and grateful to my gut for getting him extra meds, extra care, and extra time.

A few pictures of me and Phin over the last few days:

creativity

In the pause: A park full of wieners

Christa Avampato

Nothing says fun more than a park full of wieners! Phineas and I attended Dachtoberfest—a celebration of dachshunds and the humans who love them—yesterday at Washington Square Park. It was a spectacular time for the long, little doggies. I love that we live in a city where this is an annual event.

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creativity

In the pause: Happy 8th birthday to my dog and writing companion, Phineas

Christa Avampato

Phineas 8th birthday7 years ago today, I adopted this sweet, brave, and loyal boy. Phineas was just 1-year-old, and someone had dumped him in the woods to fend for himself. His howling saved him, a policeman found him, and thanks to New York Dachshund Rescue, I became his mom. Today on his 8th birthday, I wish him a bottomless bowl of food, a mountain of treats and toys, a soft, cozy bed, and plenty of long walks, grass rolling in the sun, and tummy rubs. After all he’s given to me, this is the very least he deserves. Happy birthday, buddy. May we have many more. I love you.

 

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.