The RSVP Newsletter

It was the summer of 2007. Prince's family moved - and left Prince behind. Someone called Animal Control. They tried to catch him for months - unsuccessfully. One neighbor tried to poison him because his dogs barked when they saw Prince on the street. RSVP was contacted and Ray, one of our skilled volunteers, managed to get Prince on a leash with the help of his own dog, Pricilla. Unfortunately, Prince spent the next 3 months at a municipal shelter. Throughout most of that time, he would retreat to the back of his kennel and growl at all visitors. He would have most certainly been euthanized but RSVP volunteer Kelly, would visit him weekly to win his trust. He was released to RSVP in Jan, 2008 and nurtured in a foster home where his true personality began to emerge. Prince was wonderful! Shortly thereafter, he was adopted by a lovely retired couple and now spends his days with fellow dog companion, Maggie and a cat, Kerman. Instead of rummaging through garbage cans, Prince now passes the time lounging by the pool or visiting a local dog park (pictured) where he has made many friends. Home at last!

Our beloved King passed away 07/21/08. King was left tied outside the Riverhead Animal Hospital in the summer of 2004. He was suspicious of strangers and it took several months for him to trust the staff. RSVP was asked if they could help find him a home. Volunteers would visit King every day and he was eventually adopted, but unfortunately, was returned. King needed a very special owner, someone who was dog-savvy and could understand and work with the issues that King harbored. He could not be placed with a family that had children or other pets. After 3 years, RSVP made a decision to place King with a facility located upstate New York. King loved it! King's new home was a private retirement home for dogs. It is managed by a terrific couple and is situated on acres of trees, grass and rolling hills. King befriended several of the dogs there and RSVP received regular updates and pictures of King running and playing in one of the spacious yards. King passed away peacefully in his sleep. He did not exhibit any warning signs beforehand and the local veterinarian suspected that King suffered a heart attack. King was approximately 11 years old. We will miss him dearly.

Beethoven was spotted by Kelly, an RSVP volunteer, while visiting a local municipal shelter. She noticed a quiet, white pit bull - not a good breed to be if you're one of nearly 100 other dogs in a municipal shelter. But there was something about his gentle nature that caught her attention. Then she realized - Beethoven was deaf. He immediately won her heart. RSVP rescued him and began their usual campaign of ads, flyers and internet postings, trying to find him the right home. A very dear woman contacted us. She had just lost her dog of 15 years, who was blind. A meeting was arranged and it was a match made in heaven. Beethoven was adopted and is now a loving companion to a wonderful and special lady.

It was difficult to notice Bridget. She was at a large municipal shelter and it didn't help that her kennel was blocked by the door that leads into the pens. Bridget would spin and jump when visitors entered as if to say, “Over here! Here I am!” But it didn't matter. She was always passed by. After months of being invisible, Bridget stopped trying. Alone in her kennel, without so much as a blanket or toy for comfort, she would just lie on the cold, hard, concrete floor, despondent. It seemed as if her spirit was broken. No one knew her secret, but Bridget was slowly dying. Determined to help her, Kelly, an RSVP volunteer spoke to Dr. Lachhar of the Riverhead Animal Hospital. Dr. Lachhar offered to foster Bridget for RSVP at the “Bed and Biscuit,” the hospital's boarding facility. It was Bridget's big break. However, her troubles were not over. Routine tests revealed that Bridget had heartworm. Fortunately, RSVP was able to raise the funds necessary for treatment and found a foster home to help with her recovery. Her foster family fell in love and decided to adopt her. A very happy ending to our little girl in need!