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| Bide-a-Wee |
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410 E. 38th St. btwn. First Ave. and the FDR, Manhattan, 212-532-4455. There are other locations in Wantagh and Westhampton, Long Island. www.bideawee.org
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Mon. to Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Take the 4, 5, 6, 7, or S to Grand Central. Exit at Lexington Ave. and 42nd St. Walk east on 42nd St. to First Ave., make a right and walk south to 38th St. Make a left on 38th St. The shelter is on the south side of the street mid-block.
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One of the country's first no-kill shelters, Bide-a-Wee was founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora D'Auby Jenkins Kibbe. Mrs. Kibbe conceived the idea during a trip to Paris where she saw an ambulance from the Barrone d'Herpents Dog Refuge collecting strays. One of the organization's first missions was setting up water troughs around the city for thirsty carriage horses. Since its founding, Bide-a-Wee has found homes for over a million dogs and cats.
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30 dogs is the limit in Manhattan (another 80 reside at the Long Island shelters). Around 270 dogs were adopted from the Manhattan Bide-a-Wee last year.
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Most are given up by their owners; some are rescued from the AC&C and other shelters. Before a dog is taken in, it's given a physical and behavioral exam. Dogs with serious or contagious illnesses and those with intractable behavioral problems are not accepted. Bide-a-Wee usually has far more dogs than puppies. Almost half are purebred.
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$70. That includes vaccinations, de-worming, two weeks of free vet care for pre-existing illnesses, and spaying or neutering. There's also a fee of $8.50 for a New York City Dog License and an optional $15 charge for a microchip.
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Take a look at the available dogs on the website. If you see one or more that appeal, print out and complete the adoption application. Pay a visit to the shelter to meet and spend a little time with each potential new pet. You'll need two forms of i.d., one with a photo, and the shelter will want to contact your vet if you currently have a pet.
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You must sign a pledge to provide proper care and obedience training, and to consult Bide-a-Wee for assistance if you can longer keep your dog for any reason.
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Bide-a-Wee operates three veterinary clinics that offer reduced rates to those on fixed incomes. They also run the Golden Years Retirement Home on Long Island for animals over eight-years-old whose owners have died or can no longer care for them. The shelter has humane education and pet therapy programs. It also has a bereavement counseling service and maintains two pet cemeteries on Long Island.
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Bide-a-Wee is supported by fundraising events, grants, bequests and donations.
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