After the death of our beloved cat Willow, a few months before, we decided it was time to adopt another. Palisades resident Sarah Buterbaugh, the music director at Columbia Prep and mother of Kelsey and Chris was listed as the contact. Sarah is one of a number of caring volunteers who work with Dapper Dog to provide foster care for abandoned animals until a home is found.

We met a frightened black panther-like cat Sarah had named Lily and learned about her history. She had been discovered, emaciated and nursing four kittens, in a closet of a house about to be demolished. Cat and kittens had the good fortune to end up at Dapper Dog where the kittens soon found homes but Lily, deeply traumatized, sat unresponsive in a back corner feared beyond reach. Sarah though refused to give up on her and took her in.

Dapper Dog has been a refuge for countless dogs and cats throughout the years. I discovered the remarkable Gerry Tartaglione, its owner, in fact took 25 Katrina dogs and cats from Louisiana, paid their medical bills and flew them in at her own expense: the bill, $25,000. Gerry started working at Elmsford forty years ago then worked with a pet rescue facility in Larchmont. “I learned to groom because it enabled me to take in abused animals,” she says. “This has been my whole life; rescuing animals has been my passion. It has brought me great joy but I have no other life.”

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Certainly all her energy and finances have gone into saving animals. Some come through her policeman son Nicholas who does his share of rescues. A number come from people around the country who know of Gerry, others from local animal hospitals and shelters who only keep dogs and cats for a short time before putting them down.

Recent Dapper Dog arrivals include puppies from a crack house that came in severely dehydrated and sick with parvo influenza. “Their medical bills cost me $5,000,” Gerry relates, “but it was worth it. They are all in good homes.” Then there are the nine kittens from over 60 found in a basement of a local pit bull gaming establishment. They were used as bait, thrown to the dogs who tore them apart. After the dogs had a taste for blood they were put into a ring ready for battle. Another new arrival is a 7-month dog found full of fleas and ticks chained in the sun without water. Gerry discovered after three days that the dog was profoundly deaf and had it fitted with a vibrating collar, arranging with a trainer to teach it to respond to hand signals. The cost, $250 for the collar, $150 an hour for the trainer.

Gerry stresses the importance of all dogs and cats being spayed. She had just taken 12 cats to a mobile unit in Woodbury Commons. Run by T.A.R.A. (The Animal Rights Alliance), they offer spaying and neutering as well as rabies shots for $50. Call 845-754-7100 for more information.

Gerry’s own dog Bobo, a canine police dog rejected because of medical problems, is about to become a star. Spotted at Dapper Dog, He was chosen for a recently released movie called, “American Gangster” starring Danzel Washington.

Dapper Dog is located at 294 Main Street in Nyack. The first of the year it will be expanding around the corner with a special quarantine room for incoming strays. Gerry is also working on a website to feature dogs and cats available for adoption and hopes to set up a foundation to help cover some of her many expenses in her battle to provide medical care and, ultimately a home for abandoned cats and dogs. If you can give an animal a good home contact Gerry at 845-353-3599. Contributions are most welcome to help her continue her valiant effort.

As for Lily, we decided to adopt two cats. We chose a rambunctious outgoing thirteen-week-old kitten from the Cat Care Clinic. We also took Lily. As of this writing, she resides under our guest bedroom and only ventures out in our presence for food. We continue to hope that with patience and affection she will finally feel secure around us and find the contentment that has eluded her.