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Health & Fitness

Bideawee of Westhampton Now Blogging on Patch

Bideawee will provide stories from the adoption center, happenings, and tails from volunteers.

Bideawee is excited to be participating in the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch, community blog.  As a member of the Westhampton community for more than 50 years, Bideawee continues to be a leading pet adoption and animal welfare organization serving New York and Long Island.  Our programs and services – adoption, behavior training and counseling, veterinary care, pet therapy, and pet memorial parks – support pets and pet parents through every life stage of their wonderful journey together.  Bideawee (which means “stay awhile” in Scottish) is one of the oldest and largest non-profit 501(c)(3) humane organizations in the country.

Here in Westhampton, Bideawee occupies 150 acres within the Pine Barrens on Old Country Road.  Our beautiful facility is home to an Adoption Center, Animal Hospital, Dog Park, Pet Memorial Park, Certified Dog Training and Volunteer Program.  Bideawee’s Blog will introduce you to our many services and the experienced, compassionate staff, volunteers, adopters and clients who make up the Bideawee family.  Every week, you can look forward to a posting from a Bideawee author providing you with a unique look into the organization.

Check in to explore the following Bideawee tails:

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Stories from the Adoption Center
Learn about Bideawee’s animals from the people who care for them every day.  Adoption Centers at Bideawee Manager, Molly Wadzeck, and Client Care Coordinator, Deanna Murphy, will share their accounts with you.  They will follow up on an animal that has been adopted and let you know how they are doing with their new family, while also taking a look at a current adoptable pets still looking for their perfect match.
Molly Wadzeck has been involved in animal welfare for more than 8 years. After working with rescued farm animals at a sanctuary in upstate New York and devoting time to volunteer and advocacy work in NYC, she happily joined the Bideawee team last year. Molly divides her time between Brooklyn and her apartment on Long Island with her 9 year old rescued Rhodesian Ridgeback mix and various foster animals. Deanna Murphy has been working at the Adoption Centers at Bideawee for over 4 years.  She graduated Animal Behavior College in 2009, and is a certified dog trainer, using her certification to both assist clients in need of behavior advice, and to help enrich the lives of the resident animals.  At home, she has 2 rescue cats, and lots of room for resident dogs in need of foster care. 

What’s new at Bideawee?
Bideawee staff and volunteers will keep you up-to-date on our various programs and services as well as useful information to benefit the life of your pet.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chief of Veterinary Services for the Animal Hospitals at Bideawee, Dr. Robin Brennen, will discuss helpful veterinary tips and medical concerns that you can use to care for your pets.
Dr. Brennen joined Bideawee in April 2006 after over 14 years in private veterinary practice in New Hampshire and New York. She has also served as consultant lending her expertise and experience to veterinary practices and shelter operations nationwide. As a  Commander of the United States National Disaster Medical System's Veterinary Medical Assistance Team, she is a select team of highly trained veterinary professionals deployed to assist local governments in the face of federally declared disasters (Katrina, Rita) or foreign disease outbreaks.  Dr. Brennen is a proud adopter of Alvin, a deaf Boston Terrier, she fell in love with at Bideawee.

Event Manager, Amy Hraniotis, will fill you in on upcoming events you can attend to support Bideawee.  At these events you’ll have the opportunity to enjoying quality time with your furry friend, meet some of Bideawee’s Adoptable Pets and learn about Bideawee’s programs.
Amy Hraniotis has been working at Bideawee for 3 years.  She starting as the Volunteer Manager in Westhampton and has recently been given the responsibility of overseeing all of Bideawee’s events.  After years of working and studying TV & film, Amy choose to change career paths to help homeless animals, something that has always been dear to her heart.   Amy lives on Long Island with her Bideawee dog, Ralph, who she fell in love with after only 3 months working at Bideawee.

Manager of Animal Behavior & Training, Mike Rueb, will discuss and post videos on training techniques you can use to better your dog’s manners.
Michael Rueb joined Bideawee in 2002 after returning to Long Island from Albany, NY with a degree in Biology.  Mike started as an Adoption Associate in Westhampton, but through his strong knowledge of animal behavior became the Training Coordinator for the Westhampton location.  After Mike Rueb received his CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) certification he became the Manager of Animal Behavior and Training for Bideawee.

Volunteer Manager, Trish Petrucci, will explore the many volunteer opportunities available in Westhampton.  From working with animals in the adoption center, helping people in needs through the Pet Therapy program to fostering an animal in need of love and companionship, Trish will provide you with an inside look at the selfless volunteers at the heart of Bideawee.
Trish Petrucci is fairly new to Bideawee, but not to the world of non-profit and volunteer service.  Trish comes to Bideawee with a successful history of working in education as well as various non-profit organizations.   Trish is a native Long Islander and has a keen interest in the preservation of a rural East End that has a vibrant cultural and arts community.

Pet Loss Support Group Leader, Nell Bard, will share uplifting stories and how bereavement counseling at Bideawee helps pet lovers cope with the passing of one’s pet.  The death of a pet is a painful time and Nell will delve into the difficult process of moving past that grief.
Nell Bard is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 20 years experience helping people cope with grief and loss.  Nell provides a safe, welcoming space in her support groups, where anyone who is moved to share her or his grief with others who empathize can do so.

Tails from a Volunteer
Learn about what it’s like to be a Bideawee Volunteer.  Volunteers post their personal experiences volunteering with the organization.  From working with animals in the Adoption Center, supporting Bideawee at events, fostering animals and bringing smiles to others through Pet Therapy and Reading to Dogs.  Hear directly from the amazing volunteers who share their time to better the lives of Bideawee’s animals.

The Bideawee Journey to a Better Life
Adoption Center Manager, Molly Wadzeck, and Client Care Coordinator, Deanna Murphy, will once again check in and give you the opportunity to follow an animal on the Bideawee Journey.  You will meet some special cases and receive up to date information on how an animal came to Bideawee and how they are developing while in our care.

We look forward to sharing our love for animals with you and hearing your stories as well.

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