The Binky Foundation

In memory of Irene Egan’s wonderful dog Finn. “I found Finn one evening when she wandered out in front of my car while driving through my apartment complex in Texas.  After determining she was a stray from lack of a collar and some of the neighbors telling me she had been hanging around for a few weeks, I put her in the back seat of my car and our sixteen years together began.  When I found her, she was about six months old and seemed to have been someone’s pet already but like so many others she was left behind to fend for herself.  A year and a half later Finn came with me as I moved back to NJ where she became my mother’s “grand dog”.  Finn was smart and sassy but always knew how to make me smile no matter how I felt.  She loved people but was a bit pickier about her canine friends.  Cats, squirrels, birds, rabbits and groundhogs were for chasing while the chipmunks knew to stay on the other side of the fence taunting her. Finn was a happy dog until the very end and the phrase “who saved who” defiantly applied to Finn.”  Remembrance donation by Judy Wolfe, June 2019.

In memory of Gretel, loving companion to Ken and JoAnn De Koven. Gretel, aka CH. Caledonian Roberta of Wolfpit, was not quite 12. She achieved her championship but was retired from competing. Ken and JoAnn have lost three dogs to illness and old age this past year; they currently only have one cat, Arwen, to keep them company, and the house feels a little lonely. (see remembrances for Dakota, 7-11-18, and Cole 12/21/17).  Remembrance donation by Dean Surkin and Jacqueline Birnbaum, May 2019.

In memory of Maria and Albert’s wonderful cat Teresa.  “Teresa was a stray cat that we took in and she was small, quiet, loyal, friendly, sweet, gentle, delicate, and a little lady.  She had arthritis in her back legs, which sometimes made it difficult for her to jump up on the sofa or bed, but God bless her, she always managed to do so, sometimes with our help. My dad would comb her sometimes and she enjoyed it.  She loved to eat her cat food, especially the gourmet and she also loved Jenny Craig’s beef, green peas, and cheese which I shared with her. I will miss seeing her put her entire body into the cat toy box and put her face right into her toys.  I will miss seeing her sleep on the small bear rug made for cats that I bought for her.  Teresa was warm, cuddly and fragile, all at the same time.”  Remembrance donation by Maria and Albert DiMeglio, April 2019.

In memory of Bear, Lynn Odell’s wonderful dog. “Bear was the most enthusiastic greeter; made you feel like no one else existed at that moment in his world. And his goodbys were just as terrific, from his cat -like perch in the window.  We will miss you Bear.” Remembrance donation by Susan Ferla, January 2019.

Remembering Judy Wolfe’s wonderful friend Jack. “I rescued Jack as a senior dog from Best Friends about two and a half years ago. He brought so much joy to my life. He was friendly with everyone. He loved kids, other dogs, street vendors, my apartment building staff and neighbors. Not a walk went by that someone did not come up to us to chat. Many New Yorkers would yell out ‘WISHBONE’ when they saw us (you might have to google that one). New Yorkers have a soft spot in their hearts for dogs, especially adorable one-eyed dogs. The one flaw he had was his insistence upon rising before daylight. We would traipse out into the dark of night and almost had the city to ourselves. Jack also adored my two cats, Audrey and Roberta and they adored him. The house seems a lot emptier now and it will take awhile for a new normal to emerge. I have already been asked if I am going to get another dog. It is too soon to even contemplate that right now but if I do – I will adopt another senior dog as they need homes, aren’t nearly as cute as puppies but it is the right thing to do. He was a very good boy.” Remembrance donations by Judy Wolfe, Susan Ferla, April Rivkin, Veronica Gallagher, Kathleen Salmieri, Berni Leahy, Peter & Mickey Bickford and Nora Beirne on behalf of all of Judy’s friends in the Animal Department of the Central Park Zoo, December 2018.

Shortly after I retired, I found Patrick in the street and took him home and decided he would be my retirement gift. Patrick was loyal, loving, smart, a talker, curious and an acrobat. Patrick was always in motion and he was very territorial. He dominated the household with the other cats with an iron fist. I miss my buddy who would sleep with me at night and when I snuck back into bed in the morning, he would be there waiting for me to cuddle and snuggle. I miss him flying over our heads as if he were a black panther in the jungle. I will NEVER forget that he was the retirement gift that I gave to myself and he was the BEST gift I ever got!  Remembrance donation by Patrick’s loving family, Maria and Albert DiMeglio, December 2018.