Each year the Adirondack Glassblowing Studio (ADK) produces thousands of gorgeous hand-blown glass pumpkins to create beautiful outdoor fall decor. ADK Glass partners with numerous non-profits nationwide on weekends throughout the fall season.
During the weekend of September 29 to October 1, ADK Glass and the Town of Smithtown will host a Glass Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser at Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve at 200 New Hwy, Commack from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in support of Nesconset-based Paws of War.
Attendees at Hoyt Farm will enjoy a walking path lined with straw bales covered with hundreds of colorful glass pumpkins and experience the fall foliage on Hoyt Farm’s Nature Preserve. Twenty percent of proceeds from the weekend event will support Paws of War in furthering their mission of “Helping Both Ends of the Leash.”
Paws of War is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to train and place service animals and companion dogs to support and provide independence to U.S. military veterans that suffer from the emotional and physical effects of war.
The organization also provides animal rescue for U.S. troops who have befriended an animal while serving overseas. The organization also serves as a community center where veterans and first responders come together daily to build bonds and support each other.
For more information about the fundraiser, please visit, http://www.glasspumpkinpatchfundraiser.com/. For more information about Paws of War, visit https://pawsofwar.org/.
A scene from the 2023 Paws of War Car Show. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the 2023 Paws of War Car Show. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the 2023 Paws of War Car Show. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the 2023 Paws of War Car Show. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the 2023 Paws of War Car Show. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the 2023 Paws of War Car Show. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Paws of War and the Fabulous 50s and 60s Nostalgia Car Club hosted a car show on Sunday, May 21, at Nesconset Plaza.
The organizations raised $25,000 to support local veterans and first responders in the Long Island community. The car show included vintage, classic and custom cars, live music, hot food, 50/50 raffles and more.
The proceeds from the event will help Paws of War provide injured veterans and first responders with a companion dog that will be trained to become a service dog through the organization’s service dog training classes.
Paws of War and the Fabulous 50’s and 60’s Nostalgia Car Club will host a car show on Sunday, May 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nesconset Plaza, 127 Smithtown Blvd. Nesconset to raise money to support local veterans and first responders in the Long Island community. The car show will include vintage, classic and custom cars, live music, hot food, 50/50 raffles and more.
All proceeds from the event will support one of Paws of War’s core missions of providing injured veterans and first responders with a companion dog that will be trained to become a service dog through the organization’s service dog training classes.
This program is designed to train these animals to cater to their owner’s specific needs, which in turn will provide the veteran or first responder with peace of mind as they learn to cope with PTSD and other traumatic physical injuries. These animals bring comfort and joy to local heroes, which is proven to enhance their quality of life and save lives.
Free admission for spectators, $25 fee for car show participants. Judging begins at noon. Rain date is June 4. For more information, call 631-402-2798, 631-624-4126 or visit www.pawsofwar.org.
Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. and Robert Misseri, president and founder of Paws of War, were on hand to greet owners and pets. Photo from Paws of War
Pet owners brought their dogs to be microchipped at the Paws of War location in Nesconset July 29. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Pet owners brought their dogs to be microchipped at the Paws of War location in Nesconset July 29. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Pet owners brought their dogs to be microchipped at the Paws of War location in Nesconset July 29. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Pet owners brought their dogs to be microchipped at the Paws of War location in Nesconset July 29. Photo by Rita J. Egan
Pet owners brought their dogs to be microchipped at the Paws of War location in Nesconset July 29. Photo by Rita J. Egan
July 29 was a hot day as 30 dogs and their owners stopped by Paws of War in the Nesconset Shopping Center for an important mission.
They were there for a free microchip and pet identification service event hosted by Paws of War, which trains and places support dogs with U.S. military veterans. The event was sponsored by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. and Robert Misseri, president and founder of Paws of War, pictured right, were on hand to greet owners and pets.
For three hours, attendees took their dogs inside the Paws of War Mobile Veterinary Clinic to receive the microchips, which are implanted into their skin behind the shoulder blades. The size of a large grain of rice, microchip implants are radio frequency identification tags that provide a permanent form of identification and track a pet’s movements.
When an animal is lost, a microchip scanner can identify to whom a pet belongs. The sheriff’s office’s Lost Pet Network database can also track and locate lost pets when they are microchipped.
A lost pet can wind up in an animal shelter if an owner is not found. Approximately 10 million pets in this country are lost each year, according to the nonprofit American Humane Society’s website (humanesociety.org). The nonprofit also states that out of the lost pets in shelters with no ID tags or microchips, only 15 % of dogs and 2 % of cats are reunited with their owners.
Participants at the July 29 event received an ID card and were also able to receive free dog food, leashes, collars and more.
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will sponsor two more free microchipping events for residents Aug. 11 outside the Yaphank Correctional Facility, 200 Glover Drive, and Sept. 17 in Patchogue, location still to be determined.
Paws of War providing veteran's service animals with free veterinary care as part of their Hearts and Heros vet clinic. Photo by Anthony Lambroia
In support of their mission of giving back to veterans and first responders, non-profit Paws of War recently hosted their “Hearts and Heroes” event at their headquarters in Nesconset, where they provided 27 service animals with free veterinary care, which included wellness checks, flea and tick medications, vaccinations, bags of dog food and microchipping service.
Dr. Marissa Altieri, DVM, treated over 27 service animals at Paws of War’s Hearts and Heros free vet Clinic. Photo by Anthony Lambroia
The pandemic has brought financial challenges to veterans and first responders. Many disabled veterans live on low or fixed incomes and their service animal’s medical care is essential so they can provide the level of support and comfort upon which the veterans depend.
“As a former veteran, I know how critical and expensive it is to take care of these service animals. They are more than just pets; these animals provide emotional support and tasks for these heroes when it is needed most,” said Kelli Porti, Veteran & Community Outreach Liaison for Paws of War.
Dr. Marissa Altieri, DVM, volunteered her expert veterinary care to the pop-up clinic and its patients, donating her time to assist Paws of War as a way to give back to the community and support the non-profit’s mission.
“Veterinarians enable animals of all kinds to live their best life and to be as happy and healthy as possible. Service animals are responsible for their health and well-being and in many cases the lives of their owners. Volunteeringmy time and medical knowledge for Paws of War and their mobile clinic is my way to honor these veterans for all they have done for our country,” said Dr. Altieri.
Hearts and Heroes is part of a continual program, Vets for Vets, hosted by Paws of War that gives back to service men and women by providing free veterinary care for their service animals; their wellness is essential in providing their exceptional service to their owners who are U.S. military veterans suffering from the emotional effects of war.
For more information about Paws of War and their Hearts and Heroes program, visit their website, https://pawsofwar.org.
Milo from Paws of War was ready to make new friends in Smithtown. Photo by Kimberly Brown
Nesconset-based Paws of War reopened its first pet therapy session last Wednesday, June 23, at the Smithtown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care. The residents at the facility happily looked forward to meeting the trained therapy animals as it’s been over a year since the nonprofit’s team was able to host any sessions.
A Smithtown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care visitor waits for a visit from Paws of War. Photo by Kimberly Brown
To start off the program, Paws of War will be returning to the rehab center at a minimum of once a month. The program will prioritize areas on Long Island that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19, and are actively reaching out to other facilities, such as camps and schools, that would like to use their services.
“We just want to bring some kindness and some human connection back,” said Kelli Porti, veteran and community outreach liaison. “It’s amazing what happens when you pet a dog, it brings you a warm fuzzy feeling, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish, is bringing some happiness and smiles.”
Since 2014, Paws of War has been training and placing shelter dogs to serve and provide for U.S. military veterans and first responders who suffer from the emotional effects of war.
Navy veteran Paul Baran, who served in the Hauppauge Fire Department for over 40 years, was ecstatic to see the therapy dogs. He has owned animals his entire life and is eagerly anticipating the next time the charitable organization will return to the rehab center.
“I’m definitely an animal lover,” Baran said, while gently petting one of the therapy dogs.
The trainers at Paws of War take pride in preparing their animals for therapeutic use, and the number of participating animals has risen from single digits to triple digits in the past four and a half years.
Facility training at the nonprofit’s location has reverted to in-person training, where veterans, their friends and their animals can safely come together again.
A trainer and employee, Rebecca Stromski, explained how exciting it’s been to get back to in-person training. Currently, the facility is holding outdoor training to ensure safe practices, but it dually benefits the dogs and veterans since there are more distractions outside.
“It’s incredible to see the change between the dogs and the people and watching them both light up,” Stromski said. “I love watching that light bulb click.”
A Paws of War dog is ready to make new friends at Smithtown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care. Photo by Kimberly Brown
As a military spouse herself, she began volunteering for Paws of War in her free time while her husband was deployed. Fast forward to a few years later, and she has become an essential employee to the organization’s team and veterans.
She even adopted a service dog for her husband once he returned home from his deployment.
“He’s been home for two and a half years now, and it’s nice that I can really see how the training works at home too,” Stromski said, while pointing to her bulldog Boba.
Korean War veteran, Andrew Caputo, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, has always had dogs in his life and was equally as thrilled to see the animals.
While petting the dogs, Caputo reflected back on his life as a serviceman and explained how greatly he wanted to join the military at the young age of 18.
“Being in the Corps was the best experience of my life,” Caputo said. “When the war broke out [in 1950] I wanted to volunteer, but they said I was too young, so I joined the reserves.”
Having uncles and grandparents serve in past wars influenced Caputo to join the Marine Corps at such a young age. After serving with the reserves for two years, Caputo went fully active for the next four years, ending his duty by being honorably discharged.
With the help of Paws of War being able to resume its monthly pet therapy sessions, veterans such as Baran and Caputo can lighten up the room with smiles once again.
“We love our veterans and first responders,” Porti said. “They’re all welcome into our facility. We love when they come in. It’s like a second home to them so we’re happy to open back up and have that again.”
Mary McCue poses with her dog Abbie. Photo from Paws of War
By Kimberly Brown
Military members who served overseas are facing countless battles, even after their missions have ended and it’s time to return home.
McCue on duty overseas, below. Photo from Paws of War
Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorder are just some obstacles veterans have developed, making it difficult for them to adjust to a routine lifestyle again. Luckily, Robert Misseri, founded in 2014 Paws of War — a Nesconset-based nonprofit to support veterans with service dogs.
“It started out with requests from overseas from active military members who asked for our assistance because they knew I had experience with getting dogs over previously,” he said.
One thing led to another, and soon Misseri was receiving more and more phone calls from retired or disabled veterans who had learned what he was doing. They would share their stories with him about animals they left behind overseas, and how heavy it weighed on their heart.
Knowing their mental health struggles, the veterans began asking Misseri if he could provide them with a service dog.
“Our mission we felt was unique in a way because we were using rescue dogs,” he said. “We would train the dog and the veteran each day, hand in hand in our facility. We slowly started to learn, not from them, but from their families, friends and doctors that whatever we were doing was really working.”
The formula Misseri created worked and he credits the dogs for making such a significant impact on the veterans. What he also learned was that his organization created an alumnus among the veterans who have served in different branches overseas. When all together in the Paws of War facility the veterans became a family, and it made them look forward to coming to training.
“Learning their struggles, and then learning what these dogs can do for them was so important because they also knew that they were helping the dog,” he said. “This wasn’t a dog that we bred or we bought. This is a dog that also likely had come from a difficult situation. That’s why ‘Helping both ends of the leash’ is our motto.”
One of the many military members Misseri helped was Northport resident Mary McCue, a combat Marine Corps veteran who worked as an ammunition technician overseas. She was honorably discharged as a sergeant after she served for six years — two years longer than a typical four-year term.
“I loved it, I was having a blast meeting great people and having great experiences,” McCue said. “I was just really enjoying it at the time, but it’s a lot of traveling and you get a little burnt out. Sometimes it seems so surreal because it’s a whole different world and a whole different life, and sometimes I look back and think ‘Wow, I went to war.’”
McCue created a Facebook page, “Ammo Company! Good Times, Support and Reunions,” to give Marine veterans a platform to support each other through being home, adjusting and missing the Marine Corps.
“A lot of our members are all over the country, so it’s nice to have an outlet where we can reach out and talk to each other because we’re so far apart — and sometimes it gets pretty lonely,” McCue said.
After leaving the Marine Corps, she said she had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. Missing the comradery that comes along with being a part of the Marines left McCue feeling isolated upon her arrival back home.
“Being in the military, you’re taught to tough things out,” she said. “You don’t complain, you don’t ask questions. You do the mission at hand or people die. So, when you come home, you’re this hard tough person and it’s hard to come to grips with the fact that you may have come home with some type of mental defect.”
“I was sick and tired of not being able to let go of ‘Marine Mary,’ — I wanted to exist as a Marine and a civilian because they were both a part of me, and I really didn’t know how to go about doing that,”
— Mary McCue
It took a long time for McCue to admit that she came back a different person. The many experiences she had packed into six years of service sat with her. After years of not reaching out for help, she finally built up the courage to get counseling.
“I was sick and tired of not being able to let go of ‘Marine Mary,’ — I wanted to exist as a Marine and a civilian because they were both a part of me, and I really didn’t know how to go about doing that,” she said.
A friend of McCue’s introduced her to Paws of War. Being in a better place in her life and always having a love for dogs, she thought a service dog would be a beneficial addition. A year ago, right before the country locked down because COVID-19 cases were increasing, Misseri told McCue he found a sweet golden retriever named Abbie who was rescued from an abusive home in North Carolina
“Of course, I immediately fell in love with her,” she said. “Our personalities match up perfectly. It’s such a blessing that she came into my life.”
Due to the COVID pandemic, McCue wasn’t able to start training at the Paws of War facility until August, but fellow clients, veterans and Misseri always kept in contact with her and Abbie, making sure everything was going fine.
“Once we started training, I found purpose in my life again,” McCue said. “Since Abbie was a rescue, she had her quirks coming in, too. She was definitely physically and mentally abused, so it was like she was helping me, and I was helping her.”
Being able to work with other veterans during training helped McCue, as they were all able to understand what each other went through, therefore providing unconditional support for one another.
Abbie is currently doing at-home Zoom training and, according to McCue, is very smart and doing a great job.
“Abbie has truly changed my life for the better, and I’m in debt to Paws of War for the rest of my life because they were able to make this happen for me,” McCue said.
To learn more about Paws of War, visit pawsofwar.org/donate-today.
Niki Halloway secures the cage of a dog being airlifted out of Bahamas to safety.
During the first week of September, the nation watched as Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Bahamas. Thousands of people have been left without homes, and many have also lost contact with their pet dogs. Some animals were lost in the storm, while other dogs may have been left behind as families attempted to reach safety.
Animal organizations estimate that hundreds of dogs in the Bahamas are now in need of being brought to safety and provided with medical care and food.
Guardians of Rescue, a Smithtown nonprofit that specializes in bringing together people and dogs in need, has stepped in to help. It’s bringing in the stranded dogs on chartered planes from the Bahamas to safe spots in Florida and New York.
The animal rescue organization reports that it initially brought back its first 30 dogs Sept. 9. A second flight took off 24 hours later and more flights are scheduled in the days ahead, the group said, until all of the abandoned animals are in safe haven in the United States. They initially planned to eventually relocate 98 pets, but now have created a rescue network to save more animals.
“We are no strangers to helping dogs in dire situations, this is exactly why our organization exists,” explained Robert Misseri, president of Guardians of Rescue. “We will do everything we can to help as many dogs as we are able to, but we can’t do it without the help of the public. This is going to be a very costly endeavor, so we can use all the financial assistance we can get.”
The organization has started a website fundraiser for the cause. It’s goal is to raise $20,000 and has so far received close to $6,000 in donations.
The organization is working with Chella Phillips, a Nassau, Bahamas, resident, who manages The Voiceless Dogs of Nassau. She took in nearly 100 stray dogs when the storm was approaching to provide them with a safe place. Her story went viral in the news and on social media.
The Smithtown organization has also teamed up with two other nonprofits for the mission, Animal Aid USA, based in New Jersey, and Animal Wellness Foundation in Los Angeles to help prepare and load the dogs for a flight to Florida. The relationship has allowed for transportation of the dogs to a safe place and has enabled the people in the Bahamas to take in more abandoned dogs.
The networks’s overarching goal is to take in displaced pets and either return them to their owners or place unclaimed pets up for adoption, according to Lorenzo Borghese, founder and president of Animal Aid. Animals shipped to the U.S. are fed and receive a health examination and undergo a two-week quarantine until they find the animals permanent homes.
“We are on a mission to help these animals, and we hope that the community will help support the mission,” said Misseri. “There are many dogs in need of food, medicine, shelter and permanent loving homes. Together, we can make a wonderful difference.”
Misseri added that animals that have already made the trip to America are still quarantined and not yet ready for adoption. People interested in adopting a pet should monitor the guardian website at www.guardiansofrescue.org. Misseri expects adoption information should be available in the days and weeks ahead.
To donate to the Bahamas cause visit: https://guardiansofrescue.networkforgood.com/projects/80292.
Guardians of Rescue provides assistance to animals out on the streets. They are located in the Village of the Branch and also have a chapter in Miami, but they help animals in many places beyond their chapter locations. Their members are also involved with Paws of War, which helps train service dogs for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Left, Dr. W. Phelps meets Ted Taranowicz and his dog Rocco at the free clinic thanks to Paws of War.
Suffolk County Legislator Susan Berland (D-Dix Hills) coordinated free veterinarian care for veterans’ pets with Paws of War, a nonprofit organization in Nesconset that supports both ends of the leash through a variety of animal programs for veterans. The three-hour event was held April 27 in a mobile clinic parked behind the legislator’s Commack office where more than 25 animals received care — including a blind poodle named Ebony.
“As the chairwoman of the Legislature’s Veterans Committee, I have seen first-hand the amazing work Paws of War does for our veterans, which is why I was proud to host their clinic at my district office,” Berland said. “It is well known that having an animal can be a vital tool in helping veterans combat the emotional effects of war.”
Legislator Susan Berland with Central Islip veteran Raymond Bradley and his wife holding Ebony, after Suffolk County declares May Military Appreciation Month. Photo from Berland’s office
Ted Taranowicz, a Navy veteran from the Vietnam era, along with his wife of 39 years Elizabeth, brought their black lab Rocco to the clinic. Taranowicz, a Port Jefferson resident, was diagnosed with throat cancer in January and is still recovering from the last of his 35 radiation and five chemotherapy treatments. He learned about the Vets2Vets program through the local VA hospital and was grateful for the service. He was one of 15 Suffolk County veterans helped by the program.
Like the other animals seen, Rocco and Ebony received basic veterinary care that included a wellness check, grooming, vaccinations, microchipping, flea/tick protection and pet supplies.
Dori Scofield, co-founder of the Paws of War, said the nonprofit runs entirely on donations.
“We were able to do this purely because of people’s generosity,” Scofield said. She added that Petco recently donated $15,000 to help with the mobile clinic. The charity, though, is mostly funded by small donors and local groups that raise money for its cause.
“The new Vets2Vets program is providing an amazing service for our veterans who may be unable to provide the necessary care for their animal,” Berland said. “I want to thank Paws of War for everything they do to support our veterans, they are truly an asset to our county.”
For more information about Paws of War, visit its website at www.pawsofwar.org.
Timothy Boyd, stationed at the COP De Alencar, formerly known as Camp Blackfish, Afghanistan seeks to adopt a dog named Mischa to remove her from the trauma of war. Photo from Paws of War
War is hell, but soldiers find solace in rescuing and adopting scared and abused animals from the battlefields overseas.
Timothy Boyd, stationed at the COP De Alencar, formerly known as Camp Blackfish, Afghanistan seeks to adopt a dog named Mischa to remove her from the trauma of war. Photo from Paws of War
Paws of War, a nonprofit organization based in Nesconset, is dedicated to aiding veterans and their pets through an array of programs. Funded entirely by donations, it’s become a unique charitable cause that has caught the attention of local lawmakers as well as people actively serving in the military.
Tim Boyd is a U.S. soldier assisting Special Forces in the fight against ISIS, stationed in war-torn Afghanistan. He’s heading back to his home in Dallas, Georgia to retire after serving three decades in the military. He’s reached out to Paws of War to help transport a young dog named Mischa that he and his unit befriended, after rescuing the animal from abuse.
Paws of War typically helps reunite four dogs with soldiers each year and Boyd and Mischa are one of this year’s recipients of their altruism. “Humans truly have it backwards. We think we are rescuing the animal,” Boy said via email from an undisclosed location. “That is so much not the case, not with our fur babies. They undoubtedly rescued us.”
Soldiers saw the young animal being dragged by her neck, so they rescued and cared for her. Once stateside and out of “this godforsaken place,” Boyd said the dog can lay on his furniture instead of tearing up her feet running and walking the terrain of Nangarhar, Afghanistan.
When soldiers choose to adopt a dog found while serving the military, the process is intensive. “There’s a lot of red tape involved,” according to Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War. Transporting the dog alone can cost $6,000, his office staff explained. That fee does not include the cost to travel to Georgia, once the dog arrives at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The flight, health certificates, customs fees and boarding along the way are all part of the expense.
Mischa is expected to arrive stateside beforeBoyd. His wife, Tara, will welcome Mischa, who already has adopted Mischa’s sister Bella Lynn. “Bella is also a pup that rescued me and our family when I found her washed under some tree branches out in the middle of the woods,” Boyd said.
Once Boyd and his troops return, he said he will be free to send a group photo that he has taken of Mischa with the unit. “I appreciate any and all assistance that people can provide in helping make Mission Mischa a successful operation,” Boyd said. “She needs to come home with me. I can’t imagine it any other way.”
Paws of War also provides service and therapy dogs to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. People interested in knowing more about Paws of War programs or who might want to help with Mission Mischa can visit www.pawsofwar.org.
