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Tori

By Heidi Sutton

Welcome to the 11th edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home! 

Boo

Meet Boo

Look who’s waiting for you at the Smithtown Animal Shelter! This stunning and giant boy is as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside. Boo loves to get attention and pets. He can be a little dominant with other cats, so he would likely do best as the only pet in the home or with very quiet/low key pets. He is a very large cat, not full Main Coon, but it is in the genetic mix somewhere. Call 631-360-7575 to set up a meet and greet.

Meet Selma & Patricia

Looking for a home together, meet ten-year-old Shih-tzu mixes Selma and Patricia at Little Shelter in Huntington. Like two peas in a pod, this petite pair fit perfectly together, complementing each other’s personalities. Always on the same page, they wholeheartedly agree that they deserve to be the center of attention in most situations, graciously accepting your adoration! “Sisters” at heart, they prefer to do everything in sync, from stirring up some “good” trouble to sharing a cozy spot during nap time. Stop by Little Shelter today and increase your chance at happiness when you double down with Selma and Patricia. Call 631-368-8770.

Meet Milo

At 79 pounds, this hunk is a happy, outgoing and playful guy who is looking for a love connection. Picked up as a stray by a Good Samaritan, he is now at the Brookhaven Animal Shelter  hoping to find a new family to call his own very soon. Estimated to be 5 to 8 years young, Milo walks well on leash, is sweet and bouncy, loves attention and would make a great companion and best friend. He has the sweetest eyes and will melt your heart. He will do best in a home with no cats and with kids over the age of 14. Call 631-451-6950.

Meet Tori

Tori is seeking a new foster or forever home! Available through Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton, Tori is a wonderfully sweet and affectionate dog who is just not built for the shelter life. A two and a half year old lab mix, she was originally rescued from a high kill shelter in Texas, and just when she thought she was out of the woods in a forever home she was attacked by another dog. We can’t blame her for not being happy in a shelter after all of the trouble she has been through in her short life so far.  She is currently so happy in her foster home, however it’s not the perfect forever fit and both her foster mom and Kent agree she deserves the best of the best. Tori is looking for a home with no cats (this playful pup likes to chase), moderate activity (too many new people coming and going can be scary), and lots of love to give. For more information, call 631-727-5731, Ext. 1.

Meet Diamond

A Diamond is associated with strength, love and invincibility, a befitting description for this fourteen-year-old Terrier mix, currently up for adoption at Little Shelter in Huntington. Though blind due to mature cataracts, he nevertheless sees the world with flawless clarity, recognizing and basking in the love that surrounds him. Adept at navigating on three legs, he is a testament to not letting anything get in the way of enjoying a full, satisfying life, emphasizing the importance of counting your blessings. With a happy, outgoing demeanor, this Silver Paw Connection senior knows the value of remaining young at heart, knowing that a positive attitude makes all the difference. Warm, affectionate and the perfect carat weight, this true gem is just waiting to be discovered. Remember that a Diamond is forever. Call 631-368-8770.

Check out the next Paw Prints in the issue of Dec. 8.

Paw Prints is generously sponsored by Mark T. Freeley, Esq.

America’s VetDogs service dog in training Tori has completed training and been placed with retired U.S. Navy HM2 Corpsman Chris Roberto. The Islanders partnered with America’s VetDogs, a Smithtown based non-profit that provides service dogs to veterans and first responders with disabilities, to raise and train service dog Tori in 2019. Tori has been trained to assist Roberto, a Bronx born and raised resident, with several tasks and cues to help mitigate her veteran’s disability including PTSD skills such as rest, positional cues such as ‘turn’ and ‘center’, shake and everyday companionship.

The Islanders welcomed their second Puppy with a Purpose ‘Tori’ in conjunction with their partnership with America’s VetDogs following the Isles first pup ‘Radar’, who was placed as a guide dog for individual who is blind or visually impaired. Islanders fans submitted votes to determine the name ‘Tori’, named after Islanders legendary General Manager Bill Torrey.

For the past 18 months, Tori underwent basic training and socialization with the Isles staff, players and public. The Isles hosted Tori at every home game prior to the COVID-19 shut down, as well as select community events, s to assist in raising Tori to be a confident and calm service dog. Following her puppy raising, Tori returned to the America’s VetDogs campus in Smithtown, N.Y. in February 2021, to undergo her formal service dog training with Service Dog Instructor Gabi Lugo. The VetDogs’ assistance dog program was created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities free of charge.

Roberto enlisted in the U.S. Navy reserves in 2003 and was deployed to Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks to assist with the search and rescue help. Shortly after, Roberto was called to active duty as an HM2 Corpsman attached to a Marine Unit in Kuwait and Iraq. After serving five years, he retired from the U.S. Navy and quickly joined the FDNY as a fireman working his way up to Lieutenant of the 3rd Division, Engine 40 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Isles fans were given an all-access look at Tori’s journey through her Instagram account, @nyislespup as well as blog posts on the Isles’ website.

About VetDogs

Since 2003, America’s VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. America’s VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States.  VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence.  It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but America’s VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual. America’s VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.