Bideawee History
Founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora D'Auby Jenkins Kibbe, Bideawee, which means "stay awhile" in Scottish, is one of the oldest humane organizations in the United States.
On a trip abroad at the turn of the century, Mrs. Kibbe saw the unique work of the Barrone d'Herpents Dog Refuge in Paris. This humane group sent its small ambulance all over the city to pick up stray and unwanted dogs. Instead of being destroyed, the animals were cared for until they were placed in new homes.
Mrs. Kibbe returned to New York City inspired by the progressive idea of caring for stray and unwanted animals. By the end of 1903, Mrs. Kibbe was operating a similar program out of a small building near her home in Manhattan, which she named "Bide-A-Wee Home Association."
With the help of many friends, Bideawee was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit (501(c)3) organization in 1906.
During those early years, when horses and farm animals were common in Manhattan, Bideawee looked after every kind of stray. One of its services to the city was placing and maintaining troughs filled with fresh drinking water for carriage horses throughout Manhattan's streets.
By 1909, the building near Mrs. Kibbe's home housed 200 dogs. The neighbors complained so much about the constant barking, that the dogs and Mrs. Kibbe were forced out. For the next several years, Bideawee had no permanent home to call its own, and the animals were housed in a series of temporary shelters.
Again, through the generosity of others, Bideawee then found a permanent location in Manhattan-where our current NYC facility still stands at 410 East 38th Street. Over time, Bideawee expanded to two Long Island locations in Wantagh and Westhampton. More services were developed, and Pet Memorial Parks were created on their spacious grounds. Thousands of pets from the New York metropolitan area have been buried there.
Since its inception, it has been Bideawee's policy never to euthanize an animal unless it is incurably ill or suffering. Bideawee and the pets and people we serve have been able to stay true to Mrs. Kibbe's vision thanks to generous private support.
But the need for funding is ever-growing as we care for thousands of animals each year. Please donate now to celebrate Bideawee's history and invest in our future.
