This Month’s Features
Pet Spotlight: Gigi
After my family dog passed away, my boyfriend and I knew we wanted to welcome another dog into our lives. We had been searching for a while and were so excited when we discovered all the adorable pups on the Bideawee website. The moment we saw Gigi’s sweet face, we knew we had to learn more. We even picked up the phone right away to call for additional information! When the staff described her as a happy, friendly little girl, we had a feeling she was “the one.”
President’s Corner: Pets are Family. Housing Policies Should Reflect That
I’ve written several blogs about the crisis of overcrowding at animal shelters across the county, and, unfortunately, as we enter the new year, the crisis shows no sign of letting up.
Animal shelters are overcrowded, length of stay is increasing, and too many beloved pets are at risk. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill or simple solution to this problem. There are many factors contributing to the cause, including access to free and low cost spay/neuter, affordable vet care, and housing restrictions. I believe that a solution will depend on our willingness and ability to attack all facets of the problem at hand. One thing I can assure you is that we cannot adopt our way out of the crisis of pet overpopulation, no matter how hard we may try.
Volunteer Spotlight: Become a Bideawee Foster Parent in 2026
Looking for love but not ready for a commitment? Become a Bideawee Foster – supplies and food provided by us!
Bideawee is looking for foster families on Long Island and NYC who are willing to temporarily care for a dog or cat who is not yet ready for adoption. Our foster volunteers provide safe, loving, temporary homes to vulnerable dogs and cats during the most critical time in their lives.
Fosters reduce kennel stress, provide much needed breaks from the shelter, help puppies, kittens, cats, and dogs adjust in a home and provide socialization. Duration varies depending on the animals’ health and needs, but time commitment can vary anywhere from two days to two months!
Visit and apply to learn more about fostering a cat or dog. There is no commitment required upon filling out the application.
FCI: Kick Off the New Year by Turning Brrrrr Into Purrrrr!
Winter is here, and tens of thousands of feral and stray community cats who live outdoors year-round in NYC, Long Island, and other chilly places are seeking refuge from cold, wet weather. Providing insulated shelters not only offers these cats a safe, warm, dry place to rest, but also means they won’t be tempted to climb into dangerous crawl spaces or car engines.
During our Building Shelters for Outdoor Cats webinar last month, Bideawee’s Feral Cat Initiative (FCI) demonstrated how to build four simple styles of shelter, requiring only easily sourced materials, basic tools, and no special skills. If you missed our live presentation, no worries! The recording, handout, and construction videos are free to view on-demand.
And for more expert tips on building, placing, and maintaining life-saving cat shelters, check out @NYCFCI’s #WinterShelterWednesday posts on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.
Staff Spotlight: Rick Kelaher
Animal Care & Adoption Specialist, Manhattan
Rick Kelaher came to animal work later in life, bringing with him a deep appreciation for history, education, and humane responsibility.
Name: Marceline the Vampire Queen Age: 1.5 Years Resides in: Long Island City, NY Favorite activity: Meowing directly at the electronic feeder every morning. Doesn't it know who I am? It needs to feed me this instant. Favorite food: Anything salmon. Currently, I'm loving Friskies Salmon Dinner. Celebrity Kindred Spirit: Aubrey Plaza. I hide and give lots of side-eyes to new humans who enter my domain (like April from Parks and Rec). Least favorite phrase: "Pspspspspsps." (It means my arch nemesis mouse toy is somewhere nearby.) Favorite phrase: "You want food?"