Dogs Get Fresh Start at Greenpoint Rescue

Not long ago, Rob Maher and Bea Boado knew just about all the dogs in Greenpoint. The couple’s Driggs Ave. boutique, District Dog, attracts pooches and their people fresh off the McGorlick dog run across the street.
But as the neighborhood – and dog population grew – Maher and Boado saw an opportunity to increase their impact on the dog community in the form of a holistic animal rescue center.

“It’s something that we learned from having a store and being right next to the dog run. It happens very often when someone gets a new rescue dog and finds that it’s not at all socialized,” said Maher.

They came up with a concept for Unleash: Brooklyn, an eco-friendly loft to house Dog Habitat Rescue as well as a daycare and boarding facility for pets. They recruited their friend Jay Lombard, a local dog lover with a fundraising background to spearhead the rescue initiative.

“Our plan was to build [the facility] barn-style, kind of like a ranch. So it’s very open; you can look over the wooden wall and see all the dogs playing freely,” Maher explains. “All of our rescues socialize with one another so we know that they are dog-friendly and healthy at adoption time.”

Unleash is completely cage-free, with over 7000 square feet of open run space, cushy stalls and suites, and even a few cat condos for felines. Doors opened for daycare and boarding last June, and Dog Habitat Rescue welcomed Willie, its first rescue case, in November.

“Willie helped us learn a lot about rescues,” said Lombard, who saved him from the kill list at an animal care and control center. “Dogs like to have a space where they can chill out and rest. It’s important to have both active and passive time.” Willie was on DHR’s nutrition diet of Stella & Chewy’s raw food and Ultra-Oil supplements for four months while he regained his strength and personality. (DHR receives free products for its rescue dogs from several industry sponsors.) Once he was back on his feet, he was adopted by a loving and suitable owner.

“One thing we don’t do is rush a dog out the door,” stresses Maher. “If a dog needs to be here for six months, we keep him for six months.” And the adoption process is equally thorough. After reviewing applicants, Maher and Lombard meet with potential matches, then do a home visit to make sure the environment is safe for the dog.

“After that we’ll place the dog in foster care with them for a week to see how things go. It’s not just like, ‘OK, you’re approved, good-bye!” said Maher.

“And we remain available for consultation,” says Lombard. “New owners shouldn’t expect to have a perfect relationship immediately. That first week is really important.”

Unleash welcomes interested parties to meet their adoptable dogs (and occasional cats) at their Franklin Street loft. “We try to keep a lot of dogs in the neighborhood,” says Maher, although he receives applications from all over the tri-state area. Dog Habitat Rescue, a 501c3 non-profit, also accepts donations on its website: http://www.doghabitat.org.

“For these homeless dogs, we are their last hope,” said Lombard.

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