Finding a Forever Home: Families Share Their ARF Rescue Stories

Over the past 50 years, more than 30,000 cats and dogs on the East End have found their forever homes — completing families, big and small, across Long Island and beyond — through the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons.

These are just some of their stories.

Coyote

We adopted Coyote back in November 2018. We had already lost our other dog to old age and we had a Lab that was 14 and really sick. I had just found out the day before we got Coyote that I was pregnant and I told my husband now was the time. I walked onto the mobile van and Coyote was the only one not barking in his cage. Calm as ever. I thought, “Best puppy ever!” Boy did he fool me, yet win my heart over in that moment.

That Monday, we went to ARF with our family and brought Coyote home. Turns out he hated crates, loved chewing anything and even though he was potty trained, if he was mad, the wall knew it. But you know what? From day one, Coyote has been nothing but loyal. He treats my two girls, 4 and 6 — since their birth and age 2 — like gold. No one can even go near them without Coyote’s approval. And the love and loyalty he shows me, my husband and our other dog is everything. He’s a true protector. Rottweiler and half German shepherd, Coyote is 6 years old and the best puppy we have ever adopted. Thank you, ARF!

– Molly Tuzil

Beatrice, AKA ‘Diggity Dog’

I met the love of my life at ARF nine years ago. They said she came from the “beaches of Puerto Rico,” but she does not speak a word of Spanish. They said she was a “Lab mix,” but she doesn’t swim at all. They said she was “female,” but she lifts her leg when she pees. They said her name is “Beatrice,” but she only responds to “Diggity Dogg.” She is love of many people’s lives — extraordinarily sweet and ridiculously smart. ARF hooked us up!

– Paula Wetzel

Yaffa

I adopted Yaffa from ARF several years ago. I didn’t really want a dog, but I told my husband at the time, “If you want a dog, you can have this one.” I am not sure why I said it, but somehow it was meant to be. Yaffa was the perfect I-don’t-want-a dog dog. She was gentle, calm and sweet. Slowly, I fell in love with her and she became my soul dog. She opened a piece of my heart that I didn’t know existed and, in the big picture, made me a better person.

She was a magnificent athlete and her joy was contagious. Yaffa taught me love and that a dog is really all that one needs in life. She died a year ago. Absolutely crushing, but love comes with pain and it was worth it. I now have a new rescue and Yaffa is guiding us both as we find our new happy place. Dogs are fur angels that come to rescue us if we let them.

– Kathleen King

Hendrix

His name was Athos at ARF, he will be 7 this summer. He’s our flying sausage man. He is a well-nourished Boston terrier.

­– Bridget Canavan

Binx and Ouija

I always thought I was more of a dog person until I got two kittens from ARF in 2021. I had originally fallen in (virtual) love with a young black cat named Valentino, but when I applied for him, I was told that he still had some work to do. He was very timid, so they suggested I come visit the kittens at the ARF Thrift Shop. My mom and I went to look and came home with two kittens, littermates — a tuxedo, Ouija, and a black cat, Binx.

I’ve always had pets growing up, but these were my first real cats as an adult and they are so much fun. They’re ginormous in size and heart. Their purrsonalities haven’t changed much from that first day: Binx fell asleep in the carrier and Ouija was very curious. Binx is pretty mellow and Ouija likes to parkour off of the walls at 3 a.m. I can’t believe almost three years have passed! They are such sweet boys and I love them so much. Thank you, ARF, for these purrfect additions to our home.

– Emmie Greene

Cleo

This is Cleo, a now 6-year-old terrier mix that we adopted from ARF in 2018. One of the funniest things about Cleo is when her younger dog sister, Penny, sits in her spot on the couch, Cleo will sit right on top of Penny to show her who is boss.

– Cayla Kuey

Monkey

We adopted Monkey from the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons in August 2010. She had been returned several times due to severe separation anxiety. We fell in love with her the minute we met her. Having trained numerous dogs before her, we took on her issues with enthusiasm and love.

She overcame her separation anxiety and actually was so well-trained that she passed her Canine Good Citizenship and Pet Partners Therapy tests. She was a favorite at the Oyster Bay and Bayville Libraries for their programs where children would read to the dogs. She also was selected to be used by the North Shore Family Council in Westbury to work with children with severe anxiety after having been bitten by a dog. At the end of each session, the child would actually be comfortable enough to pet Monkey, which was a huge achievement for the child.

Monkey, unfortunately, is no longer with us, but her achievements and her wonderful personality will live on forever in our hearts. Shelter dogs are wonderful gifts, not rejects!

– Wendy Niceberg

Rita

She is a beagle mix, now 9 months old. We adopted her at ARF in December 2023 before Christmas. She is our delightful gift we received after losing our 11-year-old pitbull, Kojak, in 2021. We live in Bridgehampton. She is sweet and loves giving kisses! Loves car rides and visits to Grandma’s house in Connecticut.

– Meredith Hulse and Rodney Foreman

Diego Diaz

Adopted March 2011, he was 2½, skinny and scared — part of a chihuahua rescue of 35-plus dogs. He is now a very healthy, happy, thriving boy who brightens every day of my life.

– Lynn Mahanna

Rocko

Our family couldn’t be happier since we’ve adopted Rocko, AKA Guava, from ARF East Hampton in the summer of 2023. Rocko is a dachshund and Labrador retriever mix who is very friendly and loving. He’s almost 2 now, and a fun fact is he has very large paws, which resemble more of his Labrador retriever side. Our family likes to call him “Lump Lump” as a nickname. He’s great with my grandkids and we’re looking forward to sharing many more memories with him! Thank you to the entire ARF team.

– Lisa De Petris Becker

Shorty

In 2015, my son told me to go to ARF and see this cute dog that was there. Wasn’t really impressed with his photo, but when I met him in “person/dog,” I fell in love. From South Carolina, Shorty has been my constant companion since and literally saved my life.

– Donna Di Paolo

Rico

We did get the love of our lives from ARF almost 12 years ago. Rico, originally named Arthur, was the runt of a litter ARF rescued from Puerto Rico. He became the third brother to my two boys and the “favorite son.” He foiled an attempted theft from our home years ago and also dove off a kayak to save one of my kids, who he thought was drowning — but was in shallow water trying to catch a turtle.

When we lived in North Haven, people joked that he was the mayor because he would sit outside our house watching people walk by — and occasionally walk over to a neighbor’s to play with his friend, Buddy, a golden retriever. Buddy would always stop in front of our house when his family walked him and wait to see Rico, too. Now he’s a boating dog, as well. He loves the water. He is the heart of our family!

– Susan Lamontagne

Lilac

On the morning of May 29, 2014, I was sitting in the King Kullen parking lot and searching for kittens through the ARF website, as I had been doing every day for many months. Jingles the Christmas kitty, also from ARF, needed a sister, and my husband and I needed a new fur baby. I saw a picture of Lilac and, without hesitation, I high tailed it over to the adoption center. Even though it was 30 minutes prior to open hours, the door was open and a nice volunteer allowed me into the kitten room. Upon opening that door, Lilac and I caught eyes and it was love at first meow. She hasn’t stopped talking since. Ten years later, Lilac still captures my heart every day. She is truly a treasure and my best friend.

– Clare Tenkarian

Ollie

My yoga partner. Havanese/Bischon mix, born at ARF on April 1, 2010, and adopted June 1, 2010. The best thing that ever happened in my life!

– Lynne Ozar

Peaches

Peaches was one of 10 pups from a dog that was caught up in a sweep of stray dogs on the beaches of Rincon, Puerto Rico. My understanding is that the dogs were flown to New York and ended up in East Hampton.

ARF told us she was a Schnauzer/Chihuahua mix. We had her DNA tested and she was 2 percent Chihuahua, 12 percent King Charles Spaniel, a little Labrador and some sprinklings on her mother’s side and pure American Staffordshire Terrier on the father’s side. There was not a trace of Schnauzer.

She was a happy and loving dog who smiled at people. She drew back her lips in what sure looked like a smile and wagged her tail happily. She loved all humans, but was unsure of other dogs. She loved to play “volleyball” by bouncing a plastic ball in the air if someone tossed it to her. She once kept the ball in the air for four bounces. Then she would bite the ball and look truly sad when the air escaped and the game was over.

She almost made it to her 15th birthday. She was extremely smart, loving and spread cheer wherever she went. We miss her every day. ARF provided us with some of our best memories.

– Joe and Aimee Hanna