New Hope Rising Recovery Housing Program Fosters Dogs From North Shore Animal Welfare League

Originally posted on 27East

The famous Sasha!

The New Hope Rising recovery housing program, based in Westhampton Beach, has woken up to a furry fairytale. One of the women’s shelters has just adopted a beloved mixed-breed 6-year-old pitbull named Sasha, and their other location is fostering five new puppies. At these two wellness centers in Mastic, dog treats and belly rubs abound.

The arrival of Sasha to her unlikely new home was truly a doggy-dream-come-true. The management at New Hope Rising and the North Fork Animal Welfare League in Southold put together a story titled “Sasha Finds a Home,” to honor their new canine friend and family member.

“It was the beginning of COVID-19,” the story begins. “Many people were looking for dogs during the pandemic to bring themselves comfort during quarantine and to help out ‘man’s best friend at the same time.’ But because of quarantine and other restrictions, shelter staffs and resources were at a minimal level. That’s when the North Fork Animal League sprang into action!”

The League was able to place every single dog in their Riverhead and Southold shelters with foster families, according to the tale. However, “by most accounts, one of the most difficult dogs to place was Sasha” — a mighty 65-pound teddy bear in the making, who still had trouble realizing her own strength and size while playing with visitors. Sasha’s energy and enthusiasm, after a brutal life before the Southold shelter and long-denied need for attention, love, and excercise “led her to become overly excited when approached. Her inability to be calm — it took two people just to get a leash on her — scared off potential adopting families” the story shared.

“Many people felt [and feared that] Sasha would spend her entire life at the shelter.”

And so, the story of Sasha continues with New Hope Rising’s restored interest in a therapy dog: “New Hope Rising literally came to the rescue.”

Danielle Bruschi, co-founder and CEO of New Hope Rising, explained during an interview that she sees an intrinsic value to adopting and fostering animals at the women’s shelters. Not only does it benefit their program and the League to work together during this challenging time, she said, but “when it comes down to it, everyone deserves a second chance.”

As the women’s shelter itself does not provide permanent housing, but rather aids individuals during a transitional period of their lives, the environment is perfect for fostering dogs. In fact, newer residents who are joining New Hope Rising, and who are taking their first steps toward recovery, often feel encouraged and excited by the promise of bonding with a therapy dog, she said.

“The house manager had contacted me, along with several residents, [to ask] if they would be able to foster a dog, because it was really difficult [during the pandemic]. Their whole routine had been uprooted, including their support systems and 12-step meetings,” Ms. Bruschi recalled.

“Bringing a dog into a recovery housing program completely changes the dynamic,” Ms. Bruschi is quoted in the story. “Everyone there is at a different stage of recovery. Sasha helped build a sense of community and responsibility to our residents.”

“In many ways,” Ms. Bruschi noted during Sasha’s story, “Sasha was a perfect fit. The recovery house women related to her.

“These women had been stigmatized for their addiction and Sasha had been stigmatized for her size, age, breed, and unpredictable behavior. Many people had given up on these women just as people had given up on Sasha.”

The story points out that simply getting a dog can lower one’s blood pressure and improve their mood. Not only has Sasha’s adoption instilled a long-term sense of home, hope, and comfort at New Hope Rising — but it has created a push for future involvement with animal rescue shelters.

According to Claudia Ferrara, a volunteer at New Hope Rising and president of its board of directors, New Hope Rising asked for a second adoption at their other women’s shelter location because the experience with Sasha was so positive. They rarely do adoptions, Ms. Ferrara said, but Sasha was so special they could not give her up.

The idea is to create an ongoing foster program at the two women’s shelters, Ms. Ferrara explained. The second location, she said, currently has an adorable litter of five nondescript black-and-white puppies that are creating joy wherever their paws take them. After this crew leaves, a German shepherd will likely become the shelter’s next foster for a few weeks.

Sleepy foster puppies who are at New Hope Rising's second location

New Hope Rising’s online copy reads: “The Therapy and Wellness Center is a sanctuary of healing. Our compassionate, experienced licensed therapists offer an integrative and evidence-based approach to behavioral healthcare, providing individualized treatment for each client in a safe, supportive and confidential environment.”

Who knew that support would extend to canines? The arrival of Sasha marks another one of New Hope Rising’s key values, Ms. Bruschi and Ms. Ferrara explained: The healing power of mutual support and friendship in their community.