2020 Recap
Hamden’s Animal Shelter Gift Fund crossed the 25K mark! We started 2020 with $23,463.26. The fund currently stands at $25,021. In a year when in-person fundraisers were cancelled, this is a great testament to the continuing support for the first-ever Hamden Animal Shelter. A special thanks to those who made a donation in someone’s honor as a 2020 holiday gift.
Corporate Donation Received
Leading the pack in this years generosity was our first corporate donation. It was received from Subway World Headquarters in Milford, CT – in the memory of Hamden resident, Gimme Shelter member/supporter, and Subway icon, Dick Pilchen. Dick died on October 31, 2020 leaving behind his dogs – mother & son, Nala & Rutherford. When Dick’s inner core of friends descended on Hamden to make his final arrangements, placing his beloved pets was a needless layer of drama during an already challenging time. Hopefully when Hamden has a legal, humane facility, to transfer our 4-legged loved ones, no one else will have to experience this.
In Memoriam
This mailing is in memory of Gimme Shelter member/supporter, Marjorie Rosenthal. Margi was a friend, a young widow, a great mother, a pediatrician, an Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, and the Associate Director of the Yale National Clinical Scholars Program. I first met Margi & her girls some 10 years ago when they rescued their puppy, who we came to realize was a special needs dog.
Named Wallie, after Diwali – the Hindu festival of lights, he was prescribed antianxietals the first few years of his life. When Margi received her diagnosis 7 years ago, the municipal shelters in the area were at or over capacity, and not accepting any pets. Wallie had exhibited some problematic behavior and not placing him through professionals would have been negligent. Wallie has been sleeping at the end of my bed ever since. Unfortunately, Margi lost her battle on December 1, 2020. While 500 people crammed onto a Zoom memorial service with 24 hours notice; others had to wait for a slot to open. You may view Dave Sepulveda’s article on her unique and courageous life through the following link: https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/beloved_doc_embraced_in_life_death/
Onward to 2021