David Chokachi & Mia on the calendar’s cover

Soothing NYC shelter animals, one cage at a time. That’s the mission of Grandpa Dave’s Creature Comforts, a wonderful organization I discovered while covering the Broadway Barks fundraiser last June. It’s kind of funny. I was standing next to a woman named Felicia Greenfield in the press line, all of us vying for interviews with the actors from Broadway’s biggest shows. They were spending their day drawing attention to shelter pets and encouraging adoption. Felicia and I got to talking, we exchanged cards and a couple of months later, I came across the Creature Comforts card, checked out their Facebook page, loved what they were doing and emailed them. When Felicia came back and reminded me of how we’d met, it all clicked. After speaking with her, I knew I wanted to share this organization with you because what they’re doing is so special and makes a big difference in the day-to-day lives of shelter animals. 

Grandpa Dave with Felicia, back in the day

Creature Comforts was inspired by Felicia’s grandfather, Dave, who passed away fifteen years ago. As a child, she remembered her grandpa’s love of animals and the kindness and compassion he taught her through the good deeds he’d do. As an adult, it was those memories that led Felicia to create the organization and name it in honor of him.

“Animals have always been a big part of my life,” Greenfield shared. “My dog, Kicho, who’s about to turn 12, was the first dog I had on my own. He made me so protective of him and aware of people hurting animals. A stranger on Facebook during the Michael Vick ‘comeback’ responded to Felicia’s frustration about Vick returning to prominence. She was venting about how she hated that he was able to return to professional sports after what he’d done to his dogs and how helpless she felt about it. The stranger replied, ‘When you feel that way, just do one positive thing.'” It struck a chord with Felicia; she could do something. She got to work cold-calling gyms, hospitals and other facilities, seeking sheets and towels she could bring to the shelter. Initially, older daughter Danielle (Dani), named after her great grandfather, would accompany Felicia to do drop offs of the collected goods to the shelter. Why AC&C?

A drop off run

“A couple of years before I started this, my husband had a friend involved with AC&C,” Greenfield explained. “She was trying to find dog walkers to volunteer at the city shelter to help get the animals out more often. I helped her and that was my introduction to the facility. I learned that they must take in every animal and I think they do take about 30,000 a year. They don’t have enough money for what they call ‘non-essentials.’ When I went with my kids, I saw these animals lying on the metal grates; they don’t have anything to do. I learned the kittens get cat food. It was obvious to me that they needed blankets, they needed towels, they needed something to chew on, especially the big dogs. It was so basic to me.”

She created a Facebook page for Creature Comforts and started getting donations. “I posted on Facebook because I wanted my kids to grow up involved with this and to have giving back or paying it forward as a part of their lives,” she said. “Also, if I posted about it, that would push me to continue forward.” And, it grew.

Making catnip pillows

A short while later, the universe brought a kindred spirit into Felicia’s life – Jen Halpern of Pillows for Paws, another great organization that makes comfy pillows and catnip toys for NYC shelter animals. What I didn’t tell you is Felicia is an actor. Jen is a casting director. On a Skype call about working together, Jen asked Felicia to tell her something about herself. Greenfield mentioned Creature Comforts and Jen told her about Pillow for Paws. A-ha! A friendship was born. For months, they would meet at a local Starbucks (they were also neighbors and didn’t know), and talk about what they could do together to help animals.

Dani and Morgan make a drop off at AC&C

Fast forward. Six year old younger daughter, Morgan, also became involved in drop offs and visits. And, once a month, Felicia and Jen would gather a group of kids from Dani and Morgan’s school to volunteer. They’d sew. They’d crochet. And what emerged were the cutest little catnip pillows for cats. They’ve started calling these monthly creative sessions Pillows for Paws Jr.! Felicia and Jen make it even more fun for these kids who are learning compassion and activism. They turn the sessions into a contest and get everyone involved. The parents attend and the fastest little sewers win art supply prizes donated to the cause.

The Pillows for Paws Jr. Gang

 

John Fugelsang & Bix

Lee Washington & Max

February: Nick Greenfield & Jack;  March: Matan Gavish & Valentino;  April: Sean Harvey & Ophelia, Bobo & Colby;  ​May: James A. Pierce III & Nakia;  June: David Chokachi & Mia;  July: Rob & Tuffy, Hubbs, Brie & Chickadee; August: Lee Washington & Max; September: John Fugelsang & Bix; October: Michael Lombardo & Sake  November: Sean Robinson & Freckles; December: Ian Phillips & Spanky, Sassafras & SweetiePie.

Prince Lorenzo Borghese & Thumper

Order your calendar at http://rescuemen.bigcartel.com/product/2015-nyc-rescuemen-calendar. Help make the lives of shelter pets at Animal Care & Control better.

At the end of the day, it’s really all about taking a step. Felicia said it best, relaying something she’d heard at a PTA meeting that resonated with her and I loved: Someone can’t do everything, but everyone can do something.