What struck me most about Alexandra and her husband Ron’s East Village home was its incredible warmth and energy. When I arrived, I was met with enthusiastic hellos from their rescue dogs Max and Layla. That afternoon, Alex and I sat down to talk about her longtime affinity for animals, the impact they’ve had on shaping the course of her life, and the importance of taking part in foster/adoption programs.
“These past few years have been really difficult for Ron and me, as well as for our families and friends... deaths, Alzheimer's, cancer, accidents, addiction, divorce... it's been a lot in a short period of time. Through it all, our animals have always been our constants, our sources of strength and joy, our reminders to live and love each moment.”
“But this past March, we lost our 11 year old Rottweiler, King, to kidney failure. And then in October, our 11/12 year old Shepherd-Lab, Stella, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, passing away only a few weeks later. We were devastated. Each time, I struggled with the idea of if or when we would get another dog ...”
“But having previously worked in animal rescue, I knew, firsthand, the difference a day can make in the life (or euthanization) of a shelter dog. I had explained to countless individuals that when they adopted from a no-kill shelter, they were actually rescuing two lives: the one they were taking home, and the one they were making room for in the shelter.”
“Though I still needed to go through my own grief cycle, I ultimately knew that the best way to honor King and Stella's lives was by continuing to spread the love that they had so generously given us; and so, both times, we moved quickly in welcoming a new member to our family. In April, we adopted Max, and in November, we adopted Layla.”
“Having two dogs and two cats in a small East Village apartment is a funny thing. Many assume we live in mayhem, but it's actually pretty peaceful. They all come from different places with varied histories and distinct personalities; and yet, they're now a family.”
“They cuddle together. They play together. One of our cats, Milo, even eats out of the dogs' bowls at dinner. Was it like this from the start? No. There's always an initial adjustment period. It's a process, and since we all clearly speak different languages, it can be disconcerting no matter how many animals you've introduced.”
That said, you keep a close eye on them. You give them the chance to get to know each other safely and on their own time. You never force it. You give easy access to an escape route for quiet time. Eventually, they tend to come around. And I can say from personal experience that as the years pass by, it's truly an incredible experience to watch their relationships advance and evolve.
"A lot of people are really concerned about space – when thinking about adopting animals in the city. But dogs are den animals. They don’t need a large space to live in, we do. They’re perfectly happy no matter what size the space is."
"The dogs really enjoy it up here (on the roof). Max loves chasing shadows, and Layla loves chasing him! They can get a little crazy sometimes but it's fun for them."
"I literally credit my dogs with helping me build the life that I want to live. It’s because of them that I realized that I wanted to work from home – in a different environment. It’s because of them that I realized that life is much more simple."
Muddy Paws Rescue is 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing adoptable dogs from high kill shelters and placing as many as possible into wonderful forever homes. Support is provided to adopters throughout the application process and post-adoption to help facilitate the transition for both the dog and the adopter. Muddy Paws Rescue promotes a welcoming, warm community for potential adopters and volunteers through thorough communication and a supportive environment.
Sending endless thank you's to Alexandra Ostrow Beach, Ron Beach Jr. and their family: Max, Layla, Milo and Nyika.