Bringing Holiday Comfort to Homeless Pets

A small personal Christmas tradition has turned into something big for Mark LePage and Annmarie McCarthy, the partners of Pleasantville’s .

“Annmarie has been involved in animal rescue pretty much her whole life,” said LePage.

And the married couple is no strangers to rescued pets—they currently have a Rottweiler named William St. Patrick Carl LePage, (also known as Willie), six cats and a guinea pig.

Nine years ago, McCarthy asked guests bring towels and blankets to donate to the in Briarcliff Manor in lieu of gifts at a holiday party and the gesture soon expanded to Fivecat.

“Seven years ago, we started doing it in the studio,” said LePage. “It’s something the shelters need. They need blankets and towels pretty consistently throughout the year.”

The two architects turned the idea into Pillows for Puppies and since that small idea—“We have gotten over 1,000 items over the last two years,” said LePage.

“We will take donations throughout the year,” he added, though the big push for donations is always around the holidays.

For the past couple of years, Fivecat has also donated some of the items to Pets Alive Westchester, another no-kill animal shelter in Elmsford.

Anyone is invited to drop off blankets, towels, spare bolts of fabric, pet beds, food, treats, collars and leashes at the studio—which is currently undergoing some renovations of its own and has a few stories of scaffolding in front of its Wheeler Avenue building.

“They need to be clean—but they can be used or new,” LePage said of acceptable items.

Items can be shipped, brought up to the studio (if you call up, Fivecat employees will help you bring them upstairs) and LePage said they will also pick up large loads. 

Each piece helps, he said, and “makes a big difference” for shelter workers and volunteers. 

“The people who run the shelters really look forward to it,” LePage said. “I think the animals are better off because of what we do.”

The Pillow For Puppies Donation Drive will continue through Jan. 15, 2012. Bring donations to 48 Wheeler Ave. and call 747-1177 for more information.

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