November
2001
Doggy
Heroes
The Satya Interview with John
Ziegler |
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|
John Ziegler, a vegetarian for 14 years, is
the founder—with his mother and brother—of Biscuits and Bath
Doggy Village. Samantha Knowlden asked him about his involvement
with the animal rescue efforts in the aftermath of the WTC tragedy.
Tell us about Biscuits and Bath.
The idea for Biscuits and Bath was spawned the first time I hired a
dog-walker to take my dog to Central Park. Nervous parent that I was,
I watched from the window as the dog-walker left and saw her go the
wrong way. I tried to rationalize it; maybe she had to pick up another
dog or something. I decided to follow her, and she just went around
doing errands and never took my dog to the park.
So I started my own dog walking business which eventually expanded
into Biscuits and Bath which we opened this past January. Other dog
care
facilities are small, they have cement floors and they smell horrible.
We have an environmentally-friendly building—we used all recycled
materials to renovate it—with grooming facilities, a pool where
the dogs can swim, a café and places for the dogs to run around
freely. We think it’s important for the dogs to exercise and touch
the earth, and we take the dogs out for relief walks every three hours.
The dogs are encouraged to socialize and run around and we’ve
created an indoor environment where their human parents can run and
play with
them. We have cageless day care and night care. We groom them in ways
they can enjoy, such as hand drying them, and we use all-natural, chemical-free
shampoos. We built a learning and social center where we host speakers
and events for people to come together and learn about issues concerning
animals, from chickens on factory farms to stray dogs. We also have
weekly Sunday brunches and jazz concerts and seminars such as CPR and
First Aid for Animals.
How did Biscuits and Bath get involved in the aftermath of September
11?
On Wednesday, September 12, we loaded our large Biscuits and Bath jitneys
(we normally use them to transport dogs and their human companions)
with food and water and drove them down to the site. We got as far as
the command center, about four blocks away from ground zero, and began
handing out food. We had brought a little pull-wagon with us and we
loaded it up with supplies so we could get them down closer to the rescue
workers. It was utter mayhem down there and it was amazing how people
worked together to locate and bring in supplies and move them from place
to place.
The Search and Rescue dogs were searching through the smoking rubble
and so we brought them booties to protect their feet, although some
of the dogs didn’t like them since they use their feet to grip
onto uneven surfaces. At one point, I was working in the rubble alongside
a fireman and there was this dark hole where the steel had bent over.
The fireman couldn’t fit through with all his equipment and I rushed
in ahead of him, not thinking of the danger. Inside this hole was an
even smaller pit that was so dark, you couldn’t see how far back
it went or what was inside. All of a sudden a black lab rescue dog came
jumping out and I was astounded. I thought, “Where’s the superhero
cape?” It was just so incredible that this dog would do this. The
rubble was unstable and it was hot and smoky. I don’t think my
dog would have gone in there. This ended up being the hole that was
used by the rescuers to get down under the building and all the way
through to the other side.
Since we were down at the site with the Biscuits and Bath trucks from
the beginning, the checkpoint guards started recognizing us and let
us pass. This enabled us to provide transportation for people from the
ASPCA and PETA, and we helped them move in supplies and get animals
out of the apartments.
We opened up Biscuits and Bath to displaced dogs and welcomed people
affected by the tragedy to come in with their dogs. We also turned
Biscuits
and Bath into a sanctuary for the Search and Rescue dogs. Our facility
offered a change of scenery from the Javits Center where they were
being
housed. It gave them a chance to rejuvenate after all their work. They
could go for a swim, run around and get a grooming, while their human
partners relaxed and got some coffee from our café.
Can you tell us about the Carnival for Dogs you hold at Biscuits
and Bath?
We rescue two dogs each year from being euthanized and we feed, house,
train and get them veterinary care including spaying/neutering and then
we find homes for them. We hold a carnival twice a year to support these
rescue efforts. This year, part of the proceeds will go towards the
animals of the Twin Towers disaster and the ASPCA Disaster Relief Fund.
The 30 members of the New York Police Department Canine Search and Rescue
Team are still working around the clock at the site and we will be honoring
the dogs with life-time memberships to Biscuits and Bath.
Biscuits and Bath Doggy Village is located at 227 E. 44th Street
and can be contacted at (212) 692-2323.
