In memory of man's (and woman's) best friend

Tuxedo Park — The domesticated dog, Canis lupus familiaris, has held a special place in the heart’s of people since ancient times. Much has been written about the courage, loyalty and unconditional love of the not-so-ordinary dog. During World War I, the 1st Infantry Division’s famous dog-mascot, a cairn terrier known as Rags, gained great notoriety and achieved celebrity “war dog” fame after saving many lives in the crucial Argonne Campaign by delivering a vital message despite being bombed and gassed. The dog remained the division’s cherished companion until his death in 1929. In 1925, a life-or-death race to rescue the children of Nome, Alaska, from disease made an international hero of a sled dog named Balto. Balto has been so well-loved, he has been immortalized both as the original basis for the yearly Iditarod marathon sled-dog race and in a life-size bronze statue that stands in New York City’s Central Park. However, few people have honored “man’s best friend,” demonstrating their love and dedication to our K-9 companions to a higher degree than Tuxedo Park residents, Mark and Wanda Shefts. Beginning in 2004, the Shefts have been the founders, benefactors and trustees of the Onyx and Breezy Foundation, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to improve the lives of not only dogs but a wide range of domestic animals. The Shefts created the foundation following the loss of their beloved black Labrador retrievers Onyx and Breezy in September 2004. During their time in the Shefts’ household, Breezy and Onyx became adored members of the family. The couple were left devastated when Breezy died at age 7, a mere seven weeks following the loss of Onyx at 13. Since then, the foundation has provided financial support to a host of animal welfare organizations. One of their first projects was funding research for a mast-cell tumor project at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at Penn State University. Breezy succumbed to this form of cancer and survived for two and a half years while being treated at the veterinary hospital. Donations were subsequently made to the hospital to purchase a much-needed ventilator and nico monitor for its intensive care unit and to help fund the oncology research team. According to the staff, “Ryan now has an absolutely state-of-the-art system that will save many critically ill dogs and cats.” In March 2006, the foundation pledged $250,000 toward the shelter renovation of the ASPCA headquarters in New York City. The new lobby level adoption center is now named the Onyx and Breezy Shefts Adoption Center. The Winslow Therapeutic Center in Warwick, which provides horseback riding therapy programs for riders with disabilities, received hay feeders and a one-year cost of a dispenser for heart worm medication. And the Shefts recently traveled to Mazula, Montana, to investigate the needs of a sanctuary for disabled animals. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed to the following organizations: Eleventh Hour Animal Rescue, Freeport Humane Society, Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, Hudson Valley Humane Society, Randolph Municipal Animal Pound, Rolling Dog Ranch Sanctuary, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, Tails of Hope, Trusted Family Pet Assistance and TYCO Animal Control. The foundation even supports private individuals who need help with paying for medical care for their pets after they provide financial data and fill out a questionnaire. Wanda Sheft emphasized that 100 percent of all money raised by the foundation is directed to providing for the animals. “We want every dollar we donate to go to the animals,” she said. All the overhead associated with administration and fund-raising activities are financed by the Shefts with volunteers as staff. For example, one of their fund-raisers is an annual “black-tie” event. At a recent affair in New Jersey, the Shefts spent $21,000 for the rental of a tent, complete with chandeliers. The self-effacing Shefts have lived in Tuxedo Park for 10 years. Mark is a Wall Street executive, and Wanda formerly worked on Wall Street prior to working full time for the foundation. Married for 29 years, they are “just two kids from Brooklyn,” as Wanda described themselves. The Onyx and Breezy Foundation is a 501-c tax-exempt organization. For additional information or to make a donation, see the foundation Web site at www.onyxandbreezy.org.