From Pet Lover to Animal Haven Board Member
Seven adopted pups later, Franki Doshi is certainly making a pawsitive difference
Photo credit: From left: 1. Eldest son Escher with Izzie (Animal Haven); 2. Mom, Franki, holding Stella, 12 (top left center); 3. eldet daughter Siena holding Charmin, 7 (Rescue City, center); 4. Senior named Akila, 12 (Rescue City, front center); 5. youngest son Lenox holding Lollipop (Rescue City, top right center); 6. youngest daughter India holding Kingston, 12 (Animal Haven, 2nd from right top row); 7. Ollie, 4 (Rescue City, right)
When I started asking around the neighborhood for nominations for our Making a Difference column, I heard one name a few different times – Franki Doshi. Though her resume is long, she is known locally for her animal rescue work. At the moment, Franki and her family are fostering seven rescue dogs, including her latest adoptee just a few weeks ago, 12-year-old senior, Akila!
Originally from Berlin, Franciska Berg-Doshi and her husband, Nish Doshi, originally from Long Island, have been Upper Brookville residents for 10 years. Before Upper Brookville, they lived in the city across the street from each other and met at a local Irish pub. They now have four children (Escher, 14; Siena, 12; Lenox, 9; India, 6) and call Chicken Valley Rd. their home.
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I volunteer with Animal Haven (animalhaven.org), a non-profit animal rescue organization located in New York City. Animal Haven is dedicated to finding homes for dogs and cats in crisis while also providing behavior intervention when necessary to improve their chances of adoption. They were founded in 1967 and offer programs to help keep animals in their homes whenever possible, such as enhancing the relationship between owners and their pets.
I got involved with Animal Haven when I adopted my fourth dog in 2021. The director of the organization asked if I had an interest in joining the board, and since then, I've been helping the organization raise funds to support its mission.
One of my favorite pet adoption stories is about my poodle, who is about twelve years old. When we first adopted her seven years ago, she was extremely timid and would hide under the bed. She would only come out if she followed me and was afraid of men. Over the years, she has come out of her shell, and now everyone who meets her is amazed at her transformation.
Residents can get involved with Animal Haven in various ways, including volunteering, making one-time or monthly donations (they even accept cryptocurrency through the Giving Block app), hosting fundraising events, starting Facebook fundraisers, contributing to doggy field trips outside the shelter, and more. To explore opportunities to support Animal Haven, you can visit their website at https://animalhaven.org/support/.
I want other residents to know that animals, just like humans, need love and care. They are loyal and adaptable, and by opening our hearts and homes, we can rescue many helpless and loving animals. Additionally, I'm a strong advocate for adopting senior pets and giving them a chance to live out their "Golden Years" with joy, safety, and love.
Here's some additional information about Animal Haven:
- Address: 200 Centre St, New York, NY 10013
- Phone: (212) 274-8511
- Website: AnimalHaven.org