Compassion in action brings handcrafted blankets to homeless pets - Amityville Record

To paraphrase Three Dog Night— ”Tie” a Little Tenderness.

This tenderness came from residents at Our Lady of Consolation Nursing Home in West Islip who tied the fringed edges of fleece fabric to make hundreds of beautiful, comfortable blankets as gifts to homeless dogs and cats at shelters all over Long Island.

The tag on each completed blanket (directed to the homeless pet) will tug at your heartstrings. Each tag says:

“Handmade for You – We tied these two pieces together as a symbol that you, the angel with four paws, will soon be together with your forever family. Much love. the residents at Our Lady of Consolation N. H.”

These fringe-tied blankets are a popular pet project with teen library groups and Scout troops because no sewing i s involved.

Two weeks ago, two boxes of these lovely blankets were quietly left on the bench as you enter Last Hope in Wantagh. Pat, a cat volunteer, opened a box before putting them away, and discovered the notes attached to each blanket. She also saw writing on the boxes, explaining that Consolation residents made the blankets in two sizes; cat/ tiny dog and medium-size dog.

A close-up of the poignant tag on each fringe-tied blanket.

She called me to make sure I knew about the blankets before they were hidden away. Pat read a tag to me. I got goosebumps when I realized the impact of the message the symbolism of tying the fringe knots paired with tying orphan pets to their forever families. I asked her to send me photos of the blankets and a close-up of the tag.

The next week, I called Consolation and spoke to Christine Centrone, their director of Therapeutic Recreation. She explained the blankets had been a huge group project on September 11th which is also the National Day of Service.

She said Kristy Duran, CTRS, ATR, who arranged the project would call me to give more details, and photos of residents working on the blankets. The creative wording of the tags was Kristy’s brainstorm. It was also great to learn we did have permission to use the photos of residents at Consolation in the newspaper.

Back to Consolation on Sept. 11, 2024:

Between 40-50 Consolation female and male residents, many in wheelchairs, some with memory impairment, took over their auditorium. They worked together at tables to tie knots, create the blankets, and add the beautiful tags.

Never had Last Hope received any handmade crafts from a nursing home, and never such a poignant tag on any craft for our pets. Finished blankets were separated to be delivered to various animal shelters and rescues. Last Hope has at least thirty, which shows the residents and staff were remarkably busy.

Last Hope’s blankets will become GO HOME gifts for our adopted cats, kittens, puppies, small and medium size dogs. We hope the new owners will remove the tags to save them as mementos of their pet’s first “Gotcha Day.”

Our Lady of Consolation has a special place in my heart because my mother, who passed 17 years ago, spent several months there after a hospital stay. Her Alzheimer’s had already progressed. She would have loved to participate in an activity making blankets for pups and kittens because she had been adept at crafts- crocheting, knitting, macrame, caning chairs and more.

Men at Our Lady of Consolation participated in the pet blanket project too.

The facility allowed me to bring my late Afghan Hound Halle to visit her, and then make the rounds stopping to greet other residents. I accompanied a friend to the auditorium when her parrots visited and conversed with the residents, years before my mom’s stay.

On another level, it is so refreshing to learn of a community service project done by seniors in nursing homes. Typically, service projects are done FOR them – not BY them.

These seniors represent a large group of elderly people coming together with their combined decades of talent and expertise. Their life skills are often overlooked since many residents are viewed as helpless now due to their advanced age.

Instead, at Consolation during the National Day of Service, these seniors, who are away from home, worked together to bring comfort to helpless pets who need hope and a home. How touching! Thank You, residents, and recreation staff at Our Lady of Consolation!

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