Furry Friends

Barking up the right tree at Wooffstock

North Salem's Chris Evers, founder of Animal Embassy, brought along Kooney Kooney, his seven-year-old kune kune pig, for a blessing from the Rev. Kun Sam"e-Dayfly" Cho of the Pound Ridge Community Church.

Photo by Carol Reif

Carole Long and Rebecca Bose of Arthur's Acres Animal Sanctuary man the organization's table at Wooffstock. Along for the fun is Bose's canine companion, Maku.

Photo by Carol Reif

Volunteer McKenna Ryser and her dog Scout -- who was dodging the raindrops -- wait to greet visitors at Wooffstock in Pound Ridge.

Photo by Carol Reif

From left, back row, Violet Distefano, her mom, Jasmine, both of Dobbs Ferry, and friend Gianna Palminteri of Bedford get in a pile with their respective pups Josephine and Grace and Paris.

Photo by Carol Reif

North Salem's Chris Evers, founder of Animal Embassy, brought along Kooney Kooney, his seven-year-old kune kune pig, for a blessing from the Rev. Kun Sam "e-Dayfly" Cho of the Pound Ridge Community Church.

Photo by Carol Reif

Having a howling good time on behalf of the South Salem-based Wolf Conservation Center were, from left: Sunna Saeed, Susan Desio, Theresa Pierson, and Jackie Escobar.

Photo by Carol Reif

Huck hangs out with his hooman, volunteer Kieran Fell of SPCA Westchester, a shelter and clinic that's based in Briarcliff Manor.

Photo by Carol Reif

Jason Deasy and Linnea Caraballo, volunteers with Adopt-a-Dog, an Armonk-based rescue shelter, keep a tight rein on feisty pups Beeper and Oreo.

Photo by Carol Reif

Pet Rescue volunteers Roe Yanolatos, holding Cyprus, and Margie Cohen, with Arabella, take a break at Wooffstock.

Visitor Marina Sweeney helps keep Butch, one of the adorable adoptables, warm and dry on the damp afternoon at Wooffstock.

Photo by Carol Reif

Keeping the crowds well fed at Wooffstock were Willy Lamoctanta and Ana Herrera.

Photo by Carol Reif

Brightening up a rainy day with song were musicians Kevin Myers, left, and Alex Cano.

Photo by Carol Reif

The aptly named Lucky was one of the dogs who found a forever home at Wooffstock. Proud puppy parents are Ryan Hage and Tori Grolli, both of Yonkers.

Photo by Carol Reif

Posted Thursday, October 8, 2026 10:54 pm

BY CAROL REIF

Staff Writer

Wooffstock’s third annual pet adoption day in Pound Ridge was a howlin’ success.

Most of the dogs – and all of the cats – found forever homes, said one of the event’s organizers, Nadine Ashby.

Wooffstock took place at Pound Ridge Community Church on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Although a tad rainy, it was a wonderful day for hoomans and critters alike as animal rescue volunteers and visitors mingled and exchanged information.

Fido and Felix got to socialize as well.

“Even if they weren’t adopted, it’s a day away from the shelter where they can be outdoors, petted, and loved on,” Ashby said of the dogs and cats.

Folks brought along their pets for a blessing from the Rev. Kun Sam "e-Dayfly" Cho.

Those included Kooney Kooney, a 200-pound-plus kune kune pig who’s one of the stars of Chris Evers’ Animal Embassy, an environmental education/exotic animal rescue organization located at Flying Pig Farm in North Salem.

(Believe it or not, there was even an armadillo in the queue for a blessing.)

One hundred percent of the monies raised went to local animal shelters: Adopt-A-Dog (Armonk), Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue (ROAR - Ridgefield, Conn.), PawSafe (Eastford, Conn.), NY Pet Rescue (Larchmont), and SPCA Westchester (Briarcliff Manor).

Wooffstock also hosts evening benefits to support the saving, rehabilitating, and finding of homes for animals in need.

Live music was provided by guest artists Alex Cano and Keith Myers. There was face painting, a tie-dye craft booth, tables for other organizations such as Arthur’s Acres Animal Sanctuary and the Wolf Conservation Center, and food vendors.

For more information about Wooffstock, visit www.wooffstockpress.com.