It was 13 years ago when I received a heart-wrenching email from my friend and devoted NYCACC volunteer, Evelyne Cumps, about a 10 month old pitbull-mix named Angel, who was in pretty bad shape.

Angel originally had been adopted from the shelter at just 2 months old...then found wandering the streets at 10 months old in terrible condition. She had lost large patches of her fur, scratched off much of her skin, was underweight, and hyperactive. Evelyne expressed her deep sadness that she would not be able to be with this poor girl and hold her while she was being euthanized the next morning, as she so often did so that the shelter dogs would not have to be alone in their last moments. So she left a heartfelt plea on Angel’s cage that said, “Please go easy on this girl as the system has failed her.” She even left a soft comforter for her to spend her last night on.

That night, I couldn’t sleep at all thinking about this abandoned dog who had no one; a dog who clearly had made an impact on my friend. As soon as the shelter opened the next morning, I called and said, “I want this dog Angel.” They told me this dog had so many health and behavioral issues and that I “didn’t know what I was getting myself into.” But I persisted and with the help of shelter staff member, Jessica Van Brunt and rescuer, Cristina Pronzati, I decided I would foster Angel, soon to be nicknamed “Angie”.

Oh boy, were they ever right... I knew little about pitbulls and never had cared for a shelter pet for that matter! After living on the streets for so many months, Angel had become wild and would try to climb on every person she met - in a friendly way- and would lunge at every dog she met - in a not so friendly way! How would I ever find a permanent home for this beast?

But, with the help of trainers and friends, I learned how to teach her manners, walk properly on a leash, and tolerate other dogs. It was frustrating and overwhelming, but it was worth every single tear I shed, every single ounce of effort I put into her. Angie taught me to have patience and how to be a leader. And she motivated me to want to help other shelter dogs and begin a rescue effort of my own.

The rest is history. Angel became my Angie, my “Angelina Ballerina”, even though her movements were yet far from graceful! She eventually learned to live with - and even came to adore - her buddy and constant companion, Amsterdam, both of whom became the mascots for AmsterDog Rescue and the inspiration for our logo.

Later on, with proper introductions, Angie welcomed another dog, Angelo, into her world and home, and it wasn’t long before they became soulmates. I can’t think of a single day living with Angie when she didn’t make me laugh. She just tried to squeeze as much joy as possible out of every single day. And, she touched the lives of many others with that Joy as she evolved into an ambassador for her breed and for shelter pets in general. She inspired people like her “Godfather” John, to generously sponsor her medical care, and her beloved Tio Dave who walked her every day and loved her as his own dog, and her buddy Victor, whom she adored.

Angie impacted my life in so many ways that she inspired me to help more creatures just as special as she and, as a result, many thousands of lives have been saved through the rescue that she helped to build.

With an extremely heavy heart, I bid a tearful farewell to my beloved Angelina Ballerina as she crossed over the rainbow bridge this past week where she now runs free with Amsterdam and Angelo. The hole she has left in my life can never be replaced but her legacy shall always live on in the thousands of lives saved because of her impact on my life, and the thousands more yet to come. Fly free, my sweet & crazy girl, you are loved more than you can possibly know and are so greatly missed. Now you truly are an Angel. ❤️