NYC Second Chance Rescue, New York City’s largest volunteer based rescue, will present Cocktails and Pawprints honoring Bessy Gatto and Dylan Lauren at Baker House 1650 on Thursday, August 11.
Guests will enjoy an evening of rescue dogs, puppies, and kittens, live music by Garrett and Tamara, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres by Chef Peter Ambrose, specialty bar by Copper Dog Whiskey, wine by Bridgehampton Breeze, pizza truck by North Sea Tavern, a rosè cart by Bodvar, and VIP gift bags curated by Thuyen Nguyen.
NYC Second Chance Rescue is a charitable organization offering a second chance to animals in need with a dedication to critically injured, abandoned, and neglected dogs and cats, healing and rehoming over 13,000 animals since 2009.
Dylan Lauren, founder and CEO of Dylan’s Candy Bar, will be honored for her work with Dylan’s Candy BarN Animal Foundation. She was inspired by her lifelong love of animals and avid desire to come to their aid. The foundation’s mission is to help every animal find a home-sweet-home by hosting adoption events, highlighting the importance of spaying and neutering, supporting disaster relief efforts, and ending animal cruelty.
Bessy Gatto will be honored at Cocktails and Pawprints for her work saving and advocating for senior pets.
We caught up with both Dylan and Bessy to learn more.
Dylan Lauren
Tell us about the Dylan’s Candy BarN animal foundation. What inspired you to start doing this work?
Helping animals is my calling. Growing up with and being around animals made me fall in love with them. Animals are family. I had two pet bunnies named Chocolate and Vanilla as a child, and now have a rescue dog named Jersey. Giving back or saving an animal gives you so much love in return. That’s where I find my happiness. It’s very fulfilling and rewarding to not only pursue Dylan’s Candy Bar — and love selling candy and happiness by merging fashion, art, and pop culture with candy — but also to make my stores destinations that give back to animals in need.
Talk about the work you’re doing with International Fund For Animal Welfare to support their Ukraine response.
Dylan’s Candy BarN is proud to partner with IFAW through August, to support their Ukraine response — providing animals with safe shelter, food, medical assistance, reuniting pets with families, and being there when disaster strikes to protect animals everywhere. From June 1 to August 31, 100 percent of donations to Dylan’s Candy BarN will go directly to International Fund for Animal Welfare. Additionally, $1 from each purchase of our charitable items will be donated IFAW to support their response for animal aid in the Ukraine.
IFAW is committed to helping the people and animals impacted by the crisis in Ukraine for as long as they’re needed. They’ve been working with animal shelters in Ukraine for years and are on the ground helping Ukrainian refugees keep and care for their pets. They’re also facilitating animal rescue missions in Ukraine to translocate lions, tigers, and other animals to zoos in neighboring countries.
We’ll also be partnering with NYC Second Chance Rescue this fall to amplify and support the work that they’re doing to reduce euthanasia rates and support an overburdened shelter system through education, community outreach, and compassionate care.
What are you looking forward to most at the upcoming Cocktails & Pawprints event?
I am looking forward to playing with all of the adorable animals who will be at the event — and who will be swiftly discovered and adopted there, I pray!
Your website (DylansCandyBar.com) states, “Success is only sweetened when you can give back.” We love this! Can you talk a little more about the importance of animal rescue and why it’s a cause close to your heart?
I’ve always wanted to help animals and really would love to find every animal a home-sweet-home and get them out of the shelters. If I could do that, I would be thrilled. One animal out leaves room for another one in. Our foundation seeks to change the stigma of rescue animals and encourage anyone who is looking for a pet to adopt from a shelter, rather than buy from a breeder or pet store.
Any exciting happenings at Dylan’s Candy Bar’s East Hampton location this summer that we should know about?
We are relaunching our candy in bulk bins for customers to pick and mix their favorites and have luxurious new gift baskets for hostess gifts, celebrations, and barbecues. For those interested in giving back, we have a selection of items like our Farm Friends Tackle Box that support the Dylan’s Candy BarN Animal Foundation to help every animal find a home-sweet-home.
We also have an ice cream parlor inside of our store location with outdoor seating, which features incredibly delicious flavors — Marshmallow Clouds is my favorite — and Twisted Treats that are blended mix-ins. S’mores is insanely yummy! Come visit us!
When you’re on the East End, what do you enjoy most? What about the East End inspires you?
I love to tandem bike ride with my husband Paul and explore all the different towns along the way. My mind is able to quiet and get reinvigorated and inspired by the scenery, the beautiful beaches in Montauk, the farmlands in Bridge and Wainscott, the colorful boats along Sag Harbor, and the lush gardens in Amagansett. After our long adventure exercise, I love to enjoy a picnic on the beach at sunset with our twins, Kingsley Rainbow and Cooper Blue, and our rescue dog, Jersey.
Bessy Gatto
Tell us a little about your work with NYC Second Chance Rescue.
I started following Second Chance a few years ago, when my friend adopted a senior dog from them. I think the work they do is very important, because they take on difficult cases, the ones maybe not every rescue would take. That’s incredibly generous, and it’s very heartbreaking work. They’re out there in the trenches, and that’s very honorable. Most people know the big names in rescue, but it’s the little ones that we have to make sure we know about, and support.
What are you looking forward to most at the upcoming Cocktails & Pawprints event?
I always love seeing animal lovers and meeting new like-minded people! And, of course, all my friends from SCR. I’m so honored and touched by this event, and looking forward to spreading the word about the amazing work Second Chance Rescue does.
Can you talk a little more about the importance of animal rescue and why it’s a cause close to your heart?
It’s always hard to describe exactly why it’s so important, it’s just something you have to feel. There are so many abandoned and hurt animals and we are their only hope. Every little thing helps, whether its adoption, donating, or just educating people and sharing stories.
You rescue senior dogs and foster those who may not have much time left. Can you tell us more about this and the importance of advocating for senior animals?
It’s easy for people to dismiss seniors, everyone always wants a perfect little puppy or they don’t want to deal with having to say goodbye so soon. But these are the ones who truly need us. They have very little time left and it breaks my heart to know they will die alone or in a crowded shelter. My favorite dogs have been seniors that we have adopted.
When you’re in the Hamptons, what do you enjoy most?
Definitely just getting away from life for a minute, the much slower pace. Can’t beat the shopping, the restaurants, and beautiful views!
The event, which is held from 6 to 9 PM, is hosted by Antonella Bertello, Lisa Blanco, Second Chance founder Jennifer Brooks, and Thuyen Nguyen. The host committee includes Georgina Bloomberg, Elizabeth Bowden, Kingsley Crawford, Jared Epstein, Alex Hamer, Avra Hart, Nathania Nisonson, Jessica Mackin-Cipro, Stephanie Mattera, Kate McEntee, Lauren Remington Platt, Carolina Rizk, Leesa Rowland, and Pamela Suskind. Visit nycsecondchancerescue.org/cocktails-and-pawprints for tickets.
