Bideawee

Bideawee — the name is from the Scottish phrase "stay a while" — was founded in 1903 by Flora D'Auby Jenkins Kibbe as one of the first no-kill animal welfare organizations in the United States. The organization predates the modern American no-kill movement by nearly a century and was one of the first institutions to articulate the principle that healthy and treatable animals should not be euthanized as a matter of policy.

The main Manhattan adoption center is on East 38th Street in Midtown East. A second location operates in Westhampton, on Long Island's South Fork, with a third center in Wantagh on the Nassau County south shore. The combined operation places thousands of animals into homes each year.

How they work

Bideawee adoptions begin online or in person at any of the campuses. The application is short, the interview is conversational, and meet-and-greets happen for animals that look like a fit.

Adoption fees vary by animal and time of year. Fees include spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, and a starter pack.

The organization operates as no-kill in the strictest sense — and has done so for over 120 years, longer than nearly any other American animal welfare organization. Animals with significant medical or behavioral needs are stabilized in-house when possible.

Beyond standard adoptions, Bideawee runs:

• Pet Memorial Park — a pet cemetery in Westhampton, Long Island, founded in 1916. It is one of the oldest pet cemeteries in the United States and houses tens of thousands of pet remains.
• The Pet Loss Support Group — one of the longest-running pet bereavement programs in the country, offering free in-person and virtual support to anyone grieving a pet.
• Foster networks spanning all three campuses.
• Behavior and training programs including public dog training classes.
• Spay/neuter services at reduced cost.
• Pet retention programs including food assistance and behavior consultation.

The institutional history

Bideawee's role in American animal welfare history is particular. The organization was founded at a moment when most American humane societies were largely concerned with the welfare of working horses; the establishment of a no-kill organization specifically for cats and dogs, with a stated policy against euthanizing healthy animals, was a meaningful institutional innovation.

The Pet Memorial Park in Westhampton — opened in 1916 — was one of the first formally organized pet cemeteries in the United States and remains one of the largest. The cemetery's plot includes some of the most notable pet burials in American history, including animals owned by major early twentieth century public figures. The cemetery is still active and continues to accept new pets.

The Pet Loss Support Group — established in the 1980s — was one of the first formally organized pet bereavement programs at any American animal welfare organization. It has been running continuously since then and serves several hundred grieving adopters annually, both in person and via virtual sessions.

The East 38th Street campus has, over its many years, become a recognizable piece of Midtown East. The volunteer dog-walker rotation passes through the surrounding neighborhoods.

You can support Bideawee in the standard ways:

• Adopt from any of the three campuses.
• Foster — the foster network is large and constantly recruiting.
• Volunteer — dog walking, cat socializing, Pet Memorial Park support, bereavement program support, event work.
• Donate — Bideawee publishes detailed financials annually.

Field & Era at Bideawee

The East 38th Street coordinates appear in Companion Edition orders shipped throughout Manhattan, Long Island, and the broader New York metro. The Westhampton coordinates carry particular weight for memorial print orders — adopters who have lost a pet and want both the Manhattan adoption address and the Westhampton burial address on related artifacts.

If you adopted from Bideawee — or want a memorial print of the Pet Memorial Park — and want the address set on archival paper, see the Companion Edition. 10% of every Companion order supports a rescue partner.

Last verified May 29, 2026. Facts about hours, intake policies, and adoption fees can change. Confirm with Bideawee directly before visiting.