Making Music for Fostered Dogs

Summary

ALL OF IT: Making Music for Fostered Dogs – Episode Summary

Released: December 12, 2024 | Host: Alison Stewart | Guests: Dan Pugach & Nicole Zaraitis

---

Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of ALL OF IT, host Alison Stewart delves into the intersection of music and animal welfare, specifically focusing on the rewarding experience of fostering dogs. The show features Dan Pugach, a renowned drummer and composer, and his wife Nicole Zaraitis, a Grammy-winning jazz vocalist. Together, they share their journey of creating music inspired by their beloved rescue dogs and advocate for dog fostering and adoption.

---

Meet the Guests: Dan Pugach & Nicole Zaraitis

Dan Pugach, leader of the Dan Pugach Nonet and the Dan Pugach Big Band, alongside his wife Nicole Zaraitis, a celebrated jazz vocalist, bring a unique perspective to the conversation. Their deep love for dogs, particularly pit bulls, has been a significant part of their lives and artistic endeavors.

Nicole On Fostering Dogs

Nicole begins by sharing how her passion for fostering began unexpectedly. “I had seen on Facebook an at-risk animal named Ozzie at the Animal Care and Control, and I didn’t know that they had at-risk dogs in New York City,” she explains (03:26). Her spontaneous decision to foster led to a lasting commitment, ultimately bringing her and Dan together as partners in both life and their love for dogs.

Adopting Pit Bulls: A Love Story

Dan adds, “I didn’t. I mean, I grew up with a small dog at home. Back in Tel Aviv, I had a little dog named Zelda. But our love for bigger dogs and pit bulls started through Nicole...” (04:05). The couple emphasizes that pit bulls, often misunderstood due to breed discrimination, are inherently good, loyal, and deserving of second chances.

---

Bianca Music for Pause and Persistence: A Tribute Album

The centerpiece of the episode is the discussion of Dan’s two-time Grammy-nominated album, Bianca Music for Pause and Persistence. Named after their rescue dog Bianca, the album comprises 11 original compositions that celebrate Bianca's memory and the bond between humans and dogs.

Honoring Bianca’s Legacy

Alison Stewart asks, “Tell us one thing that Bianca loved” (01:56). Nicole responds poignantly, “Bianca was really chill like she was, she was the sweetest... She had her own Instagram handle” (02:24). The album not only honors Bianca but also serves as a tribute to all fostered dogs who bring joy and companionship to their families.

The Bridge: A Song for the Rainbow Bridge

One of the album’s standout tracks, “The Bridge,” is a heartfelt tribute to the concept of the Rainbow Bridge—a folklore tale where beloved pets await their owners after passing. Nicole shares, “The Rainbow Bridge is the folklore tale that when an animal passes, they go to the Rainbow Bridge... It really helps me whenever I lose a beloved pet” (13:10). The song encapsulates the bittersweet emotions of loss and the enduring love for their pets.

---

The Importance of Fostering Dogs

Dan and Nicole emphasize the critical role fostering plays in the lives of rescue dogs and the broader community.

Benefits of Fostering

Nicole highlights, “Fostering is fantastic way to get to know an animal. It’s kind of like renting a dog” (05:19). This arrangement allows potential adopters to understand a dog’s behavior and personality in a home environment, increasing the chances of successful adoptions.

Challenges and Rewards

Nicole candidly discusses the challenges: “some of the challenges with fostering is that you get to know the dog as they decompress... But at the same time, most of the time it’s a beautiful upswing” (17:18). Despite the obstacles, the rewards of seeing a dog thrive in a loving home are immeasurable.

---

Listener Calls: Sharing Stories and Support

The episode features several listener calls, each sharing personal experiences with fostering and adopting pit bulls.

Danielle’s Pit Bull Love

Danielle expresses her unwavering love for pit bulls: “They are the greatest dogs... They’re just so loving, affectionate dogs and they’re just up for whatever you want to do” (06:38). Her story underscores the deep bonds fostered dogs can form with their families.

Stephen’s Adoption Journey

Stephen shares his recent experience: “We are fostering a dog named River... She’s great and we would love to place her in a home” (08:01). His enthusiasm highlights the ongoing need for foster homes and the positive impact they have on both dogs and humans.

Annie’s Appeal for Brooklyn

Annie calls to seek a forever home for Brooklyn, a five-year-old pit bull: “Barbara’s health is not good right now, so she’s unable to take him back... So I’m appealing to your listening audiences if anybody wants to adopt Brooklyn” (08:40). This poignant appeal emphasizes the urgent need for compassionate adopters willing to give dogs like Brooklyn a second chance.

---

Music and Messages: Bridging the Gap Between Art and Advocacy

Throughout the episode, Dan and Nicole intertwine their musical talents with their advocacy for animal welfare.

Songs with Purpose

Alison Stewart introduces songs from the album, each carrying a meaningful message. For instance, “Tolerance” reflects on enduring challenges: “Tolerance is just a pandemic experience... coming out the other side alive and well” (17:30). Nicole elaborates, linking the song to their fostering experiences: “Bella was a particularly tricky case because she was tolerating us just as much as we were tolerating her” (17:57).

Album Launch and Community Engagement

The couple announces an album launch party on January 8th at Joe’s Pub, inviting the community to celebrate and support their cause: “Album launch party... some of the album contributors and project winners” (20:08). This event aims to blend music with community activism, fostering a supportive network for dog lovers.

---

Conclusion: A Call to Action

As the episode wraps up, Dan and Nicole reiterate the importance of fostering and adopting dogs, urging listeners to consider opening their hearts and homes to animals in need. They share their Instagram handle, encouraging the audience to stay connected and support their mission: “WNYC is our Instagram... think, oh, maybe I should be someone who could foster a dog” (15:16).

---

Looking Ahead: What’s Next on ALL OF IT

Alison Stewart teases upcoming episodes, including a conversation with actor Tom Francis and performances by the West Village Chorale, keeping the audience engaged and anticipating future cultural explorations.

---

Notable Quotes

• Nicole Zaraitis (03:26): “I just thought that... you can foster and you can work with rescues, and you can work directly with New York City Animal Care and Control.”

• Dan Pugach (04:05): “How did you fall in love with pit bulls? I can be kind of ornery and an interesting, harder to read and an acquired taste.”

• Annie (08:40): “I’m appealing to your listening audiences if anybody wants to adopt Brooklyn the dog, beautiful brown pit bull who needs a second chance.”

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of ALL OF IT beautifully melds the world of music with passionate advocacy for animal welfare. Through Dan and Nicole’s stories, listeners gain insight into the profound impact of fostering dogs and the therapeutic power of music in honoring beloved pets. The heartfelt discussions and listener interactions create a compelling narrative that underscores the importance of community, compassion, and the enduring bonds between humans and their furry companions.

---

For more information on fostering and adopting dogs, and to join the conversation, visit WNYC.org/publicsong.

Transcript

[Alison Stewart]

Listener supported WNYC Studios.

[Dan Pugach]

This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart. Listen to this. That was Dan Pugach Big Band performing Little Fears featuring vocalist Nicole Zaritis who also happens to be Dan's wife. It is one of the 11 songs off the two time Grammy nominated album titled Bianca Music for pause and Persistence. The album is named after Dan, Nicole's beloved rescue dog who they adopted and cared for until her death in 2018, something both Dan and Nicole have done for many, many years as they are both true dog lovers. The big band album made up of original compositions even features their late pit bull's face on the COVID The two of them join us today for a listening party and to take your calls about dog fostering and adoption. Dan is the leader of the Dan Pugatch Nonet and the Dan Pugatch Big Band. Dan, welcome to all of it.

[Alison Stewart]

Thank you for having me.

[Dan Pugach]

And Nicole Zoraitis is a Grammy award winning jazz vocalist who also served as one of our judges for the Public Song Project. It's nice to see you, Nicole.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

It's so great to be here.

[Dan Pugach]

And who's visiting?

[Nicole Zaraitis]

We have Dolly. She is our foster from the New York City Animal Care and Control. Dolly, you want to say hi? You can probably hear her breathing.

[Dan Pugach]

So cute. Okay, I'm going to try to focus and not concentrate on Dolly.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

I know, me too.

[Dan Pugach]

Before we start. Oh, there she is.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

There she is. Say hello doll.

[Alison Stewart]

You pick up on the breathing.

[Dan Pugach]

Let me ask you about Bianca really quickly. Tell us one thing that Bianca loved.

[Listener]

To do while she was in your career.

[Dan Pugach]

Oh, it's okay, Dolly.

[Alison Stewart]

Bianca was, was really chill like she was, she was the sweetest. She would lay on her back every time she met a person or a baby or a new dog. And she went with us to all the gigs, rehearsals, recording sessions, festivals. She was there from the beginning to the end. She, everybody knew her. She had her own Instagram handle.

[Dan Pugach]

Oh, nice.

[Alison Stewart]

Bianca the jazz dog.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Just love music. She absolutely loved music.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[Listener]

So you've been fostering these dogs for I guess close to a decade?

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Yeah, yeah, 14 years actually.

[Listener]

Wow.

[Dan Pugach]

How'd you become interested in fostering?

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Well, I had seen on Facebook an at risk animal named Ozzie at the animal care and control and I didn't know that they had at risk dogs in New York City. I just thought that, you know, everything was rainbows and so I like a, you know, young unemployed jazz musician who lived in a not dog friendly apartment went and adopted that dog without realizing that you could actually foster and you can work with rescues, and you can work with. Directly with New York City animal care and control. And so I adopted that dog. And Dan and I, at that time were just friends, and we were also making music together, and he was in my band, and I couldn't have dogs in my apartment, but he could have dogs in his apartment in Park Slope.

[Dan Pugach]

There you go.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

So now we're married. So thanks. Dogs.

[Dan Pugach]

Dan, why pit bulls? Did you have a thing for pit bulls or did you like them?

[Alison Stewart]

I didn't. I mean, I grew up with a small dog at home. Back in Tel Aviv, I had a little dog named Zelda. But our love for bigger dogs and pit bulls started through Nicole, where she, again, she found out that those dogs need. Need the most help because of their bad reputation. And then we found out that they're actually really sweet and really loyal and are ready for a second chance. That's how I fell in love with those dogs.

[Dan Pugach]

How did you fall in love with pit bulls?

[Nicole Zaraitis]

I just realized, I mean, I'll never have another type of dog because they're just incredible. They're misunderstood. But they are inherently good dogs. And they're also the ones that are suffering the most because of this breed discrimination. You know, like, you're not allowed to have them in certain countries or in apartments, et cetera, et cetera. But they're so kind and sweet and loyal, and, you know, their temperament is the same as a golden retriever, if not better. And there are plethora and millions and millions of them available for adoption at all times. So, you know, they're the best.

[Alison Stewart]

But the fostering really helps to check out the dog, see, you know, learn about their behavior and then place them at the right place.

[Listener]

Tell me a little bit more about the fostering.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah, so you can pull out a dog through any rescue or the shelters, and they make sure they interview you and your household, and you could pull out a dog and have it and evaluate its behavior for as long as you need. Right.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

And that's called fostering to adopt, which is, I think, a fantastic way to get to know an animal. It's kind of like renting a dog. They also have things called, like, straycations with the New York acc, where you could take a dog home for the holidays rather than if you're home by yourself for the holidays, you can bring a dog. And then there's rescues that need fosters to hold dogs for longer periods of time. Like, for example, we've worked with Pound Hound Resc for many years. That's how we got Bianca. Also, my dad's dog Mimi was pulled by Pound Hound Rescues. Donna Durrell has herself saved 2,700 dogs through pound hound rescues through the NYC ACC. And all these rescues desperately need fosters. And the ACC also needs fosters. And so it's a great way to like kind of try a dog on for size and see if it's part of your lifestyle. And oftentimes people say, oh, I don't want to have my dog live in the apartment. You know, if I'm at work all day. And I'm telling you it's better than sitting in a, you know, 4 by 4 cage waiting or like a 10 by 4 kennel waiting to be adopted for eternity.

[Listener]

Let's talk to some listeners. All right, we got a lot of people fostering dogs who are listening. Let's go to Danielle on line three. Hi, Danielle. Thanks for calling all of it.

[Danielle]

Hi. Hi. I love this episode. I am a huge pit bull lover. I've had three of them. And everything you're saying is amazing because I've said this to everybody I meet. I call it my pit bull spiel, that they are the greatest dogs. Once you have one, that's all you ever want again. And now I'm in my early 70s and I'm like, I don't know if I can handle another one, you know, just because, you know, they're strong and, well, I take an old one maybe, like me. But yeah, and they're, and they're so misunderstood and, you know, they're just the most loving, affectionate dogs and they're just up for whatever you want to do. You want to be a couch potato, there'll be one. You want to run three miles, they'll run with you. And you know, it's just the horrible things that have been done to them. It's just from all the stories we know, the Michael Vick stories and all that, and even those dogs are redeemable.

[Listener]

It's the people. Sometimes it is the people who are the problems. Let's talk to Stephen on line two. I think he's fostering right now. Hi, Stephen.

[Stephen]

Hey, Allison.

[Alison Stewart]

Hey.

[Stephen]

Big fan of the show.

[Listener]

Great.

[Stephen]

We are fostering a dog named River. We got her a few days ago from an organization called Pup Stars. And she's great and we would love to place her in a home. And she. Your guest mentioned Instagram handle for their dog. We have an Instagram handle which is adoptrivergirl on Instagram.

[Listener]

Thanks for calling in. Let's talk to Annie from Brooklyn. Hi, Annie.

[Annie]

Dog lovers, hello.

[Listener]

Hi.

[Annie]

I wanted to. I wanted to tell you guys about a special dog named Brooklyn that was a five year old pit bull that was pulled from the ACC on Death Row last December by a rescuer named Barbara Weiss who has been trying her hardest to find a forever home for this dog. The communities rallied around this dog paid for TR because Port Brooklyn does have some guarding issues. But we're really looking for an experienced person to step up and help this dog on their road to a forever home and for full rehabilitation. Unfortunately, the foster that Brooklyn is with now has put a deadline of December 21st and will be returned to the ACC. And Barbara's health is not good right now, so she's unable to take him back. So I'm appealing to your listening audiences if anybody wants to adopt Brooklyn the dog, Beautiful brown pit bull who needs a second chance.

[Dan Pugach]

Does he have an Instagram? If not, you should make one. Just saying. Thanks, Annie. We appreciate you calling. My guests are drummer and composer Dan Puja and his Grammy nominated album Bianca Reimagines Music for pause and Persistence. Also joining us is Nicole Zoraidis and.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

We have Dolly and Dolly the foster.

[Dan Pugach]

The title song from the album is titled Bianca, obviously. What kind of tribute did you want to give Bianca?

[Alison Stewart]

I wanted people to remember her and her existence as like a positive and triumph esque.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

A breed ambassador.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah, like a breed ambassador. Someone who like, had almost no chance and then through love and care made it.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Yeah. And she was in our wedding photos. You know, she really was a gigantic part of our life. And each foster that we take, we always say, like, this is for Bianca in the sky. So like we had Bella the bear, and Bella the bear was just unfortunately passed away this year from cancer. And so even when we say, oh, you know, it's so hard when a dog passes, there's so many dogs that need help that it's. We just say, this is for Bianca in the sky. This is for Bella in the sky. And that's why we wrote the song the Bridge on the album.

[Dan Pugach]

Well, first let's hear Bianca first and then we'll hear the bridge. Let's go to Bianca Ra.

[Listener]

All right, let's hear the next song, which is the bridge. Let's take a listen.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Firm, way less flight Feather light Free from the terror of the night Frail suffering sweeping through fields drenched in sun Whistle on the rainbow bridge as you welcome the warmth in forever changing our hearts with your voice.

[Dan Pugach]

Nicole. Oh, it's so beautiful. The rainbow Bridge. That's really sad. For people who don't know what the Rainbow Bridge is.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Yeah, the Rainbow Bridge is the folklore tale that, that when an animal passes, they go to the Rainbow Bridge. And that kind of, you know, imagery really helps. Helps me whenever I lose a beloved pet. And so, you know, when Bella, when we went into the studio to record this in May, Bella had just been. Had just narrowly survived this, like, hemangioma sarcoma cancer. And she had only a couple months to live. So you can hear when I sing that song, the Bridge, and I'm like, ah, she's heading there, but I'm just going to enjoy my time, my time with her. So that's the Rainbow Bridge. That's on Bianca.

[Dan Pugach]

Let's take a call. This is Dick, who's calling in from Westport, Connecticut. Hi, Dick.

[Stephen]

Hey, how you doing?

[Dan Pugach]

We're doing okay.

[Stephen]

Yeah. So I can't believe I turned on the radio and heard all about this because our pit bull died about six months ago. And so we just found a new one. And so we live in Westport and Maine. And my wife is driving down from Maine right now and is supposed to meet the lady, I think, somewhere in the Bronx who is going to give us our brand new dog. And she's about a year old and she's this beautiful little, little pit bull. And her name, we're going to rename her, but her name is Stevie Nicks. And the. And the video, the video that they put out to, you know, kind of advertiser, if you will, is a Stevie Nick song. That's really cool.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Brilliant marketing.

[Dan Pugach]

I love that. When you get your dog, will you send us a picture and we can put it on Instagram? We would love to see it if you can.

[Stephen]

We'll definitely do that. And there's actually a little video that is how we got to know about the dog. And so I'm not technically very good, despite the fact you'd be interested to know that I spent 40 years in the radio business.

[Dan Pugach]

Thanks so much. It's at all of it. WNYC is our Instagram, by the way, just for people who are sitting here and hearing this, hearing this, and think like, oh, maybe I should be someone.

[Listener]

Who could foster a dog.

[Dan Pugach]

Tell us what some of the challenges are, what kind of experience you need.

[Listener]

What people should keep in mind.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Great. Well, the first thing that I hear is that, you know, people want to say, I want to get a puppy. And I say, you know, puppies are incredibly difficult. You know, you don't want to go. You don't want to buy a dog. But I understand the people who love specific breeds, but puppies are just as difficult as having an adult dog. And most of the time the adult dogs that we've pulled are super easy and already house broken. So most of like the throwaway mamas, that's what we call the dogs that have been bred for their puppies and then tossed aside. So like Dolly is a throwaway mama, Bella was a throwaway mama, Bianca was a throwaway mama. All these dogs are the ones that really need homes, but they're the most wonderful temperament. So, you know, some of the challenges with fostering is that you get to know the dog as they decompress. And so a lot of their true personality comes out once they leave the very stressful shelter environment. But at the same time, most of the time it's a beautiful upswing. And then I would say the beautiful thing about, you know, New York City, NYC acc, the Animal Care and Control and also the foster groups is that they put the dogs with levels, level one, level two, level three, level four. And so depending on your comfort level and if you just started to adopt, you know, you can adopt a level one dog and that dog is probably going to be just like a big, you know, wiggly land manatee, like snuggaluffagus kind of dog. Level two, same thing. I prefer level three and four because I can be kind of ornery and I can be, you know, an interesting, harder to read and an acquired taste. So that's, that's, you know, there's challenges, but mostly everything is beautiful and they make it really easy to foster through NYC acc.

[Listener]

I wanted to play a couple more songs from your album this is Dreams. Tell me what this is about.

[Alison Stewart]

So Dreams is the only not dog. It's the only nut dog.

[Listener]

Do you want to go Right then let's go to Tolerance. Is that better?

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah, that. I mean, they're both great.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

We're just speaking of temp.

[Listener]

What's about tolerance?

[Alison Stewart]

Tolerance is just a pandemic experience. That how we went from being all mentally suffering to sticking out through the pandemic and coming out the other side, coming out the other side alive and well. So that's tolerance.

[Dan Pugach]

What do you say tolerance is about?

[Nicole Zaraitis]

Well, tolerance for me was speaking of fostering and the challenges. You know, Bella, we were getting to know her and she was a particularly tricky case because whoever had her before had abused her so much. And so she was tolerating us just as much as we were tolerating her.

[Dan Pugach]

So this is tolerance the name of the entire album is Bianca. Music for Pause and Persistence. My guest has been Dan Puja and Nicole Zoraitis. And Dolly, you were really good. Dolly.

[Nicole Zaraitis]

You're such a good girl.

[Dan Pugach]

You're a good girl. Let's go out on tolerance. Hello, Sa. By the way, Nicole's song for the.

[Listener]

Project is also featured on our Public Song Project vinyl, which you can get a copy of by donating to wnyz. And a reminder, we'll have an album launch party on January 8th at Joe's Pub with some of the album contributors and project winners. Go to wnyc.orgpublic song for more info.

[Dan Pugach]

Be nice, Dolly.

[Listener]

We're giving Mom a plug. And that is all of it for today. Coming up on tomorrow's show, actor Tom Francis will be here. He's starring in the incredible new revival of Sunset Boulevard, now on Broadway. Plus, the West Village Chorale will be here in studios to perform holiday carols. I'm Alison Stewart. I appreciate you listening and I appreciate you. I will meet you back here next.

[Ira Flatow]

This is Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, the science Friday team has been reporting high quality science and technology news, making science fun for curious people by covering everything from the outer reaches of space to the rapidly changing world of AI to the tiniest microbes in our bodies. Audiences trust our show because they know we're driven by a mission to inform and serve listeners first and foremost with important news they won't get anywhere else. And our sponsors benefit from that halo effect. For more information on becoming a sponsor, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.