GRAMERCY — Last November, a new thrift store marked its grand opening — with the ceremonial cutting of a leash.
It was a fitting symbol for a shop dedicated to supporting animal shelters and organizations, a mission spelled out in the store's name — Cauz for Pawz.
Cathryn Duhigg, 51, a Long Island native who now lives in Murray Hill, decided to open the East 23rd Street thrift shop after working in retail for 35 years.
A lifelong animal lover who grew up with 20 pet cats, she adopted a mutt named Hannah from the ASPCA seven years ago.
"She's the greatest gift ever," Duhigg said.
“What people will do for animals is amazing."
The store occupies two stories on the stretch of East 23rd Street between Lexington and Second avenues known as "Thrift Shop Row." It mainly stocks items that will appeal to two-legged customers. Shelves and racks are full of everything from handbags to home goods to holiday decorations.
Duhigg remains firm that her store is not a shelter, but she has taken in a few strays that have been left there in the past 10 months.
Behind the cash register, a tiny African frog swims around in a small tank. The amphibian apparently wasn’t very happy in its former home, so its owner brought it to the store. Duhigg named it Cauz.
Although Cauz maintains a permanent residence inside the shop, the frog is not the store’s mascot. That title belongs to a 70-pound African ridgeback named Leo, who was the first animal abandoned at the shop.
The dog had been abused, Duhigg said, and the owner came in one day and said simply that he could no longer care for the massive, amber-colored pooch.
“It broke my heart,” Duhigg said. “I fell in love with him.”
Leo lived in the office of the store for a week. Duhigg made him a bed and left a light on at night. She would come into the office early every morning to take the dog on a walk until she eventually found a home for Leo with a woman who lives near the water on Long Island.
“You could see how happy he was,” she said. “He had a home.”
As the store’s mascot, Leo is entitled to a few perks. Duhigg continues to pay Leo’s vet bills and stays in touch with the owner to make sure the dog is doing well. She heard recently that Leo has his own small wading pool in the owner’s backyard. Apparently, the dogs enjoying the summer taking dips and catching some sun on a nearby lounge chair.
“He just was such a special dog. I miss him still,” she said.
But the shop’s animal focus remains clear in other ways. Across a wall near the front door, employees have pasted photos of neighborhood pets, some living and some now deceased.
In the 10 months since Cauz for Pawz opened, Duhigg has been spending roughly 100 hours a week at the store. Her 15-year-old son, who came up with the name, helps her out, and she keeps seven people on staff, including some with disabilities.
Her store is fully stocked, with shelves and racks loaded with everything from designer clothes and glass vases to CDs and old Playbills.
A production area on the store’s lower level contains stacks of items waiting to be placed out onto the showroom floor, and another room in the very back of the building is piled high with bags of donations waiting to be sorted.
“I never expected people to be so generous and so giving,” said Duhigg. “People are just amazing with their donations.”
With the funds raised from sales and outside donations, Duhigg has provided animal food and supplies to individuals in need and has given out 13 checks to various small organizations, although she declined to give the exact amount donated so far.
She said the store hasn't determined a certain percentage of proceeds that it will donate yet. But once her overhead costs are paid, Duhigg said she portions off whatever remains for donations.
Although the store has been focused on supporting smaller animal organizations, Duhigg said she has big plans going forward.
She wants to open more locations in Manhattan within the next year and eventually expand to every state. She also wants to open animal food pantries and create farms where unwanted animals can go instead of shelters.
It’s a lofty goal, but Duhigg remains firm that she will achieve it.
“It’ll happen,” she said. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”
