Books New Talent: Introducing Murphy, Pumpkin and Boo

“Hey, Jason, it’s Gary Dell’Abate,” said the voice on the phone.”

I had to pause for a moment as I almost expected to hear, “It’s Baba Booey,” a name that has become synonymous with the Howard Stern show. But today’s conversation wouldn’t be about Gary and Howard, Gary the executive producer, Gary and the talent he books, Gary’s support of our troops, or Gary and LIFEbeat, the organization that works for AIDS awareness and prevention. I was saving those conversations for The Boulevard’s upcoming feature with Gary. Today’s interview was about Gary and the North Shore Animal League America, the animal charity the boss’ wife, Beth Stern, drew him into about four years ago.
As I spoke with Dell’Abate, he told me about the day he was scouting talent at the North Shore Animal League America. Instead of stroking celebrity egos, Gary found himself stroking a couple of rescue cats, Pumpkin and Boo, while considering booking them for a fulltime gig at the Dell’Abates, playing alongside Murphy, his family’s Vizsla.
Of the experience, Gary says, “It was really one of those situations where you go in to find an animal and they find you. The cats were part of the same litter. We knew we wanted a pair and thought it would be really great to keep them together.” When bringing a new pet into a home that already houses an animal (especially one of a different species), there is a lot of concern about how the animals will get along. NSALA once again proved that Gary had come to the right place. “The people at North Shore gave my wife a bunch of advice and my wife was able to call and speak to them anytime. They told my wife what to do – don’t let them get together right away … let them spend a little time together each day – and after two weeks, whatever my wife did worked, because they get along great!”

Gary is no stranger to the North Shore Animal League America, located in Port Washington. Growing up in Uniondale, he recalls his family adopting their first dog, a beagle, when he was very young. However, his adult involvement with NSALA, including walking the red carpet at the annual DogCatemy Awards, began when Beth brought him on board; it’s an involvement that has progressed very well ever since. “One thing I always knew growing up was that North Shore was where you went to get your dog or cat [but] I didn’t know it was the largest no-kill shelter in the world. Once you go there, you’re a sucker. You know, it’s impossible not to adopt. I would say to my wife, ‘Maybe we should take that dog, too.’” While not a permanent solution for an animal, NSALA is the perfect haven between homelessness and home. “They are treated so well [there] and they are such friendly animals,” says Gary, once again giving props to the shelter. “Beth tells a story of a full-grown dog and how the owner just got sick of him. How terrible is that? You look at him [and] ask, ‘What is that one’s story?’ and they tell you. So then you say, ‘Maybe we should take that one, too.’ I find it hard to believe that anyone would leave there without an animal.”
Obviously, Pumpkin and Boo sensed that as soon as they caught sight of Gary. “Hey,” I can imagine them conspiring, “It’s Baba Booey. Let’s pick him to take us home.”

For more on Gary and some of the organizations he is involved with, please visit www.bababooey.com and www.lifebeat.org