Community Corner

New Director at Save-A-Pet is Port Jeff Grad

Erica Kutzing has a long relationship with the animal rescue center.

It’s obvious that Erica Kutzing loves animals. When she was just 13-years-old she received a Junior Volunteer Award from in Port Jefferson Station for all of her work caring for the animals there.

Over the year, she has fostered animals in need, taking litters of kittens and puppies into her home to care for and bottle-feed the orphans. Combined, she has fostered and placed over 250 animals in loving homes.

She rescued her one-year-old blind Pitbull named Tye at just two weeks old, she has a six-year-old Pomeranian named Talulah, a tailless cat by the name of Bunny and an eight-week-old blind kitten named Colette.

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Now, she has a new mission at Save-A-Pet. Just this week, Save-A-Pet announced that Kutzing, of Setauket, is its new Director of Operations.

While she may not have roamed very far from home – Kutzing grew up in Port Jefferson and graduated from – she has certainly reached new heights in her love of animals.

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“I… feel blessed to have turned my passion in life into a career,” she said in a statement. “I thoroughly enjoy each day of work and my caring co-workers, dedicated volunteers and inspirational mentors have made each day at the shelter a joy.”

Before she was hired at Save-A-Pet, Kutzing worked at , located adjacent to Save-A-Pet in Port Jefferson Station, assisting with surgeries and becoming educated in veterinary medicine.

On her lunch breaks, she would walk next door to visit the animals at animal rescue center.

President Dori Scofield said she’s thrilled to welcome Kutzing to Save-A-Pet.

“We are confident that she will continue her exceptional work of caring for the homeless, abandoned and abused animals of Long Island,” she said.

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