Pet Lovers Club Makes a Paw-Sitive Impact at Brooksby

Brooksby Village, an Erickson Senior Living community in Peabody, Mass., is home to nearly two thousand retirees--and dozens of furry, four-legged friends!

Resident Sylvia Belkin is among the many pet parents who were pleasantly surprised to discover that the community welcomes dogs and cats.

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"Canines and felines are our four-legged children. We brought them to Brooksby as a part of our family, knowing they will be treated as such," says Sylvia, who moved to the community in 2022 with her dog, Piper, an energetic five-year-old Chihuahua terrier.

While Sylvia founded the Pet Lovers Club as a small advocacy group, it has grown into a social club with a newsletter, pet supply drives, pet nail clipping, and pet sitting services--thanks to passionate, dedicated resident volunteers.

Getting started

Sylvia and Piper appreciate Brooksby's range of outdoor amenities, including beautifully landscaped walking paths and open green spaces, providing plenty of opportunities to soak up the sun and stretch their legs.

However, when Sylvia discovered that most Erickson Senior Living communities have dog parks, she and another resident met with community administrators to discuss bringing one to Brooksby.

"For our canines, a place to romp and play is essential. That's why a dog park for Brooksby became my primary focus," Sylvia explains.

Resident Services Manager Melissa Luke notes that administration was happy to meet the request. "Everyone, staff included, is very excited about the planned dog park," she says.

"I'm thrilled that it will soon happen!" says Sylvia.

Community spirit

Last fall, resident Patti Genn launched The Brooksby Paws online newsletter, sharing information on club meetings, supply drives, pet sitting services, dog park updates, and touching stories about neighbors' furry companions.

"My cat, Minks, is 14 years old and loves his new home at Brooksby," Patti says. "Helping pet owners here is easy. Volunteering makes me feel good and gives me a reason to smile. We share a love of animals, our pets, and how they make our lives better."

For the past three years, resident Melinda Everett has served as chair of the club's Holiday Pet Food Drive, adding collection bins to neighborhood clubhouses each December. Residents and staff donate pet food, supplies, toys, and treats to benefit three local animal shelters.

In 2024, donations weighed in at half a ton. In 2025, donations weighed more than one ton.

"It's a privilege seeing Brooksby gather as a community to help local shelters," says Melinda, who cares for four rescue cats--named Dilly, Dally, Dolly, and Ribbons--with her husband.

Resident Susan Blau created magnets for pet owners' doors to indicate that pets are inside in case of emergency, designed T-shirts for sale to club members, and organized a visiting pet-grooming team for furry companions needing nail trimming.

Good neighbors

One of the many benefits of living at Brooksby is having access to a continuum of care. Thanks to club volunteers, pet sitters are ready to watch a furry friend if their owner needs short-term care or rehabilitation services.

Caring for animals is nothing new to David McCauley and his wife, Jane Gagliardi. Soon after moving to Brooksby from Gloucester, Mass., Jane joined the Friends of the Pond group, which advocates for community wildlife. The couple then connected with the Pet Lovers Club and set up the Pet Lovers Pet Care Exchange, offering pet sitting when needed.

David and Jane wanted to ensure that their feline companions, Stretch and Squeaks, would receive quality care from another cat lover if something were to happen to them. "We also wanted to cover others' kitties and pets," David says. "Mutual aid is a great way to live out the meaning of community."

David is responsible for matching volunteers with residents requesting pet sitting. "We've grown to include about 35 volunteers!" he says.

'Tail' worth telling

Recently, the Pet Lovers Club participated in "All Creatures Great and Small" events, hosted by the Community Resources team. The events included a Blessing of the Pets, Yappy Hour, and Dog Derby.

"Having a pet benefits physical and mental well-being and provides a sense of purpose," says Luke. "Brooksby staff members love supporting our residents and their pets."

Sylvia believes that the Pet Lovers Club is a beautiful "tail" worth telling. "Piper is so happy and safe here, strutting around campus like a princess," she says, with a smile.

To learn more about independent senior living at Brooksby, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and much more.

By Susan Ingram