Valley Stream Woman Leads Annual Pet Donation Drive Despite Setbacks

VALLEY STREAM, NY — Despite personal setbacks, Valley Stream-based Paw It Forward pet pantry is holding its annual holiday donation drive.

Daniella Scala-Nathan founded the charity that she has run out of her house for more than five years, but she credits her volunteers for keeping the drive going.

"I had to take a step back because of a medical problem," Scala-Nathan told Patch. "The drive wouldn't be possible" if her helpers didn't connect with the various business owners.

She faced incredible challenges over the past few years.

Scala-Nathan faced the loss of her husband and co-founder, Rob, to COVID-19 in the early weeks of the pandemic. In addition, a volunteer died of COVID-19 a week before her husband. She also had to handle the death of her mother five months later, while her father was hospitalized separately and left paralyzed.

Scala-Nathan has also dealt with a serious crisis of her own since last year, when she was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer in her remaining lung.

So getting Paw It Forward's drive this season is even more miraculous. Drop boxes are set up at small businesses across Long Island. These are the pet-related locations:

Baldwin Harbor Animal Hospital, Mutts and Butts in Merrick, Pet Supplies Plus in Valley Stream, Central Veterinary Associates in Valley Stream and the Fido Fitness Club in Woodmere.

But residents can also leave supplies, in particular cans of cat food and cat litter, at other businesses:

• American Beauty Bar and Grill, Bellmore
• American Beauty Bistro, Massapequa
• Grand Prix Suburu, Hicksville
• Gregoris Suburu, Valley Stream
• South Shore Suburu, Lindenhurst
• Prime Time Entertainment, Bellmore
• Ridgewood Savings Bank, Bellmore
• TGIF, Valley Stream

Scala-Nathan obviously has a passion for pets. She had five cats with her late husband. She now has two dogs.

"I love animals," she said. "We started this because of the animals. We see the animals suffering because the pet owners can't afford them. This, at least, gives us something to try to keep the animals with their owners."