North Fork Roasting Co. Owner Reaches Out For Help With Beloved Pup, Knox

SOUTHOLD, NY— Jess Dunne is a well-known and friendly face to the many coffee lovers who make the North Fork Roasting Co., part of their daily routine.

Dunne, a co-owner of the business, is now reaching out to the community she loves for help with her dog, Knox — so that he can have a safe and secure future.

She's created a GoFundMe page, "Save Knox," which has raised $2,706 of its $5,000 goal in two days.

"We adopted Knox in September 1, 2015; he was on high alert for death row," she wrote. "A part of me felt crushed and I had to help this dog in need. He was only about "11 to 13 months" as the shelter had told me. He was going to be euthanized the next day at 12:30 p.m.

"I awoke the next morning and got in the car from the North Fork and raced to Brooklyn to wait in the shelter for two hours. They were unsure if he was still alive. I had already felt I needed to help this pup in need from being euthanized at such a young age. A nurse came out and said 'Who is here for Lazarus?' I stood up and two women at the shelter started crying. They said they were just about to bring him in to put him down and they couldn't believe I just got there. I went out back to meet him and he kissed me on the cheek and fell into my arms. I started crying and said, 'What do I do now?' The nurse said, 'You say you want to adopt him.' I said 'I wanna adopt him!'

"She cried and he went home to the North Fork with me that night. He met his brother Sinatra that day, who was more than jealous we were bringing another dog in but showed him who was boss. We also quickly changed his name from Lazarus to Knox. Knox slept in between us that night and put both arms on my shoulders and licked my cheek. I felt a tear and thought, 'Damn, that is his way of thanking me.'

"After a year and a half and many stressful days, many loving days, some relationship fights, some loving moments, and some traumatic moments, there came a time where Knox became too much to handle. With us he is an absolute mush but with other dogs other than Sinatra he was a terror.

"And as much as I loved that he wanted to protect me for saving him, it became very scary. What if it was my nephew? What if it was my niece?

"It took me a heart-wrenching two months to get here and I tried every way not to. Knox was reaching the point of where I first got him. Until we came across a sanctuary that will take him in. He will get extensive training. He will run with dogs, he will eat a healthy diet, he will play.

"And most of all — he will live. I can't explain how much I hurt for this but the hope that he will not be euthanized is more than that hurt and is pushing us to do this GoFundMe and ask for a little help.The sanctuary is donation based.

"Knox's life cost, at his age, is an estimated $7,000. In order to get him in it would be $5,000 up front. We will pay the rest and be able to visit him and know he is well and alive. Because we can't afford this on our own, we are asking for your help. Even if it is $10.

"We plan to create a 'Sanctuary Blend.' As many of you know Sinatra is on our coffee bags at the shop, this particular bag will have a sketch of Knox and each bag sold will go toward the sanctuary as well.

"We hope that this blend can continue to help not only our dog but many other loving dogs that just need a special environment."

To donate, click here.