Southampton Residents Who Lost Home in Fire Raise Funds in Memory of Beloved Dog Brando

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Just four months after their home was destroyed by a devastating fire, Southampton's Terri Kiernan and Ann LaWall faced the most painful loss of all, when they had to say good-bye last week to Terri's beloved dog Brando.

"This is the heartbreak of my life," Kiernan said.

Brando, she said, died of "old age and arthritis. I had to decide to put him down. I took him to the vet that day for a bath and a checkup, and my vet advised me that he was really in a lot of pain. She gave me the choice of taking him home and increasing his pain meds."

But Kiernan knew she had to do what was right for the friend who'd stood faithfully by her side for so many years.

"I realized that that was just delaying the inevitable. Brando had his bath and then I went back to the vet and stayed with him to the end. Heartbreaking, times a thousand. But there was no way I could have let him go without being right next to him," she said.

Mother and daughter have once again faced tragedy with indomitable spirits, unwavering strength and grace, and brave smiles through their tears.

Turning sadness into a meaningful mission, the pair teamed up Thursday night to serve as guest bartenders at Dockers in East Quogue, with all tips being donated to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Brando's memory.

They raised more than $600.

"Brando originally came from the Guide Dog Foundation as I was a volunteer and was his 'puppy walker'," Kiernan said.

Puppy walkers, she said, raise puppies for their first year and then return them to the Foundation for their full training.

But because Brando had dysplasia in his left leg, two surgeries later, he was released from the Foundation and Kiernan was able to adopt him.

"It has been just me and him ever since, for 12 years," Kiernan said.

When they were asked to guest bartend at Dockers, Kiernan decided to turn the event into a fundraiser.

"All tips will be donated to the Guide Dog Foundation in honor of Terri's dog, Brando, who just crossed that rainbow bridge to doggie heaven last week," LaWall wrote on her Facebook page. "What an amazing dog he was. Terri's best buddy for 12 wonderful years and my granddog. Will miss him always. RIP, Brando."

Of the event, Kiernan said, "Such a wonderful tribute to Brando. A thousand thank yous."

It was the second time in months the two were faced with unspeakable loss.

Kiernan and LaWall were in Florida on March 3 when they got the call that their family home was destroyed in the fire.The fire broke out about 3 a.m. at their home on Seven Ponds Road, Kiernan said. "It was just a very horrible accident," she said.

"It is very surreal at this point," she said at the time. "I'm so grateful that no one was injured."

After the fire, what gave Kiernan comfort was that her precious dog had survived.

"My dog Brando was there with my dog sitter and he is fine. The fire department is amazing —how hard they tried to salvage anything and they were dealing with absolutely horrible weather conditions," she said in March.

Their family celebrated 40 years in their home this past December. "So many memories," Kiernan said.
Across the community, scores of heartsick friends left messages of support and offers of help on Kiernan's Facebook page.

She responded to the outpouring in a Facebook message: "I cannot begin to express sufficient gratitude to every person who has been by the house, called, messaged, etc. to offer help, prayers and support today. By the grace of God no one was injured and my Brando is safe and sound," Kiernan said in March. "The stuff is just that — 'stuff'."

To donate to the Guide Dog Foundation in Brando's memory, click here.