A Miracle K-9: The STAR Project is born
/By Charlie Cifarelli
On Aug. 13, 2012 I was sitting at my desk 1,200 miles away from NYC, not knowing what would occur that day would change my life forever. A story that would move even me, a guy who had witnessed some horrible things, to believe in miracles.
I left New York in my twenties for a life in the Midwest, taking my first job at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. I had a great career, though I must admit they kept a close eye on this New Yorker and for good reason; the guys who talked like me and looked like me were the ones in the cells after being picked up for moving drugs across the country or an inmate interstate transfer. Even when I was accepted on the CERT (Corrections Emergency Response Team), they would nominate me as the inmate for the drills. I stayed tough, did my job and the promotions came along. At the end of my career, I was back at the Penitentiary and had the keys to the entire institution. I’ve always been grateful to the NYPD sergeant who bought me a meal by the Jamaica train station back in the late 1980s. As a matter of fact, if it wasn’t for the police, I would’ve never had any role models growing up or help when I was in a jam.
I eventually left the department of corrections to start a trash business and I had tremendous success. I built the business solely and eventually sold the business to a larger company, even taking a position as their Chief Operations Officer. I desperately missed New York, and given the free time at my desk I’d scan the New York newspapers to see what was going on. On this day in August, the headlines would read that the NYPD shot and killed a pit bull that was lunging at people in the East Village. The story saddened me, as I had a dog that was a pit bull. When I was down and out living in my van in my early twenties, my dog was my only constant companion.
Luckily, I don’t believe headlines without reading the entire story. Although it looked like the dog had died, I wasn’t convinced. I called and spoke to the staff at the New York City Animal Care & Control and after some pleasantries, telling them I was calling from Nebraska wanting to learn about their refuse and recycling, I asked if the dog that was shot by the NYPD was actually dead. I was told she was alive but hanging on to life. Her name was Star.
In the days that followed, the media had to reverse course, and as the New York Daily News reported, Star was making a lightning speed recovery. I immediately started a Facebook page to document the story and her recovery. Star’s story, and her Facebook page garnered global attention. Unbeknownst to the public, Star quietly left NYC to begin recovery in Pennsylvania. Although her whereabouts were unknown, I tirelessly tried to find Star. One day, a photo was released of Star with cars in the background. A semi-truck was pictured as well. I put my years of corrections experience and training to good use, as I noticed the cars did not have a front license plate, and the DOT number was visible on the semi-truck. After many calls and due diligence, I learned where Star was. Several more weeks had passed, and I was granted permission to see Star. When it was time for her to be adopted into a permanent home, I asked my fiancée, Jenn, if we should give Star a home in Nebraska and take this once homeless dog and show her a wonderful life here.
Approximately eight months after Star was shot, I picked her up in Pennsylvania and drove back to Nebraska. Star was a natural with people, a real social butterfly. Having lost a family member to Alzheimer’s, we were very much involved in the local Alzheimer’s Association and attended the yearly fundraising walks. Star began attending these walks, and the response to her was incredible. In 2015, we started a nonprofit organization, the STAR Project, to raise awareness of dogs in need. One of our first rescued dogs was adopted by a Lincoln, Nebraska police officer. The good that has come out of rescuing a once-homeless NYC dog who almost lost her life from a shooting has turned out to be one of the biggest blessings to come into my life.
Sadly, earlier this year Star passed away from an aggressive form of cancer. She left this world as she lived life - on her own terms. It’s import that I keep her legacy alive, as so much good came from such a rough start.
Charlie Cifarelli is a businessman from Long Island, New York. After rising through the ranks in several maximum-security prisons in Nebraska, he tapped into his entrepreneurial spirit starting his own successful business. Charlie is also co-founder of a nonprofit organization, speaks at various business and social awareness functions, and has been featured in newspaper, magazine, radio and TV regarding animal advocacy.
