The idea struck Michelle Gershwin all of a sudden. She was driving through Rye and kept noticing adorable dogs walking down the street with their fawning owners. 

“We have the cutest dogs and the most loving dog owners in this community. They are just in love with their pets,” Gershwin thought. 

And then she thought a little more — and came up with the idea for a calendar featuring the dogs of Rye. She would publish the calendar and then donate the proceeds to local shelters. She said she has donated food and pet supplies to the Humane Society of New Rochelle before, but it — and many other shelters — say what they need most is money. 

It’s hard to ask people for money, Gershwin said, but who can resist a calendar? Especially one with cute pets in it? (She also decided to include cats and birds.) She put out a call for pet pictures on Facebook — and to her shock, more than 85 dogs (and their owners) responded. 

“I needed a passion project,” said Gershwin, who has two daughters, two dogs (a miniature poodle and a Goldendoodle), and a business helping people find the right camps for their kids. Her passion was contagious, and a fellow dog lover even arranged for a professional photographer to meet dogs in Rye Town Park for a photo shoot. 

“Dogs showed up in costumes, with bows in their hair, with props. It was amazing,” Gershwin said, noting that she footed the bill to print the 50 calendars (though she negotiated a discount with Shutterfly.com.)

The result is the Paws for a Cause 2024 calendar, which costs $35 and is available only at All Paws, the pet supply store at 31 Purchase Street in Rye.

She’s hoping to raise between $1,000 and $2,000 which will be divided between the Humane Society of New Rochelle (where Gershwin and her daughters have volunteered) and Paws Cross Animal Rescue in Elmsford, a no-kill animal rescue center.

Gershwin is already planning to make a 2025 calendar (though she hopes to get started earlier for the 2025 edition.) “This has just been so overwhelmingly positive, and a true feel-good project. People really do care for their pets.”