Baloo is on a strict diet in Serra Manor, where he lives with his parents, Chuck and Deb Seifert. That's why on hot summer days, Baloo loves it when his "cool aunt," Erin Pendergast '25, takes him out for ice cream. The two best friends also spend time together advocating for dogs who need homes.
Erin grew up with two rescue dogs who lived to be 15 and 16 years old. When they passed, she was in college and in no position to adopt her own dog. But, there was a hole in her heart, and only the unconditional love of man's best friend would fill it. And since Erin wasn't ready to give one dog its forever home, she decided to brighten the temporary home for lots of dogs.
"Mira is my favorite right now, though she's currently in foster care. Sometimes a dog will just come sit in front of me, and we'll have a connection I can't explain."
For two years, Erin has volunteered at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society (MHHS). Twice a week, she'll walk dogs, usually five to ten per visit, and she'll play with many of the others. One day, she started chatting with another volunteer who spent much of her time assisting cat adoptions. Turns out, this woman and her husband recently acquired a lovable St. Bernard, and they were looking for someone to dog sit. Deb, meet Erin.
"Deb knows my sister, Kiley, because she's Chuck's executive assistant. Once we put the pieces together, it was this perfect connection."
Sometimes Deb will text Erin and ask if she can grab Baloo and take him for a walk. Sometimes, it's a bigger ask than that. When the Seiferts traveled to Italy last summer, Erin stayed at Serra Manor with Baloo.
"He thinks I'm his cool aunt. I spoiled him. I'd take him to Guptills and get him a cup of vanilla ice cream. He's so big, I'd get a kiddy-size for myself, and he'd get the small."
As a 'thank you,' the Seiferts brought a souvenir back from Italy for Erin – it's a cross personally blessed by the Pope (which Erin keeps hanging in her car to protect her on the road).
Even though Erin gets her fill of dog love and slobbery kisses from Baloo, she still volunteers weekly at MHHS. In fact, her time with Baloo gave her an idea, which she then pitched to Siena's Vice President and Director of Athletics John D'Argenio. He loved it – and that's how MHHS became Siena basketball's non-profit partner for the year.
During each men's and women's basketball game this season, Erin and Baloo introduce the crowds to Baloo's buddy of the game. The 30-second videos (below) introduce fans to a dog at the Humane Society in need of a home.
Marguerite Pearson is MHHS's director of marketing and communications. She's thrilled with the partnership, and she told Erin that she believes an uptick in families looking to adopt this winter is a credit to the Baloo's Buddies series. In fact, Pearson has been so impressed, she offered Erin, a communications-marketing major, an internship for this spring.
Perhaps the internship could lead to a full-time job working, in a communications-marketing capacity, with an animal rescue. But, that's not Erin's first priority come May.
"My next step in life, after graduation, is to adopt a dog. I'll do that first, and then I'll figure everything else out."