By Nicole Falco
Franco Pomponio was peacefully sleeping in his upstairs bedroom after coming home from working the night-shift at his Kennedy Airport job. Pomponio is one of five Belle Harbor residents killed after American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into the tight-knit residential community. Pomponio's wife, Gerri, and 15-year-old daughter, Jennifer, were in the basement of their Beach 131 Street home when they heard a loud crash followed by an eruption of flames. The two quickly made it to safety along with Dakota. However, Dakota immediately sensed something was wrong, according to Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Dakota raced back into the burning home in search of Pomponio.
"[Dakota] went back into the house looking for his master even though the house was totally up in flames," Gross said.
The mother and daughter waiting outside thought they had lost their dog too, Gross said. Dakota was found burned, bruised and disoriented on the beach by a neighbor. Jennifer's best friend, Scott Blutstein, 15, carried the wounded hero to the Suffolk SPCA's Mobile Animal Spay/Neuter Hospital (MASH) unit located next to the NYC police command center on Beach 129 Street.
"[Dakota] always had a wagging tale. When I got her, her tale wouldn't wag. That's the first time I've ever seen that," Blutstein said of the friendly dog who'd normally jump up five feet in the air to lick you.
In the MASH unit Dakota was treated by Dr. John Charos, Dr. Steven Fox and veterinary technician Alex Starodubte of Valley Stream's Central Veterinary Associates. Dr. Charos quickly realized he knew Dakota. He had given the dog a check-up back in April while working in Central Veterinary's Belle Harbor location. Their Belle Harbor office was untouched.
The Thursday after the crash, Dakota, swathed in pink bandages, was recovering nicely from her physical injuries in the Valley Stream veterinary hospital, but the sadness shown in her eyes for the master she missed and the home she grew up in.
"[Pomponio and Dakota] were like best friends. She knew right away he wasn't outside and she did whatever she could to find him," Blutstein said.
According to Dr. Charos, "All four paws were burned, but her rear feet were in worst shape."
Dr. Charos added that normally Dakota would have been able to go home, but considering the circumstances the clinic has offered to provide free boarding and medical treatment for the dog until the Pomponio family is able to take her back. Dakota is expected to make a full recovery in about three weeks.
The Pomponio family has visited Dakota on several occasions and is thankful that she is okay, Dr. Charos said. Since their home was destroyed they are currently staying with family in Malverne.
In addition to the free board and medical treatment, Central Veterinary Associates is in talks with a pet food supply company and a drug company in the hopes that they would supply the family with a six month to one year supply of dog food and medicine for Dakota, Dr. Fox said.
"We are grateful to have the opportunity to help out people who've been struck by a catastrophic disaster," Dr. Fox said. [The Pomponio's] are a beautiful family."
