Four-Legged Victim of Alleged Cancer Scam Needs Home

This story was posted by Michael Sorrentino. It was written by Ryan Bonner.

The story of Brittany Ozarowski, the Long Island woman who was living out of a Medford motel before being accused of falsely claiming to have cancer in order to solicit funds to support a heroin addiction, has made national headlines. 

Victims of the alleged scam has expressed their disgust over donating money to the 21-year-old who was living out of a Medford motel over the past year. 

One victim, however, cannot speak. He is Shadow, a 6-year-old English mastiff who has been at the Willow Pet Hotel in Deer Park for the last month. A couple weeks before she arrested on April 1 while soliciting money at a Sayville supermarket, Ozarowski, along with her father, brought Shadow to the Willow Pet Hotel to be boarded. 

Ozarowski told Marc Rosenzweig, the owner of the upscale pet resort, that after her grandmother sold her Selden home, reportedly to help pay for Ozarowski’s supposed cancer treatments, Ozarowski and her father had to move out of a basement apartment, leaving Shadow with nowhere to go. 

Two days after Ozarowski’s arrest, her father asked Rosenzweig to place the dog in a new home. Now Rosenzweig is looking for that new home for Shadow. 

“We are trying to help this dog because of the bad situation that it came from get into a good home,” said Rosenzweig, who added that the Willow Pet Hotel is not an adopting agency. 

Shadow needs an owner who can handle an older, bigger dog and knows about mastiffs, Rosenweig said. 

“Though through this unfortunate circumstance, Shadow was certainly raised as a gentle giant,” a blog about Shadow on the Willow Pet Hotel’s website reads. “Despite starting to get into his older years, he is still energetic and completely lovable. He also likes to relax and quietly lounge around, which makes him an ideal pet. The second you see Shadow’s sweet, brown eyes you’ll immediately love him!” 

For those interested in adopting Shadow, call the Willow Pet Hotel at 631-243-0000.