MONTAGUE — Deb Arlin and her dog Sage want to lend a hand (and a paw) to dog owners in need with a small donation shed called Sage’s Closet.
Named for her 3-year-old Italian greyhound rescue dog, Sage’s Closet is a personal effort by Arlin, 52, to help fellow dog owners support their furry friends through free, dog-related, non-monetary donations that she stores in a small, 4-foot-by-6-foot shed.
Here, pet owners can schedule a time with Arlin to drop off and/or pick up a variety of dog-related items, including leashes, food, toys, beds, blankets, dog diapers and more, as long as it fits in Sage’s Closet.
Arlin said this idea came from seeing people struggle to support both themselves and their four-legged companions, and her love of giving back.
When asked about why she decided to pursue setting up donations to benefit dogs, Arlin said that she’s a dog lover and she sees the benefit she gets from Sage, who she said has given her back her “patience, grace and happiness.”
“Having a pet, financially, can be a burden, but hopefully I can help in a small way and relieve some of that,” Arlin said.
Arlin said that last fall, she was going to visit her friend in Kentucky who was moving her dog rescue, and before the visit, she asked around for donations that she could bring with her to support the shelter. Some of what Arlin received went to Kentucky with her and some went to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter.
After this donation run to Kentucky, where she ultimately adopted Sage, the idea to pay it forward locally came to her.
“I started brainstorming, and I thought, ‘What if I made a shed and called it Sage’s Closet, and I would take donations like I did for that?'” Arlin explained, referencing her donation trip to Kentucky. “And people could come and take things for free, because things are getting more expensive, like gas, food, and our fur babies are important to us, and it sucks when you have to choose.”
The issue of choosing between oneself and pets is not an isolated issue, as the cost of living increases for many. CBS News reported on the issue of “petflation” in 2025 as the costs of pet food rise, forcing people to choose between feeding themselves and their pets.
The cost of living and its impact on pet owners isn’t only related to pet care, but also housing costs, as shelter intakes due to housing changes are increasing, as reported by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).
To help get started, Arlin and a few of her friends and family members helped assemble the shed to house a plethora of donated goods for dogs, and Sage’s Closet officially began on April 26. The shed even has a Sage’s Closet decal on the door.
Since Arlin launched her donation shed, she said the response has been swift, if not a little overwhelming, for just this “brainchild idea” she had.
So far, a handful of people have reached out to donate, and one person has come by to browse Sage’s Closet and take home donations. She said visitors have shared their appreciation for the idea of a place for free dog donations, and that they feel this resource is a “blessing.”
But Arlin said she doesn’t do this for recognition.
“I get the reward of hearing people’s stories when they come,” Arlin said, “and just getting interaction when people bring their pups, and it just feels good.”
To donate to or get donations from Sage’s Closet, visit Sage’s Closet on Facebook at facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590336711893 and message Arlin to coordinate further.
