Now, though, with their own lives increasingly focused on helping animals, they laugh at the irony. If plans continue on schedule, Lynne, 39, and Donna, 30, say they will open Philadelphia's first "no-kill" cat and dog shelter by year's end.
"We will not euthanize a healthy animal for space," Lynne Mastrilli said. "We'll never say, 'Sorry, little dog, we're out of space - you're gone.' "
The idea for the animal shelter took hold in the summer of 1999 as the sisters were driving back from a vacation in Vermont.
By then they had four dogs and two cats between them. Their Greene Street Consignment Shops, at Seventh and South Streets and on Third Street in Old City, were humming along.
It was time for something new.
"We wanted something that meant something to us," Lynne said. "I guess we had a midlife crisis earlier than most people."
At the time, Greene Street gave clothes that didn't sell, or weren't suitable, to charity.
"We were giving tons of stuff to other charities," Donna said.
Then it occurred to them that they could form their own charity, selling the cast-off prom gowns and bowling shirts to benefit a cause.
The Greene for Pets thrift store opened in January 2000 at 315 Market St., followed by a second store at 718 South St. in July.
Lynne's dog Mac, also known as Mr. Boy, is the Greene for Pets spokesdog, urging pet owners to spay and neuter their cats and dogs in fund-raising literature. He's a ringer for Nipper, of RCA gramophone fame.
So far, the Mastrillis say, through sales and fund-raising - including a sold-out Valentine's Day benefit at the Five Spot in Old City - they have raised $60,000, nearly half the amount they need to convert a rented Fishtown warehouse into a shelter. They plan to do more benefits this spring, including a flea market and dog carnival in Northern Liberties.
