Two Years & Still Hoping!

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1 AniMail Two Years & Still Hoping! Dear Friends, Spring has arrived here at the shelter and we dogs couldn t be happier about it! When I go on my daily walks, I notice that the trees are getting their pretty green leaves, the air is warm and inviting, and it s the kind of weather that makes a dog want to romp and play and enjoy the day. But with the change of the seasons, I am also sadly reminded of the passing of time here at the shelter. Summer Newsletter It was a pretty day much like this one when I was brought to the place that would become my new home; the Sullivan County SPCA. As I nervously looked at my new surroundings, I turned my big brown eyes to my new caretakers who sweetly said it s okay girl, we ll find you a new family soon. But that was over two years ago. Since then, I ve seen lots of dogs come and go. The only difference between the other dogs and me, is that they all seem to get adopted, while I wait. For most dogs, the wait is only a few months. But I sadly, have been waiting for over two years, which has earned me the unlucky title of the longest shelter resident ever. (The honor had previously belonged to my good friend Blaze, but she was happily adopted last year. It was a happy dog day for her!) Our Purpose and Passion No one here seems to know why I m passed up every day. I m a pretty gal, I think, and I m so loveable and friendly. I happily rolled around in the grass and sat sweetly for my pictures. When folks come in looking for a dog, I ll often hear Bill (one of my caretakers here at the shelter) say, hey, have you looked at Julie? She s a real sweetheart! But then, no matter (continued on p. 3)

2 The Staff Corner... Greetings from the Board of Directors and Staff! Good things are continuing to happen here at the shelter and we hope you enjoy reading about them here in our newsletter. With the summer months, comes the ability for our operating budget to allow for great new improvements, so we couldn t be happier to see Old Man Winter left behind. Like the rest of America, the economy hit us hard this winter. We saw an increase in the number of pets who were dropped off when their families sadly lost their jobs or homes. And like most years, heating fuel continued to eat up a considerable amount of our operating budget. But despite space and budget constraints, we were able to provide help to some very special visitors. We have become involved in a wonderful initiative that is saving hundreds of puppies and dogs from certain death. These dogs, who are just days away from euthanization at over-populated shelters in the South, are rescued and brought to no-kill shelters like ours to be given a second chance. So we have had dozens of puppies keeping us smiling this year! And the best news is that so far, every single one has been adopted! You can read more about this terrific program on page 6. As the shelter is continuing to thrive and grow, we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our loyal supporters who have continued to open their hearts and pocketbooks throughout these challenging economic times. We hope you enjoy reading about the great things happening! Manon Manon Fortier Board of Directors Vice-President One of the several award-winning landscape and signage improvement projects at the shelter. Curb Appeal Sullivan County SPCA wins 1st Place! If you haven't visited the shelter in awhile, you might be surprised to see the new curb appeal! While many new improvements have been happening on the inside, the outside of the shelter was still in need of some help. So you can imagine how grateful we were to learn that the Sullivan Renaissance, a group committed to aiding in the beautification and community development of Sullivan County, awarded us a $1,000 grant to go towards improving the appearance of the shelter's exterior and landscaping. Throughout the summer of 2008, staff and volunteers worked tirelessly on the project with the additional help of local vendors who contributed valuable supplies and labor. Even better, at a ceremony held last Fall, we were thrilled to learn that our project had won 1st place in the 2008 contest judging all of the grant recipients in Category A (projects made up of single elements such as a new sign or landscaping!). We were then awarded another $3,000 prize for additional beautification and projects! Our sincere thanks goes out to Sullivan Renaissance and everyone who contributed to this project. We are Sullivan Proud! For more on this story or to see more photos, visit us online at Special thanks to: PET CENTER - LIBERTY, NY PetBrite dog grooming salon 2 The AniMail newsletter is published by the Sullivan County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). All contents are copyrighted by the Sullivan County SPCA. All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without expressed written permission of the Sullivan County SPCA.

3 Outdoor Play Park Now that we've enjoyed sprucing up the exterior of the shelter, it's time to let the dogs out to enjoy the new view! Plans are currently underway for groundbreaking of the new outdoor exercise area which will give our shelter dogs the much-needed opportunity to run and play under the big blue sky. Outdoor exercise is vitally important to the well-being of shelter dogs. While all of the dogs in the shelter are walked daily, 'off-leash' exercise is wonderful for their overall mental and physical health. Allowing the dogs the chance to run and play with other dogs helps them to learn socialization skills and work off excess energy. Plus, it puts them in a great mood! says shelter Manager, Kathy Conley. Giving the dogs a safe and secure place to play has been something we've wanted to do for quite a long time, so this is very exciting for us and will be a wonderful new addition to our dog care program. Calling All Donors & Volunteers If you would like to help with the new Outdoor Exercise area, we invite you to get involved! First and foremost, we're asking for a donation of fencing (specifically, 350 feet of 6 foot chain-linked fence and gate.) And of course, monetary donations are appreciated. Also, if you would like to enjoy some outdoor, off-leash fun yourself by helping with the construction, please give us a call or send us an . to: contact@sullivanscpa.com. Julie is a 5 year old, friendly & loveable Foxhound mix. Though she does seem to get along well with others, we think she might most enjoy a new family where she can be the only child. This poor gal has been in the shelter for over 2 years, so she needs a person who will be patient & happy to help her learn to get used to living at home again. If you think you might be the special person who can give this girl a second chance at life, we invite you to visit her. You'll be so glad you did! JULIE - continued from page 1 how hard I try to bark and get their attention, they just walk on past me, like I'm invisible. It breaks my heart each and every time. I'll be honest that I m not perfect (though who is?) You see, I'm a little nervous about my food and get scared whenever someone comes near me while I m eating. Please don't let it chase you away, I promise I m really good otherwise. Just give me a little space while I m eating, and I ll reward you with lots of gentle love and fun. If you come visit me you ll see how great I can be (especially if it s a nice day and I can play in the grass with you!) The good folks here even brought a trainer in to work with me which is helping me to be an even bigger charmer!! I love the attention and I'm his star student! So that's my story. As Spring turns to summer, and year two is turning into year three, I will continue to wait for that special person who will finally look at me and see the beautiful dog I can be. I will continue to be grateful for the people here at the shelter who have never given up on me. And I will continue to hope for the day when my new family will take me home and love me forever. Who knows, maybe it'll even be today! Hopefully yours, Julie 3

4 Around the Shelter Puma is a wonderful, loving and trusting little soul who wants nothing more than a warm lap and friendly hand. Maybe yours? Callie is a beautiful callico who is a little shy and cautious but who still loves to be held. Boots and Paws are stunning black and white 2 year old kitties who are affectionate & love to snuggle with visitors after a proper introduction! Become A Member! contribute new ideas learn about the shelter make new friends Join Today! Just an hour of your time each month can make a difference! Please join us at our next membership meeting and give it a try! For more info, visit We can't wait to meet you! Pickles and her sister Paulina are fun yellow lab mix puppies who are in cheerful moods everyday. You ll love to play with them! 4 Luther is a wonderful staffordshire terrier who looks tough but is all heart! Hey, maybe that s what you re like too, so you ll be the perfect match! Scooter is a 1.5 year old springer spaniel / lab mix who is sooo good looking! He s a bit shy and timid in the shelter so we think he would do very well in a quiet household.

5 Visit us at these Upcoming Events Haley has a kind spirit & seems to love all creatures, big & small Mayo is a stunning and super friendly 2 year old male kitty who likes to be picked up, held and petted. Dakota is a border collie who loves kids! Paco is a goofy & fun little Jack Russell Terrier June 13 Dog walk & wash at Grahamsville Fairgrounds from 9a-12p June 14 Callicoon Tractor Parade June 27 Health Fair at Callicoon Hospital July 4 Parade & Street Fair - Roscoe July 25 Callicoon Street Fair August 1 Roscoe Bicentennial Celebration Sept-Oct Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods Ongoing Events - Membership meeting Every 3rd Tues of the month 7pm at TD North Bank Main Street, Monticello - Sunday afternoon adoptions at PetsMart in Middletown (together with North Shore Animal League) Ander is an adorable one year old husky mix boy who loves to be petted and cuddled. He recently received a second chance at life when we rescued him just one day before he was scheduled to be euthanized at an overpopulated shelter in South Carolina. He is super friendly and a real tail wagger! He would be the perfect addition to a family with children. For more info on any of the adoptable pets you see here, give us a call at (845) or stop by for a visit in person! 5

6 Your name could be here! THE JOSEPH A. SMITH PLAY PARK A Brand New Look A visually impaired dog is healed & loved Ranger was a dog who came to us this past fall, and wiggled right into our hearts! A beautiful boxer mix, this handsome boy had suffered his entire life with an eye condition that had rendered him nearly completely blind. The condition, known as trichiasis, occurs when the lashes of the eye grow inward towards the eye, causing tremendous discomfort and pain as the lashes constantly scratch the surface of the eye. By the time Ranger was brought to the shelter, he could no longer open his eyes and required an expensive surgery to correct the problem. says Manon Fortier, Shelter Vice-President. He was such a sweet dog and it was amazing that he was still so playful and friendly, despite his condition and constant discomfort. We immediately started making the necessary plans to get him the help he needed. Fortunately, thanks to the help of Dr. Schwalb of Jeffersonville Animal Hospital, and some generous donors, Ranger had his surgery in November. Amazingly, his eyesight recovered beautifully and when the bandages finally came off, he was excited to look around at his bright new world! Ranger was happily adopted in December and is now enjoying a new family and a new view on life! 6 Celebrate your compassion for animals by sponsoring the construction of our new Outdoor Exercise Area. Putting your name, your family's name, or even your business name on this much-needed project is a wonderful way to give back to the community and the animals you love. For more information on this sponsorship opportunity, please send an to mattmcneil@sullivanspca.com. Ranger and his big new beautiful eyes, posing for the camera at our Photos with Santa event in December. Photo credit: Ferguson Studios The Great Puppy Rescue Many people would be shocked to learn that in southern states like Tennessee & the Carolinas, where overpopulation is epidemic, hundreds of healthy dogs, mostly puppies, are euthanized every single day. This past year, the Sullivan County SPCA became involved in a program that rescues these beautiful dogs by bringing them to nokill shelters. In order to participate, our shelter had to pass a strict, on-site evaluation and guarantee a no-kill policy. All of the puppies and dogs are spayed or neutered, & vaccinated prior to adoption. We ve been thrilled to see people literally waiting in line at the shelter for the puppy van deliveries, & we couldn t be happier to see these dogs enjoying a happy new chance at life! T.A.R.A. Low-cost spay & neuter mobile unit Servicing Sullivan & Orange counties (845)

7 Humans Wanted! Are you interested in becoming more involved with the care of animals and the shelter? If you have some free time this summer, we could use your help! The following volunteer positions are currently needed: - landscaping / gardening assistance - kitty cuddlers - help staffing summer event tables - dog walkers and handlers - grounds & building help Interested persons should send an to: contact@sullivanspca.com or call Wish List! Our needs are many...here are just a few! - three 10 x 10 kennel covers (available at Agway) feet of 6 chain link fence - dry dog food - cat litter - cleaning supplies - canned dog food - office supplies - dry kitten food ~ Kuranda Beds are needed! See our website for details about how you can give a shelter dog a comfy new bed to rest a furry head. EASY WAYS TO GIVE: ~ online by credit or debit card at Volunteer Spotlighlight Heads & Tails Above the Rest! In addition to the tireless work of our dedicated staff, we at the shelter also depend on the dedication and hard work of volunteers to help care for the hundreds of animals admitted each year. Each volunteer brings a unique set of skills; whether they provide care for the animals, share professional skills, or provide tireless labor, their contribution is priceless. While each and every volunteer is truly appreciated, there are a couple volunteers who stand head and tails above the rest and we would like to offer a personalized thank you! Cindy Greenhold has been volunteering for more than ten years, amazingly! After a long day of work at her regular job, she comes to the shelter to work with problem dogs to make them more adoptable. She and her family also help out at off-site adoption events. Cindy, and her extraordinary loyalty to the shelter, has truly made a difference in the lives of countless dogs. All the love and care for animals is wonderful, but wouldn t mean a thing if we didn t have a building for them to live in! Tom Swarting volunteers his time to fix...well just about everything around here! From lawn mowers to washing machines, if Tom can't fix it...it can't be fixed. Thanks to his tireless work and handy skills, our building and grounds continue to provide the homeless animals of Sullivan County a safe and comfortable place to rest their heads and wag their tails. ~ by check in person or sent to our mailing address suggestions? ~ add money to our supply fund at Agway Liberty Pet Center From the bottom of our hearts to the tips of our tails, we are profoundly grateful! Contact Us: Sullivan County SPCA PO Box 995 Rock Hill, NY (845) phone contact@sullivanspca.com 7

8 AniMail Summer 2009 PO Box 995 Rock Hill, NY Visit us on the web at: