Tell Tails. Summer A Great Year for Long-Timers! What s Inside:

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1 Tell Tails Summer 2018 What s Inside: Welcome our New Class! Ruff & Roll Save the Date Page 2 Cover Story Continued Page 3 Volunteer Spotlight Summer Safety Tips Page 4 Meet Our Long-Timers! Page 5 Kind Kids: Troop #407 Page 6 GOT? / AmazonSmile Follow us on Instagram! Page 7 Happy Tails - Skippy Page 8 Paws to Remember pavers are still available. Go to our web site: And click on the paver on the home page. A Great Year for Long-Timers! We are particularly excited to share this issue with you because it is filled with so many amazing stories just from this year alone! So far this year, four of our longtimers have been adopted by their perfect homes! We consider a long-timer to be a dog that has been a resident at the shelter waiting to be adopted for at least a year. And yes, unfortunately, we still have many others that qualify for that title. Often, many of the long-timers are not dog- friendly, making them tough to place into homes as many families already have another dog or are looking to engage in social activities with other dogs. However, there are a lot of silly reasons visitors may overlook a long-timer as well. Sometimes it s because of his kennel behavior (never a good way to judge a shelter dog!), sometimes it s because of his age, and sometimes it s just because of how long he has been here! Let s take a look at the four stories that prove a long-timer is a worthy addition to your family: Pablo (Now Juju): Date arrived at shelter: 12/31/2016 Date adopted: 1/5/2018 Pablo arrived at the shelter an exuberant pup with no training. He was adopted briefly but due to unforeseen circumstances had to be returned. Pablo was very jumpy and barked loudly in the kennel he kept getting passed over by visitors. Thankfully, a wonderful couple took a chance and asked to meet him. They immediately saw the goofy, loveable boy he is and took him home! To the right is a photo of Pablo celebrating his birthday at home. Also, he is now an awesome big brother to a human sibling! His new mom writes he is a wonderful addition to our family! We love him so much. (continued on page 3) is a volunteer organization at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter. Our mission, in partnership with the Town, is to improve the quality of life for the dogs at the shelter and increase adoptions through training and socialization. A secondary mission is public education to shift the public perception about shelters and dispel the myth that shelter dogs are damaged goods.

2 Board of Directors Robert Slifkin MD President Jeff Rosen Treasurer Marianne Sikora Secretary Rosanne Palumbo Wellmaker Director of Training Regina Lagrasta Volunteer Coordinator Denise Waters Newsletter Editor Progressive Pit Program Coordinator Advisory Board Jenna Givargidze Director, North Hempstead Animal Shelter Erik Tallbe, CPA Accountant Chantelle DiLorenzo Attorney Dr. Diane Levitan Dip. ACVIM Paula Hornak Kellner Public Awareness & Outreach Advisor Special Thanks to: Photography: Margaret Tumino Mills and J. DeMeo Photography Newsletter: Genna Tudda P.O. Box 226 Greenvale, NY Website: Facebook: Instagram: theshelterconnection is an all volunteer non-profit charitable organization. All contributions are spent on programs and services to improve the quality of life of dogs at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter. All contributions are fully tax deductible. 2 Please join us in welcoming our newest volunteers from our Spring Adoption Advisor classes: Melanie A. Patrick C. Kaylynn C. Mindy Lee C. Johnny C. Liana C. Joe C. Kara C. Ingrid D. SAVE THE DATE Ruff & Roll: Bowling For Shelter Dogs Who: Hosted by When: Sunday, October 14th, :00 pm 4:00 pm Where: Farmingdale Lanes, Farmingdale NY What: 3 hours of unlimited bowling fun, food and drink, raffles, games, & more! All proceeds will 100% benefit the dogs at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter Further details including information on how to register are TBA check for announcements on Facebook and in the next newsletter! If you have a business and are interested in a lane sponsorship, please call the shelter at Emily G. Vleria G. Gabe K. Louise M. Melissa O. Ashley P. Lilly P. Alexandra T. Katie W.

3 Molly Date arrived at shelter: 2/24/2017 Date adopted: 5/19/2018 Molly was surrendered by her owners after they could no longer care for her. We can t understand why this sweet girl was here for so long! Former adopters of ours came for a visit after their first dog from us sadly passed away. Still a bit heartbroken, they took a walk through the kennel and Molly caught their eye. It only took a short visit outside of the kennel for their minds to be made up they took her home! Molly s family called to tell us she has settled in beautifully, is perfectly housetrained, and loves every human she meets. Her photo speaks volumes! Tell Tails Summer 2018 Angel Date arrived at shelter: 3/20/2015 Date adopted: 3/19/2018 Angel came to us after her owner s landlord changed the policy on dog ownership. Angel, as sweet as her name suggests, loved every human she me but she did not get along well with other dogs making her harder to place. After lots of work with the Progressive Pit Program, Angel got to the point of being dogneutral (she could be near dogs but did not want to play) Almost 3 years to the day after she arrived she was adopted! Her new family writes: We are so lucky...she makes us smile every day. She loves long walks, the park, chasing squirrels, cars, bacon, and her toys...we get at least 100 kisses from her each day. She's not only incredibly cute but incredibly smart, curious, gentle and loving. We can't imagine life without her. Bobble (now Tango) Date arrived at shelter: 5/18/2016 Date adopted: 4/28/2018 Bobble came to the shelter through our rescue program and was named for his big, goofy, bobble-like head. As an energetic young dog, Bobble needed someone willing to put in the time and energy for training and exercise. When visitors passed by in the kennel and saw him jumping and barking, they didn t realize he was just asking for attention and love. After two years of waiting, a young man came in looking for a dog that he could do competitive obedience and agility with. After visiting with a few, he quickly decided Bobble was the one! Bobble, now Tango, spends his days biking with his dad, taking swimming and lure classes, and being loved 24/7. Their ultimate goal is agility! The next time you are looking for that furry new member of the family, we encourage you to not look past the longtimers. Often, because they have been working with our amazing volunteer handlers and staff for a longer period of time, they are more move-in-ready due to more training. Turn to page 5 to see more of our long-timers available for adoption!

4 Volunteer Spotlight: Bob B. Bob B., or Boater Bob as we affectionately call him, joined in November After a year or so of Adoption Advising he completed the dog handling class to be able to spend hands-on time working with the dogs. Bob is one of our most dedicated volunteers; aside from always signing up to help with local events and our free rabies clinics (there will be another one in the fall stay tuned!), Bob is one of the few volunteers that kept his Adoption Advising spot even after becoming a handler. Bob does not one, but two separate handling sessions with the dogs and also does a two hour adoption advising session each week. He is clearly devoted to The Shelter Connection s mission! Bob sums up his volunteer experience with this quote: Since discovering my life has changed in many ways. New friends both canine and human have come into my life, and working with the dogs gives me a sense of satisfaction that is hard to beat. Summer Safety Tips for Your Dog Watch out for heatstroke. Symptoms include panting, lethargy, drooling, fever, vomiting, and collapsing. Breeds with shorter noses, very young dogs, and senior dogs are especially vulnerable. Take your dog to the vet ASAP if you suspect s/he might have heatstroke. Give your dog extra water. Adding ice cubes to the bowl is a good way to keep it cooler for longer! Never leave your dog alone inside a car. Even with the windows open, the inside of your car can heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes on a warm day. Take your walks in the morning or evening. The intense heat of midday can overwhelm your dog during a walk. Exercise your dog during the cooler hours and, if your dog is in the sun for an extended period of time, apply doggie sunscreen. Avoid hot sidewalks. Although you may not feel the heat, your dog s paws can easily become burned on hot surfaces, including pavement, blacktop, and sand. 4 Brush your dog regularly. A clean, untangled coat can help ward off summer skin problems and help your dog stay cool. If you want to give your dog a haircut to help with the heat, keep their fur at least one inch long to protect them from the sun. Shaving to the skin is not recommended.

5 Tell Tails Summer 2018 Meet Some of Our Long-Timers! Diego Date arrived: 5/21/2014 This dapper gentleman has been patiently waiting for over 4 years for his family. Diego knows all of his commands and enjoys trail walks, petting sessions, and playing with toys. Diego prefers the company of humans and would have to be the only pet in the home. Marshmallow Date arrived: 12/16/17 Okay, so Marshmallow technically isn t a long-timer just yet, but we still feel he deserves some recognition! Marshmallow enjoys the company of both humans and well mannered dogs, but would be prefer to be in a home without children. Sadie Date arrived: 5/28/2015 Sadie came to us after her owner fell on hard times. Although almost a senior, Sadie has the energy of a pup and will play fetch with you until the cows come home! Sadie loves all humans she meets but needs to be the only pet in the house. Zeus Date arrived: 12/12/2011 Zeus is our longest resident. He is a complete goofball who has had several TV appearances, including with TONH s supervisor! He is also one of the smartest dogs in the shelter. Zeus has to be the only pet in the house, but has so much love to give to his humans. Olivia Date arrived: 6/6/2014 Olivia is a sweet girl whose favorite thing is water! She loves swimming in the creek, the pool, and even large puddles she s not picky! Olivia knows her commands and likes some dogs, but can be nervous around strangers. She would need a home with dog experience. Jessie Date arrived: 12/30/2015 You might remember Jessie from the holiday DNA tests she is a golden retriever/ mastiff mix! She is sweet but shy, and can be wary of strangers. Once she warms up, you have a friend for life! She needs someone that will give her all of the love and assurance she needs.

6 Kind Kids Girl Scout Troop #407 Several months ago, Girl Scout Troop #407 based in Port Washington approached us at the shelter proposing to collaborate with us to earn their Silver Award Project. Troop #407 consists of four very intelligent and ambitious girls: Kayla, Mia, Angelina, and Emma (fun fact: Kayla is a regular Saturday afternoon volunteer with The Shelter Connection who comes to volunteer with her amazing grandmother, Helen). After a productive brainstorming session, a unique idea was born! An overgrown area on the side of the shelter that was being used as a small parking lot needed a serious spruce up; what better way to do that than turn it into a gorgeous garden with a lounge area for the dogs and their handlers? The girls set to work right away fundraising for the project beginning in September of Their plan of action was to purchase and install paw friendly pea gravel on top of the raked dirt, refurbish the picnic table, and build flower beds to create a beautiful garden. In addition, all of the plants to go into the flower beds would be local natives that they researched. Native plants require little maintenance and provide resources including food and shelter to local wildlife expect to see some butterflies hanging out if you come visit us! On Saturday, May 12th the girls arrived with the troop leaders promptly at 8 AM to begin their project. They didn t let the rain stop them they were determined to get this project finished in one day so the dogs could enjoy it as soon as possible. Donning their poncho s, the girls worked tirelessly into the late afternoon, and we c oul dn t be l i ev e the fina l r e sul ts! 6 Girl Scout Troop #407 posing after their hard work with shelter staff member Paula and our beloved Roxy. Before photo (post raking): The girls sport their ponchos on this rainy morning ready to keep working! The pea gravel provides a nice, softer surface for the dogs paws and the flower beds are absolutely beautiful. The finishing touches were the addition of hand painted paw prints on the picnic table and a plaque installed into one of the flower beds displaying the girls names and troop number. You have to see for yourself how beautiful it is! Many thanks to Troop #407 for their hard work and for a lasting, unique idea for all to enjoy.

7 GOT Milk Bones? Tell Tails Summer 2018 Continuing the GOT? series, we again ask for your help with Milk Bones in size small or medium for the dogs. These are our staple treats for the dogs and we are running low! *These can be purchased through Smile.Amazon.com and sent directly to the shelter at 75 Marino Avenue, Port Washington, NY s unique link is: is a simple and automatic way for you to support every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop through AmazonSmile, you ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to the Shelter Connection, where 100% of that goes to the dogs at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter. Follow us on Instagram! Follow on Instagram for the latest news, available dogs for adoption, happy tails, and more! We re also on Facebook: Please Help us help the dogs at our local shelter Yes, I want to help improve the quality of life for the dogs at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter. Enclosed is my gift to support : $100 $50 $25 $15 $10 Other $ Your donation is fully tax deductible and will be acknowledged with a receipt. Please make checks payable to: and mail to: P.O. Box 226 Greenvale, NY

8 Tell Tails Summer 2018 P.O. Box 226 Greenvale, NY Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Greenvale, NY Permit No. 144 GOT Milk Bones? (Small & Medium) Don t forget to order through AmazonSmile! For more details see page 7. Tell Tails Summer 2018 Happy Tail: Skippy Skippy (formerly Hans at the shelter) the Miniature Schnauzer came to the shelter as a stray in April of this year. This dapper little guy had it all: looks, personality, and smarts. It s no wonder he was scooped up a few weeks later, and by an amazing family to boot! Skippy is now giving the good life, and apparently he is in love with his new dad. His new mom writes Skippy is the perfect little dog, who rescued me just in time. Thank you, Skip! Congratulations and thank you to his new family for giving him the great home he deserves!