Your news & updates from
Animal Care Sanctuary
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Holidays are around the corner! |
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Dear ACS Family,
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I hope you and your family are looking forward to the upcoming holidays. My work here at Animal Care Sanctuary has made me grateful for many things, especially the opportunity we all have to change the future for animals by simply making it a priority.
This month brings so much exciting news! First, I want to congratulate our Vet Tech Jill Elston. Jill was just awarded the 2021 American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse award, and she was featured on the Hallmark Channel on October 20. I have seen Jill’s tireless work on behalf of animals during her 10 years at ACS. She is always the first in line to foster a senior dog abandoned at ACS and in need of gentle care or stay up all night with a litter of baby bottle kittens who need feeding every two hours. Jill’s work with the dogs who come to us from South Korea best illustrates her talents. These dogs come to us as survivors of terrible abuse and have so little trust. They often cower in their runs for weeks before wanting to come out. Jill steps in and brings them home with her, offering patience and kindness. It often takes just a few weeks before a dog scared of human touch becomes a lap dog ready for adoption. On behalf of everyone at ACS, we congratulate Jill. Not only are we proud of Jill but grateful for all her work on behalf of animals.
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I am also thrilled to announce that once again this year, ACS has been chosen to participate in the Staffworks Save a Life Campaign. This campaign matches donations received from November 29 to December 31, giving us the opportunity to achieve a $25,000 donation match from Staffworks. Last year, thanks to you, we raised over $175,000 and this provided us a full match. This year our goal is to raise $200,000 and receive the entire $25,000 match from Staffworks. The money raised in this campaign goes directly to work saving lives. It allows us to continue to offer access to low-cost veterinary care. We will be able to continue bringing dogs and cats from shelters across the country and the world for whom ACS is their last option. In short, we will be able to continue to provide sanctuary to so many animals in need. We need your help. This is an opportunity to double the impact you are making. I am passionate about the work we do here at the sanctuary, and I ask you all to join me in making a donation to ACS during this month-long campaign.
I am so very thankful for all of you. Because of caring, compassionate people like you, many more animals will find sanctuary at ACS throughout this frosty winter season and in the year ahead. I hope you enjoy reading about how your support is making an impact on the lives of animals everywhere.
Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving,
Terri McKendry - Executive Director
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YEAR-TO-DATE
STATISTICS
As of October 31, 2021:
Adoptions: 828
Fosters: 105
Fosters-to-Adoptions: 40
Spay/neuter surgeries: 3,409
Wellness appointments: 2,073
Total Clinic Visits: 5,482
Clinic Transports: 561
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ACS Vet Tech Wins 2021 American Humane Hero Award
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Heroic canines were not the only honorees during the national television broadcast of the American Humane Hero Dog Awards® on Hallmark Drama. America’s first national humane organization also honored two human beings – with the American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Nurse Awards™, presented by Zoetis Petcare (a U.S. business unit of Zoetis). After a nationwide search and tens of thousands of public votes, Dr. Mary Kate Lawler from Houston, Texas was named 2021’s American Hero Veterinarian, and Jill Elston from Milan, Pennsylvania was declared 2021’s American Hero Veterinary Nurse.
The American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Nurse Awards were born out of the idea that behind almost every hero pet (and millions more animals) is a hero veterinarian or veterinary nurse. These often-little-known benefactors save and improve the lives of our two- and four-legged best friends in many ways, and it is time to honor their achievements. Hundreds of worthy nominees were considered by a special blue-ribbon panel of celebrities and renowned veterinary and animal care professionals. After narrowing down the field to the top five in each category, the American public made the final determination through online voting. Here are their stories, as told by those who nominated them:
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2021 American Humane Hero Veterinary Nurse Award Recipient: Jill Elston (Milan, Pennsylvania)
Jill is the embodiment of an "American Hero Veterinary Nurse." Since college, shelter medicine has been her passion, and a couple years after graduation she found her true purpose working at Animal Care Sanctuary, serving and caring for those who had no home. protecting the wounded and abused and giving a chance to souls everyone else gave up on. She courageously leads a team of veterinary professionals who provide veterinary care in an underserved rural area, and Jill herself has become the St. Jude of ACS, "Mama Jill's Home for Lost Souls." She is always first in line to take home the sad, broken, sick, abused, or neglected creature. She regularly rehabilitates fearful dogs and helps sick animals to recover. Her special project, though, is being a hospice for older dogs and cats who aren't candidates for adoption, but who still deserve the dignity of a home and a family at the end of their lives. For all cats and dogs, she offers up her home, giving them a chance to flourish under comfortable (dare I say lavish) conditions, receiving the best of food and healthcare, a lively lifestyle, and a warm, soft spot next to Jill in the recliner or on the bed. These included Miss P. Kevin, Honey, Hershey, Yoda, Simza, Ava, Kado, Bacon, Barnaby, Poki, Grumio, Empress of Shadows, Squiggy, Mimi and her pups, Smokey, Teddy, Amos, Morgan, Edgar, The Bacon Bits, Cosby, Clancy, Murdock, Titan, Lou, Breeland, Yukon, Herc, and so many other patients I can't recall. And Hickory, who started it all.
"We are so pleased to help shine a light on two outstanding veterinary professionals who go above and beyond to provide essential veterinary care to animals in need," said Tara Bidgood, DVM, PhD, DACVCP, Executive Director, Veterinary Professional Services and Medical Affairs, Zoetis Petcare. "Dr. Mary Kate Lawler has helped prevent suffering through overpopulation and neglect on a massive scale and veterinary nurse Jill Elston exemplifies caring and compassion professionally and in her personal life. They are both truly heroes."
“Veterinarians and veterinary nurses are heroes to the animals they serve and these awards are an effort to recognize the best of the best,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane president and CEO.
“Dr. Lawler and Ms. Elston are remarkable animal welfare advocates, and we are proud to honor their work in aiding the animals living in their communities. We also want to give special thanks to our friends at Zoetis Petcare for sponsoring this national campaign to recognize the achievements of the veterinary community.”
More information about this year’s American Humane Hero Veterinarian and Hero Veterinary Nurse Awards is available at www.herovetawards.org.
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Give to ACS for Giving Tuesday!
SAVE THE DATE!!
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Giving Tuesday is a global movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world. Since it's beginning in 2012, Giving Tuesday has exploded into one of the single biggest fundraising days for thousands of non-profit organizations around the world.
This year, we'll be looking to raise money for our kennel to participate in Dogs Playing for Life. Our staff is committed to trying to rescue every dog that they possibly can, and part of that means taking dogs that might need more help in behaving properly to find a home. Dogs Playing for Life is an awesome program that will not only increase a canine's quality of life during its time at the shelter, but also make them better prepared for a loving and safe home life.
We'll be rolling out more information over the coming weeks. But for now, mark down your calendars for Nov. 30! Did we mention we're also part of the Staffworks Save a Life Campaign during Giving Tuesday? That means that Giving Tuesday donations will be MATCHED, so each donation will go twice as far!
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We Got Our Driveway Fixed!! |
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Anyone who has visited Animal Care Sanctuary this year had probably noticed that our driveway was in desperate need of repair. Like, it was bad. A dog could go swimming in some of those holes. We know.
BUT NOW IT'S FIXED!!
This huge project would not be possible without a grant from the USDA as well as the donation from the estate of Francine Meinelschmidt. THANK YOU!!!!
Estates are a vital source of fundraising for ACS as well as many non-profits across the country. To learn more about how to leave your legacy mark on ACS, check out our website at the button below!
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Lily is a beautiful calico lady who has traveled many miles in her quest for a safe, loving home.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, a wonderful woman named Jennifer Friedman found Lily injured on the side of the road. She rescued Lily and discovered that she had a “tail pull” injury, which made her urinary incontinent – meaning she was unable to hold her bladder when it was full.
But Jennifer went forward with taking Lily in anyway. Lily was just too beautiful and too sweet to give up on, especially for a problem that Lily was probably unaware that she had. Jennifer went from vet to vet, trying all kinds of ways to help Lily get control of her bladder – including acupuncture.
While there was some improvement, Lily still needed to have her bladder manually expressed several time a day to help avoid accidents. But when life began returning back to normal and it came time for Jennifer to return to work and travel for her job, she no longer had the time to give Lily the care she needed. However, shelters in her vicinity would not take a cat with Lily’s condition.
Jennifer desperately expanded her reach, searching for any organization willing to take in Lily. Finally, she found ACS, our own Ashley corresponded with Jennifer and it was decided that ACS was capable of helping Lily continue to recover and eventually find her a home. There was only one problem…
Jennifer and Lily were located across the country in California.
But Jennifer had a heart of pure gold for Lily, and volunteered to fly Lily to East Smithfield, PA, to ensure her safe arrival and future. She got a plane trip to Baltimore, and drove the remaining several hours to bring Lily here.
As advertised, Lily is a beautiful, sweet, happy cat. Ashley and the feline behavioral team are working on developing a special plan for Lily to ensure the best possible outcome for her to have long happy life – including training her to wear diapers and expressing her bladder on a schedule. To make matters slightly easier, Lily is an indoor/outdoor cat as well!
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Chamber and Princess were a pair a long-term stays at Animal Care Sanctuary who, while they were unrelated in every other way, were staff favorites during their time in the kennel.
Chamber and Princess were at ACS for four months and six months, respectively, and miraculously went to their respective new homes the same week!
The two-year-old Chamber was surrendered to ACS through no fault of his own. His first family underwent some major changes and unfortunately he needed a new home. While he was a super sweet boy, he needed some time to warm up to people, and his smile looked like a snarl. He was only trying to show off those pearly whites when he was happy, but it looked scary at first and made it difficult to find him a home, despite his sweet, playful personality.
The one-year-old Princess, on the other hand, was definitely spoiled royalty. She's a beautiful doggo who came to ACS on a transport from the southern United States, and she did not like other dogs at all. She was a sweet lady to people and older kids though, and needed some help with training.
Throughout their stays at ACS, Chamber and Princess were virtually adopted by a local school district to help raise money and awareness for homeless animals like themselves. They were also a part of special photo shoots and behavioral trainings, which led to their adoptions. They even participated in a project by ACS intern alum McKenna to see how doggos respond to different kinds of music!
Much like our wonderful staff, Chamber and Princess went the extra mile to eventually find their new homes, and it was certainly bittersweet to see them go. But we're so happy to report they're doing wonderfully in their new homes!
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ACS Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! |
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Our donors, foundations, businesses and corporations allow the Animal Care Sanctuary to continue to do great things in the world of animal rescue.
With over 25,000 social media followers on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter and our website, our patrons and followers are interested in supporting companies who take animal welfare seriously.
Please consider joining the Animal Care Sanctuary’s list of sponsors if your company, club, business values animal welfare and wants to help make a positive impact in our society.
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Visit the ACS Online Shop! |
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Add some color to go with your fall foliage! We have special edition Dean Russo shirts available in all kinds of sizes, styles and colors.
Deck out your pet in ACS gear, too! Check out our leashes and collars, as well as all the other items we have available on our online shop!
Each purchase goes back to the care of the homeless animals here at Animal Care Sanctuary and finding them happy, loving, forever homes!
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SUPPORT ACS BY DONATING VIA OUR AMAZON WISHLISTS!
Click on the buttons below!
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As a Monthly Donor, you are providing a gift that can be used for animals in their hour of need. Your donation will help ACS rescue pets from overcrowded kill shelters, inhumane conditions, hoarding situations and puppy mills. Your support will help us make more future animal rescues possible, as well as give us the resources we need to provide those animals with the attention and medical care that they need to be adopted. Monthly donations provide security to assure that ACS always has the resources needed to provide for animals at a moment’s notice. To become a monthly donor, please sign up online at www.animalcaresanctuary.org or contact Terry McKendry at [email protected].
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