Your news & updates from
Animal Care Sanctuary
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YEAR-TO-DATE
STATISTICS
As of July 31, 2020:
Adoptions: 817
Fosters: 181
Fosters-to-Adoptions: 100
Spay/neuter surgeries: 1,715
Wellness appointments: 1,326
Total clinic visits: 3,041
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Our record-setting year continues! It's been a hot summer, and animals are being adopted out like hotcakes!
In July, 120 more animals found their forever homes, bringing our year-to-date total to 817 adoptions. For comparison, all of last year we adopted out 980 animals, which was our best year ever. And with 181 fosters, we've already surpassed last year's total! It's safe to say that we're shooting for over 1,000 adoptions this year, and it's all thanks to our awesome staff, the wonderful animals, our amazing donors and communities -- and YOU! Thank you all!
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Farewell, Rachel Rossiter |
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Ten years ago, Animal Care Sanctuary (ACS) began a massive transformation. Ten years ago, two women climbed Sanctuary Hill Lane for the first time with the goal of forwarding our founder Lesley Sinclair’s vision by leaps and bounds. Ten years ago, Joan Smith-Reese and Rachel Rossiter began a partnership, and a friendship, that would change ACS forever.
And ten years later, it is safe to say they succeeded. Animal adoptions are taking place by the hundreds. The front portion of the cattery successfully underwent extensive renovations to be more animal- and community-friendly, and one of their biggest missions since both Smith-Reese and Rossiter climbed the hill a decade ago – the construction of a new kennel and clinic – is on the verge of completion.
And now, for Rossiter, her time at ACS has reached its completion as well. Her final day on the hill is Aug. 7 as she prepares to move to New Jersey with her family. She is being replaced by Becca Morgan, who has been with ACS for five years and is excited to progress ACS’s and Rossiter’s vision.
Rossiter joined ACS wanting a change of pace from the life of HR. She laughs at the wording “change of pace,” knowing that she got more than she bargained for as far as pace is concerned.
“I didn’t have an animal shelter background; I just love animals,” she said. “I was Joan’s first hire, and she made me the community liaison.”
Under that title, Rossiter’s mission was to form valuable connections with the community both locally and nationally to change the public perception of the sanctuary. Prior to Smith-Reese’s and Rossiter’s time, ACS was closed to adoptions, and much of the public mindset surrounding the sanctuary was that ACS was a facility on the hill shrouded in mystery.
“I went to every event that I could,” Rossiter said. “I wanted to tell everyone what ACS was all about, what we were trying to do and accomplish, and start to build those relationships and gain awareness to help us grow and improve.”
Rossiter saw her title change many times with ACS – essentially going to whatever job needed to be done. Whether it was community liaison to kennel director to animal services director, Rossiter gave everything she had and more.
“It’s been tough, to say the least,” she said. “We’ve built such an amazing team, and that’s where it starts. We’re embracing adopters, coordinating transports with other shelters, improved our own operations, gained volunteers – all just with the main goal of saving lives.”
Rossiter added that when she thinks about her first days at ACS compared to today, when ACS is ready to complete its brand new facility and is even taking rescue dogs from South Korea, it’s an emotional transformation.
“I certainly didn’t know if this kind of growth and change would be possible,” she said. “And that’s thanks to this awesome team. It’s the team first. But to think that now we can help dogs from all over the world when we struggled just to care for our own animals when I started, it’s definitely emotional.”
Rossiter also credited the change in culture towards animals in general over the last 10 years – whether it’s increased awareness and legislation related to spaying and neutering animals to overall animal health and safety education.
Rossiter has by far left her permanent mark on ACS. She will forever be a part of its legacy, and there is no doubt that founder Lesley Sinclair is looking down at her with beaming pride. On behalf of Animal Care Sanctuary, as well as the thousands of animals and families she has brought together, thank you, Rachel. We love you.
We encourage everyone who knows and remembers Rachel to reach out to her to say goodbye! Her email is [email protected], which will only be active for a few more days. She will also be back when we dedicate the new kennel and clinic in October!
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RESCUES FROM SOUTH KOREA! |
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As many of our supporters probably know, Animal Care Sanctuary in July accepted 10 dogs that were saved from a South Korean meat farm by Humane Society International (HSI).
The canines were among over 100 rescued by HSI, which coordinated the effort with ACS and more than seven other animal shelters across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States.
ACS Chief Executive Officer Joan Smith-Reese said, as a Humane Society emergency placement partner, being part of the rescue operation has been huge opportunity to give these canines a chance at a happy life.
"These were dogs that, a few months ago, were slated to be served on the dinner table," she stated. "We are helping give them a shot at being a regular dog in a loving home."
We are also excited to note that these puppers have been settling in quite nicely, and some of them have already found forever homes! We want to thank everyone involved, including YOU, our supporters, for giving us the ability to be part of this huge task to help change the world for the better for animals.
Click on the video below for more on their journey and to see more of the dogs!
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We are getting close to the end with building interior work about 95% complete.
The Veterinarian Clinic is looking amazing with exam rooms, pet holding areas, operating room, reception and waiting looking great. This will be a first-class operation where anyone will be very happy with the services provided.
In the dog kennel area, the interior and exterior gate systems are stainless steel and should last a lifetime. Dog doors to the outside are operated from the gate, making operation very easy for staff.
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The laundry and food prep areas provide generous space for storage and can easily be washed down to maintain a clean and sanitary environment.
Wait until you see the dog adoption area which provides plenty of private space so the adoptive parents can interact with their new pet.
But that’s not all, throughout the facility is state of the art heating and air conditioning, water and energy efficient plumbing and LED lighting. There should be a surprising reduction in utility costs.
We're so excited to roll this out the public and community extremely soon! We're only a couple of months away from our grand opening on Oct. 9 and taking the next huge step in enhancing the care for doggos!
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After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the majority of our public events this year, we were so excited to get back out into the community on July 24 for Yappy Hour!
The event was held at Bluestone Brewing Company in South Waverly. We missed our community, and they apparently missed us! We were not sure what to expect in terms of a turnout, but we raised over $1,600 for ACS through raffles, tickets and sales.
Thank you so much to our Valley community for showing your support! We're now getting ready for our next Yappy Hour -- this time in Wellsboro at the Tyoga Golf Club! That event is scheduled to be held Aug. 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. Contact Rachel Preble at [email protected] for more information.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:
Megan Robinson
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After a bit of a hiatus from the Volunteer Spotlight, it is time to dive back in with one of our most cheerful volunteers!
Megan Robinson is 17 years old, and about to go into her junior year of high school, and has been volunteering with ACS for a little over a year! She is a member of the National Honor Society, a hard worker, and is always quick to smile!
Animals have always been a large part of Megan’s life, and she has grown up with dogs and also currently has a 3-year-old bunny. However, she wanted to spend her time with even more animals and, luckily, found ACS! In her year of volunteering, she’s gone with us to events and fairs, helped in the office, and worked with our animals.
In her own words: “I have enjoyed it so much, especially just being able to see the excitement on a dog or cat’s face when you say hello. The fact that ACS is a no-kill shelter and the amounts of cats and dogs I’ve seen there at a time is truly crazy. And it really does make me proud to be able to say I’m a part of it! To be able to cuddle with the kittens, and take the dogs on walks, even if it’s just a short period of time is really incredible, and does make you want to take every single one of them home. It’s truly something I don’t regret getting myself into!”
And we definitely don’t regret it either!
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It's the dog days of summer, and holy Huskies has it been a hot one so far!
While our canine friends may love the sunny summer days as much as you do, it's important to keep an eye on them during these hot times. Some dogs play too hard, do not have adequate shelter or bake themselves in the sun without knowing enough to take a break.
As their owners, we need to monitor this especially when the temperature and humidity is very high. If it is uncomfortably hot for us, it is dangerously hot for the pets too. The only way a dog or cat can decrease their body temp is through mainly panting for dogs and foot pad sweating for cats.
If the animal has been out in the heat or playing hard and seems “ out of it”, weak or wobbly, glassy eyed and hot to the touch get it inside or into the shade and sponge, hose or immerse in tepid water , place near a fan if possible and call a vet if the animal does not start responding right away. Pets with heavy coats , elderly pets or animals suffering from heart or respiratory diseases are at a much higher risk of heat stroke.
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Beefaroni finds a shady spot during his Tail Wag Tag-a-long hike |
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Of course, NEVER leave your pet in your vehicle for any amount of time -- even with the windows cracked -- and steer your pets away from hot surfaces like pavement. For example, on a 90-degree day, asphalt can heat up to 140 degrees, which is bad news for those cute paws!
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Get to know ACS!
Jill Elston: Licensed Vet Tech/Vet Team Coordinator
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How long have you been a part of ACS?
I’ve been at ACS for just over 9 years now. Shelter medicine has been my passion since I was in college and when I met CEO Joan Smith-Reese at the Maple Festival in 2011 and she offered me a job, I couldn’t say no!
Are you a dog person or a cat person?
“Well, I absolutely love both, but if I HAD to pick, I would say a dog person, although I’ve adopted more cats than dogs from ACS (senior cats are my thing).”
What’s your favorite part of your job?
“The animals, of course! I especially love working with shy and fearful animals and watching them learn to trust people. I’ve been fortunate to play a part in some pretty miraculous medical recoveries too, including but certainly not limited to Squiggy and Mimi, two of my all time favorite ACS dogs (besides my own, of course). And it’s not just the animals, we have a pretty great team of humans here too!”
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SANCTUARY STORIES
Mish Mish
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“What greater gift than the love of a cat?” – Charles Dickens
Reva’s story is one of such immense love, kindness and selflessness that we at ACS have been honored to witness.
She came to the United States from Israel approximately two years ago and, about one year later, her treasured cat Mish Mish was able to join her.
But life was hard and unfair for Reva. She was unable to find consistent, affordable housing for herself and Mish Mish, and both were soon homeless and living out of Reva’s car.
That’s when Reva discovered Animal Care Sanctuary, and she decided in October 2019 to surrender her beloved Mish Mish into our care at East Smithfield while Reva got back on her feet. The first thing our staff noticed was that Reva took extremely great care of Mish Mish. Her medical record – written entirely in Hebrew – was exceptionally organized, long, and up-to-date. Reva even tried to give ACS the last $25 in her pocket as a surrender fee.
Mish Mish then stayed at ACS for nine months. While she did not like other cats, Mish Mish was a sweet kitty who loved human attention – often calling out at passersby, as if asking where Reva was and if she was coming to take her home.
Meanwhile, Reva consistently reached out to ACS staff to update us on her own progress and check in to see how Mish Mish was doing. Even throughout her own difficult time, Reva always tried to donate to ACS.
Then, in June, Reva contacted us with fantastic news. She had found her own place to stay that would allow cats – a new place she and Mish Mish could call home. And a month later, they were finally reunited once again. Reva’s dedication to her precious furry soulmate is second-to-none, and resembles that of the woman who founded ACS, Lesley Sinclair. She has served as an inspiration to everyone at ACS of love and kindness, and we wanted to share her story with you.
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
The ACS Barn Cat Program
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One of our barn cats helping out our construction crews |
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Animal Care Sanctuary wants to remind all of you of our working cat program!
This program provides an alternative option for feral and semi-feral cats that are in need of new homes. A feral cat is a cat that either never had exposure to humans growing up and thus never learned to be friends with people, or has been on its own without human interaction for long enough that it has reverted to a wild state.
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Shelters across the US struggle to know what to do with these cats, as they prefer minimal to no human contact, and are not suited to be indoor pets. But ACS is committed to providing them with an alternative option. Unsocialized cats thrive as working cats, and will gladly make the bargain of policing the adopter’s property against rodents and pests for the small price of food, water, and a dry place to sleep and shelter from the weather.
These cats are already spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies and distempter, tested for feline leukemia, and given a dose a flea preventative before being placed in their new environment. This means they are healthy and ready for the life of an outdoor cat, at little to no cost to the adopter.
Barn cats are suitable to be working cats in many environments, including warehouses, greenhouses, breweries, wineries, and residential homes, so anyone with interest in rescuing an outdoor-only cat is encouraged to apply! We also provide food and water bowls, litter pans, and some hide boxes. All we ask from you is to provide a large dog crate for transportation and integration purposes.
This program provides a mutually beneficial alternative: the cats get to live free and choose their level of interaction with humans; the adopter gains a helpful pest control partner and the knowledge that they have saved a life; and ACS is able to not only improve the quality of their lives, but is available to help more cats and more individuals in the community.
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The Wellsboro crew is also happy to be back out in the community! On July 25, we were Crooked Creek Campground for Wilderfest, the annual food and music festival. We had a booth set up with all kinds of items for sale and it was amazing to be back out in the community!
Additionally, following the success of our Yappy Hour at the Bluestone Brewing Company, we're excited to announce that the Wellsboro edition of Yappy Hour will be held at the Tyoga Golf Club from 5-7 p.m. on Aug. 28. Contact Rachel at [email protected] for more information or click HERE for tickets!
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Nature trails for dog-walkers!
Wellsboro area dog walkers! Do you and your furry companions love walking in nature? Well, we're cooking up something for you!
Pictured to the right is our Wellsboro Director, Rachel, and Animal Caregiver Supervisor, Kayana, along with canine friends Jax and Dianne as they explore the newly groomed hiking trails at ACS Wellsboro in preparation to open up the trails to the public.
The views are spectacular with lots of hills and changes in terrain. Plenty of wildlife, flowers, and berries! Special thanks to Dominion Energy for its support with this project! Stay tuned!
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DONATION SALUTATION!
Our supporters are of all ages!
Raya (age 9) started a lemonade and bracelet stand with the help of her brothers, Tommy (age 11), Marshall (7), and Ike (4). They donated all of their proceeds to ACS, which thus far has been $320!
Thank you guys so much! All of your hard work helps us to continue to save animals!
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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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If you are thinking about making a larger gift to ACS, 2020 may be the year. See one of the tax benefits below:
Non-itemizers eligible for $300 charitable deduction. Presently, only those who itemize their income tax deductions can use a charitable deduction. For the rest of 2020, an individual will be able to deduct up to $300, irrespective of whether they itemize their deductions. This “above the line” deduction can be used for contributions only of cash (not stock) to qualified charitable organizations. This will be helpful for organizations as they ask for donations through email, direct mail, and in person from donors who usually make smaller gifts. This may not be used to fund donor advised funds or supporting organizations.
For more information about this opportunity and others, contact Trish Callahan at 610-331--4421 or [email protected].
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