Fall 2006 Newsletter - Heart of the Catskills Humane Society
Transcription
Fall 2006 Newsletter - Heart of the Catskills Humane Society
the Shelter Scoop Volume 8 Issue 1 Spring - Fall 2006 IN THIS ISSUE Woman of the Year................1 Spotlight on Staff..................2 Barking Books Program............2 ExtraOrdinary Volunteers.........3 Happy Tails..........................4 Spring Dance........................5 Messages/Thank You...............5 Shelter Cats & Kittens.............6 Caring Kids..........................6 Rummage Sale......................7 Holiday for the Heart..............7 Canine Good Citizens..............8 Foster Homes ......................9 Senior Pals . ........................9 Dog Walk 2006 ............... 10-11 Shelter News Blurbs ............ 12 E-Tails ............................. 13 In Memory/Honor Of......... 14-15 Upcoming Events................. 16 HCHS Services.................... 16 Director, Shelter Operations Deb Crute, LVT, BA STAFF Supervisors, Beth Utter, LVT and Cheryl Dietzman Jamie All, Kate Capriolo, Paula Drumm, Kenny Fass, Michelle Klimm, Alex Kreckel, Kim LaMonte, Joel Schermerhorn, Amanda Schwab, Judy Sidorowicz, Elaine Stefanelli, Denise Usher and Laura Wright Board of Directors Ann Lukin, President Ann Rayment,Vice President Brent Truitt, Treasurer Nancy Thomson, Secretary Lynne Attanasso, David Brower, Joanne Callahan, Nicole Franzese, Barbara Geywits, Cathy Karlin, Laura O’Connor, Steve Rayment and Jennifer Truitt Newsletter Committee Deb Crute, Kenny Fass, Barbara Kaplan, Ann Lukin, Dawn Norwood, Jennifer Truitt, Jamie Vogler Contributors: Tara Collins, Jan Newcomer, Beth Utter, Laura Wright Printed By Courier Printing Corporation Copyright 2006 Heart of the Catskills Humane Society P.O. Box 88, Delhi, NY 13753 ~ (607) 746-3080 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.heartofthecatskills.org Deb Crute Woman of the Year How many animal shelters can boast that their Director of Shelter Operations is the Woman of the Year? Well, we can! Deb Crute was selected by The Delhi Business and Professional Women’s Organization to receive the “2006 Woman of the Year” award. This year, Deb was honored at a dinner for her outstanding work in the shelter and in the community. The organization’s leaders, Andrea Campbell and Karen Marshfield, presented the award. Ms. Marshfield described Deb as “an animal’s best friend and advocate.” She also noted that, “for the past 6 years the shelter has flourished under the management of this exuberant, high energy young woman. She is the universal being that the staff, volunteers and board of directors revolve around and gravitate to, knowing that they can count on her whatever the situation.” Deb has initiated and promoted many of the shelters programs such as Humane Education, Senior Pals, Micro-chipping, Foster Home and most recently the Barking Books Reading Program. She was the energy behind several successful fundraisers i.e. Adopt-a-Cage, Monthly Giving, our Annual Woofs n’ Wags Dog Walk and Fair and the newest one, Holiday for the Heart. And that is just the tip of the iceberg! Deb, Woman of the Year! Wow, how purr-fect is that? We are so proud of you! Congratulations and thank you from all of us whose lives you have touched so deeply and especially from the shelter cats and dogs who love you. w w w . h e a r t o f t h e c a t s k i l l s . o r g spotlight on our staff D enise Usher started volunteering at the humane society while attending SUNY’s Veterinary Science Technology program in 1998. She moved to Delhi from Beacon, NY after working in the field of human healthcare for 21 years and becoming a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Denise’s deep love of cats inspired her to volunteer at Mid-Hudson Animal Aid in Beacon, which led her to pursue her real passion and enroll as a parttime student at SUNY Delhi to become a licensed veterinary technician. Denise joined our shelter team as a part-time animal care assistant in the Denise Usher and Furry Friends! fall of 2004. She amazingly juggles working full-time as a CNA and is also incredibly dependable and reliable as one of our animal care staff! But even after we hired her, Denise never stopped volunteering. Off the clock, Denise regularly comes into the humane society to spend extra time with the shy and timid cats, and to clean and organize supplies. She shares her home with 4 wonderful cats and enjoys reading, crocheting and cooking (she makes the best lasagna in the world!). Her sincere love of animals and true dedication is another reason why there’s so much “heart” at the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society! Barking Books Reading program HCHS is pleased to announce the addition of a new program called “Barking Books” to our humane education school curriculum which is based on the national Reading Education Assistance Dogs Program. Through this program, we encourage and enhance children’s love of reading by having them read to qualified dogs. Research based on the national Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D) therapy dog program shows that when children read to a dog instead of humans, they forget about being nervous or self-conscious, and start to relax without worrying about making mistakes or looking dumb. Children begin to enjoy the reading experience, show improvement in their reading skills and look forward to their next session. HCHS started Barking Books a year ago at Delaware Academy Elementary School. Each week, selected children spend 30 minutes practicing their reading skills with a Barking Books qualified dog and handler. The child and dog sit together on the floor with a big pillow and bean bag. Animal-themed books are most often chosen as this encourages discussion and learning opportunities about responsible pet care, animal behavior and empathy between the child and the dog’s handler. As the national R.E.A.D program finds, “a lot of the magic in this program revolves around letting the child focus on the dog. When s/he thinks s/he’s helping the dog understand the words and the story through the handler, the child gets the empowering feeling of being the helper and teacher—rather than having the whole experience focus on the child’s lack of skill. This critical shift in focus makes an incredible difference in the flow of the child’s learning processes. It’s much more fun to read with a friend who listens attentively and does not judge, than to read for your teacher or in front of your peers.” Ladybug & Reading Tutor Sandy Russell Barking Books has been successful and we hope to expand the program as more schools participate and qualified dogs and handlers become available. For more information, contact Deb Crute, Director of Shelter Operations at (607) 746-3080 or email [email protected]. Heart of the Catskills Humane Society EXTRAORDINARY VOLUNTEERS This past New Year, my partner John Schulman and I paid a visit to what we think is the greatest shelter ever. Having moved to Los Angeles last spring, we wanted it to be our first stop when we came home. When we arrived, we noticed that the shelter was full, so we decided we could at least foster a dog for the ten days we would be home. Walking past the outdoor pens, a chorus of dogs greeted me. My last stop was the kennel near the walking trail. It was then I spotted Barney. Barney stood back, his head cocked with the sweetest of smiles and a tail that told me, “It’s nice to see you.” In my heart I knew it was a match. I also knew I didn’t want Barney as a short-term foster, I wanted him to be a forever friend - but with five other dogs in LA, I was positive my partner wouldn’t go for it. So I resigned myself to the fact that we would do a good thing and foster him for the week. To make a long story short, I was completely wrong about John. The day before Barney was to return to the shelter, John announced we would be sending for Barney after our return to California. Barney arrived last month on a flight from, Newark to LAX non-stop. Waiting for him with our hearts in our throats, we prayed that he would not be too traumatized by the flight. To our relief, we were greeted with the same cocked head, the same “dopey smile,” the same Barney we left two weeks before. He stood between us wagging his tail with delight as we made the drive home, where he was greeted by his new siblings Jack, Luka, Shamus, Tucker and Max. To our amazement, he was accepted immediately into the pack. Scott Finley, John Schulman & family Barney is living the life I wish for all the dogs and cats at the shelter. Every morning, we load up the car and we’re off to Laurel Canyon Dog Park for two hours, where the “kids,” as we call them, meet up with their friends and rub an occasional elbow with a celebrity’s dog (Ben Stiller’s and Annette Benning’s to name a couple). Then it’s back home where Barney has the run of the house. His favorite place is to lie on the tiles out at the pool and soak up the warmth of our Southern California sun. Ruff life, huh? Barney is both a blessing and a joy to us, as are the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, Deb Crute, the amazing Staff and its Board of Directors. To those of you reading the Shelter Scoop for the first time and maybe considering volunteering either your time or money, I urge you to do so and as soon as possible. At the very least, foster a dog for a while. It’s my wish for you that you will be “ AS BIG A SUCKER AS WE WERE!” It will be a gift to yourself that will last a lifetime! Sincerely, B. Scott Finley ote: N Scott Finley and John Schulman are past Directors of our board. To coincide with the Spring Dance they held their own “West Coast Spring Dance Party” and helped raise $1,935. “Barney, California Dream’n” www.heartofthecatskills.org Happy Tails Here are just a few of the wonderful tales about pets who, because of your support, have now found their forever homes... PUMPKIN SASHA Who says seniors have little to offer? Not us! 14-years-young Sasha has filled a void in our lives. He is a constant playful companion who puts a smile on our faces everyday. Family and friends lovingly regale stories about Sasha’s entertaining nature. We will always be grateful Sasha adopted us. ~ The Benedicts. Pumpkin has been a perfect fit for our family. He took an airplane ride in stride, under my seat and on my lap in his carryon, to Chicago. He met our other dogs and has gotten along great with all of them. His great disposition and gentle nature have endeared him to our entire family. When the grandkids come, he’s the first one they look for. They love to snuggle with him and rock him on their laps in the rocking chair. He definitely has a forever home and a forever place in our hearts. We are so grateful to Heart of the Catskills for making it possible for us to adopt him, and our other pups, and for the wonderful work that you do. ~ Dick and Elaine Lincourt PANDA Panda is adjusting well to his new home and is being accepted by Maye (a former shelter resident). Both Maye and Panda are on the Invisible Fence system so that they can enjoy their 4.5 acres of playground. Panda is a wonderful addition to our family. Thank you to all the staff at the shelter for their assistance in Panda’s adoption. ~ Sincerely, Dan Hutchby BAILEY Bailey is such a tremendous joy to everyone who meets him. He was great visiting Grampy in the nursing home, and everyone there loved when he came prancing down the halls. He would pop his head into the rooms of all the people he had met on the way to say “Hi.” Bailey has often expressed his concern as to what our family would be like right now had the staff at the shelter not sent him home with us. What would we have done without him? He has a big responsibility here keeping us all in line but he does an excellent job. He found us a bit troublesome to train, but he was very patient and now seems to be pleased with our performance, (most of the time) He is so kind, gentle and loveable, we have truly been blessed. Thank you again for allowing Bailey to come and direct our family. ~ Andrea Adler, Falmouth, ME NASCAR & PANCAKES Nascar (aka Frankie) and Pancakes (aka Jeter) recently joined my feline family of four (two of which came from HCHS a few years ago). It’s hard to believe that it took so long for them to find their forever home (a year or more!), because they’re such affectionate kitties. Nascar did such an audition, complete with meowing, purring and licking, that I couldn’t resist. Pancakes was so sweet and wistful that I had to give him a home also. It took only a few days before they were assimilated, and now all six cats are friends. Playtime is very amusing!! ~ Bobbie Hodges Heart of the Catskills Humane Society TIPPIE While Tippie has an abnormal front leg, it doesn’t stop her from getting around! She was at first scared, but has established her independence and is never hesitant to follow me around, sleep with me, and offer lots of sugars. Our family of a dozen cats gives me more love and laughs than I can express. Adoption from the shelter is rewarding, but adopting a cat with a disability is a blessing. -Betty Brevard spring dance 2006 There was no fooling around when the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society held their 7th Annual Spring Dance and Auction on April Fool’s Day at the beautiful Hanah Mountain Resort and Country Club. Over 180 people attended this ever growing popular event to help our community’s homeless, unwanted and sometimes abused dogs and cats. After the social hour and everyone was seated for dinner, Steve Rayment, a Director on the Board, and emcee for the evening, spoke about the work the Society does to help our community. Mr. Rayment emphasized “We care for and help over a 1,000 dogs and cats a year. There are over 225 animals cared for daily. There are several programs in place to help people and pets (such as our Humane Education, Barking Book Literacy, Foster Programs and Spay and Neuter Low Cost Certificates). As a not for profit we must raise the $1,100 a day it takes to operate the shelter from generous individuals like you.” A special guest, Kathleen Mami Moore, Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Clifford W. Crouch 107th District, made a moving speech as she presented a Citation of Recognition to the Society. As the evening progressed, and dancing to the Blues Maneuver was well under way, feverish bidding on the Silent Auction ended (over 300 incredible items and services were donated by businesses and individuals) and the Live Auction began! Dennis Metnick, attorney turned auctioneer extraordinaire, had the crowd roaring in laughter as he enticed the bidders to dig deeper into their pockets. The “Six Pack,” Kenny Fass, Eddie Callahan, Mark Lukin, Ed O’Connor, Steve Rayment and Brent Truitt, each offering 8 hours of labor, brought in the highest bid at $1,100, followed by the Catskill Cuisine Poster, Yankee tickets, The Daily Show tickets, a stay in NYC with tickets to Hairspray, and Tommy Tune posters. Phillip the Mouse, the shelter’s traveling ambassador, was won by Brent and Jen Truitt and has already started this year’s adventure with a day of rock climbing! In closing, Ann Rayment, Committee Chairperson and Vice President, stated “We have the most amazing group of people!!! Thank you to all of you for your hard work and support. The items that were donated this year were incredible and the attendance was the best ever.” She continued by thanking her committee, Co-Chairperson Joanne Callahan, Laura O’Connor and Ann Lukin and with a special thank you to volunteers Nancy Thomson, Jennifer Truitt, Dale Trethaway, Rebecca Welz and Christal Vogler. Get The Message Thank You... A special thank you to Karen Harris & Roger Williams for the “pawsome” new copy machine they donated to the humane society which has made our adminstrative work so much easier and enjoyable! HCHS always has places and things to tell you about, animals for you to see and so much to share with you. The e-mail “Scoop” is a professionally generated bulletin that keeps you informed about your shelter. Please visit our website and subscribe if you would like to receive these periodic updates. Give it a try. You won’t be sorry you did! And if it is not for you, it is easy to unsubscribe at any time. Note: All personal information provided to HCHS is kept confidential; we do not share or sell our supporter’s information, ever! Shop with www.igive.com Thank you for shopping on-line through www.iGive.com. To date, at no additional cost to you, you helped to raise $742. It is an easy, fun and rewarding way to raise money for your favorite charity, HCHS! When you sign up to shop through iGive.com you get to shop at hundreds of online stores and each purchase helps the HCHS! It´s all free & private. Head to www.iGive.com and sign up today! www.heartofthecatskills.org shelter cats and kittens Kitten season has been upon us, and regardless of how much care our cats and kittens receive at the shelter, some will get sick. The fact is, a shelter setting is very stressful for cats and kittens, who treasure routine and personal space. More stress means a compromised immune system, which in turn leads to viruses like feline upper respiratory infection (URI). Cats most susceptible to URI are older cats, outdoor cats, stressed cats, and especially young kittens. Kittens that get sick while at the shelter can end up having what we call “chronic URI,” and will always have mild recurring or constant symptoms such as runny eyes or sneezing. These conditions are often misunderstood and assumed to be more of a problem than they have to be. Chronic symptoms are caused by viruses that are rarely contagious to other properly vaccinated, healthy cats. These chronic symptoms also do not usually respond to medication. Secondary bacterial infections can result from a weakened immune system, and those can be contagious but can be treated with medication. These infections cannot be spread to your dogs as they are species-specific. What is important to remember for these cats is the stress factor! A move, a trip to the vet, getting spayed/neutered, or introducing a new animal into the family can cause symptoms like runny eyes or sneezing. This doesn’t make the cat an undesirable companion anymore than people who suffer from allergies. In fact, being in a loving home with reduced stress and no medication is often enough to keep chronic cats happy and as healthy as they can be. This is why foster care and volunteers are so important to our shelter cats and kittens. Getting young kittens out of the shelter into a foster home before they get sick is one way to prevent chronic conditions. There are also many ways we try to reduce stress at the shelter such as avoiding overcrowding, keeping things very clean, giving cats blankets and toys, and bringing in wonderful volunteers to brush, hold and give our cats lots of love. All of these things are important for a cat’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. It is especially hard for our staff to watch a cat or kitten grow, fight to stay healthy and happy, and finally get a home – just to be returned because of sneezing or a runny eye. Returning a kitten or cat may not always be avoidable, but we hope that a better understanding of chronic URI will help you see these wonderful, loving and worthy companions in a new light. What they need most for their health and happiness is you, your home, and the time to adjust to being a new member of your family! Happy Adopting! THE CARING KIDS OF TROOP 382 On February 10, 2006 our humane society received the following letter: Dear Humane Society, In the past, girls from our Troop #382 have volunteered to walk the dogs at your shelter. We all enjoyed that experience! Due to the girls getting older and having other commitments (school, sports & family), to our disappointment our Troop is disbanding. Over the years, the girls have accumulated a little bit of money in our Troop account. We decided that we want to donate our monies to the shelter. This was discussed and everyone (parents & girls) totally agreed on this. We know that it will be put to good use in our community. And we do plan to come to the shelter and walk dogs in the future again! Thank you! Sincerely, Delhi Girl Scout Troop #382 Note: These amazing girls sent a check for $918.17 to the humane society (not a “little bit” at all!). Their hard-earned money will be used to feed, vaccinate, and care for the 1,100+ cats and dogs we take in every year! And we look forward to future times when we’ll see them walking our shelter dogs again. Heart of the Catskills Humane Society Rummaging around Some people think spotting a robin in their backyards is the first sign of spring, but we know the truth - the 6th Annual Paws for a Cause Rummage & Bake Sale is the true sign that spring is just around the corner! This year’s sale brought hundreds of shoppers to the United Ministry Church Hall in Delhi on Saturday, March 11th, 2006, where tables overflowed with linens, toys, dishes, glassware, stuffed animals, Christmas decorations, candles, pots, pans, appliances, jewelry, tools and thousands of other items. Anyone with a sweet tooth had no problem finding something at the bake sale. Local bakers supplied homemade pies, cakes, brownies, cupcakes, cookies, and even some granola mixes. Dusty Gray, a handsome and serene two-year-old male cat, took time from his busy life at the Shelter to oversee Molly, the raffle diva the day’s events and brought warm smiles and nods of admiration from all who saw him. Several SUNY Delhi students joined forces with volunteers to help wrap purchases, carry boxes and bags to customers’ cars, pack up the “leftovers” and clean up the church hall at the end of the day. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this day a huge success, with a special thanks to our two youngest volunteers, twelve-year-old Nick DiDominicus who helped run the bake sale, and ten-year-old Molly Karlin, who smiled her way into everyone’s pocket for quilt raffle tickets. Holiday for the Heart It’s hard to say how ideas are born. Sometimes they just transpire. Sometimes they are inspired. At other times, hard work and research come into play. At any rate, great ideas are what we rely on to make things happen. In true “Heart of the Catskills” fashion, great ideas are born frequently, with willing volunteers eagerly waiting to see how they can pitch in. This year was no exception. Laura Meres and Bob Peet, fabulous and “paw-some” volunteers, came to us with a truly special idea. “Let’s share the love we have for animals with the love we celebrate for the holiday season.” Brilliant! And it worked, “Purr-fectly!” A committee gathered, and soon the “Holiday for the Heart” event began. The Delaware County Historical Association was the perfect location for the event. Twenty individual artificial trees were gathered and each tree was sponsored by various individuals, organizations, businesses and community groups. The day before the event, the trees were set up and displayed together-- each with its own unique theme to create a “winter wonderland” of beautifully decorated trees. Visitors eagerly browsed through the aisles of the “forest,” buying tickets in hopes of winning the tree of choice. Live holiday musical entertainment complemented the day-long event, and our “Beastie Boutique” set up shop for some holiday shopping. A bake sale, photos with Santa and star shelter cats available for adoption added to the festive spirit. It was truly a spectacular gathering for a spectacular cause. Joanne Callahan & Tara Collins Our thanks to the many volunteers who made this event possible. The efforts of so many volunteers, along with the creative assistance from our tree decorators, gave everyone the opportunity to come together and support the “little shelter with the big heart,” all the while basking in the glorious holiday setting around them. DON’T MISS THIS YEARS HOLIDAY EVENT!!! SAVE THE DATE - DECEMBER 2nd 2006 www.heartofthecatskills.org canine good citizens In 2005, two intermediate-level dog training classes given by HCHS and Animal Haven Acres concluded with a Canine Good Citizen test for owners and their dogs who had previously completed the basic-level class. What is CGC? The Canine Good Citizen, (CGC) is an award given by the AKC to honor dogs who have passed each of 10 tests demonstrating their ability to behave and be reliable members of their families and communities. Additionally, it helps teach responsible dog ownership and enhances public perception of dogs. The CGC award is not a permanent AKC title like “Champion.” In fact it is recommended that dogs awarded CGC as puppies be retested as adults, and that any dog be retested 2 years later to ensure that they maintain appropriate behavior. Unlike regular AKC competition, dogs of mixed parentage, puppies under 6 months old, and dogs with disabilities are welcome to participate. What are the advantages of having a CGC award? For anyone interested in having her dog become a registered therapy dog, the CGC test is frequently a first step along that path. Some motels and hotels are more likely to welcome a CGC dog than other dogs. Additionally, for people with socalled “dangerous” breeds who are trying to buy home owner’s insurance, having a dog with an obedience title or a CGC award may help convince the company that they are an acceptable risk. And, of course, there is always the pride factor-many owners proudly frame their dog’s CGC certificate! The Test Dogs are examined on the neatness of their appearance and tested for quietly allowing a stranger to pet and groom them. Dogs must demonstrate their ability to walk politely on leash not only alone with their owner, but also in the presence of other people and when passing another dog and owner. They are tested for a calm reaction to sound and visual distractions. Additionally, they are tested for their ability to sit, down and come for their owner as well as the ability to stay quietly with a stranger while the owner leaves their sight for three minutes. None of these exercises requires the high level of precision that obtaining AKC obedience titles do, and positive interaction between dogs and their owners is encouraged. And Announcing Our Award Winners… In the 2005 intermediate-level/CGC courses taught by Jan Newcomer, CPDT and Karen Miller, CPDT , the following dogs and their owners passed the CGC test: Dog Stormy and Rosemarie Hale, Dog Henry and Lillian Mathison, Dog Nova and Erica Nance, CPDT, Dogs Irie and Jasmine with Beverly Travis, and Dog Zoe with Kip Wilson. Congratulations everyone! MISSION STATEMENT HCHS’s mission is to act as a protective association primarily in the care and disposition of lost, strayed or homeless dogs and cats, and as incident thereto, shall maintain shelter for such animals and operate the same. The Corporation shall promote and advance humane and protective care and treatment of animals by positive community interaction through education, spay/neuter programs and other activities that enable people of all ages and in all circumstances to enjoy animal companionship. Your contribution to HCHS, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, is tax-deductible and goes entirely toward helping homeless dogs and cats. Heart of the Catskills Humane Society Finding Fabulous Foster Homes Maybe you have an extra room in your home and haven’t decided whether to make it into an office or a study. Maybe you recently lost a beloved pet and aren’t ready to adopt a new friend yet. Maybe you’d like the companionship of a pet, but feel you can’t make a lifetime commitment to one just now. Maybe YOU are the perfect candidate to be a foster parent for one of the many dogs or cats at the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society! Fostering is a wonderful way to temporarily care for shelter animals while they are waiting for their forever home. Every spring, as the warmer weather sets in, mother cats and their newborns are surrendered to the shelter, along with special needs dogs that just don’t seem to adjust to a kennel setting very well. As a foster family, you can help socialize these wonderful pets, free up space at the Shelter for others, and at the same time fulfill your own desire to care for homeless dogs and cats without making a lifelong commitment to one animal. Read about one long-term foster family’s experience…Dennis and Faye have loved and had cats throughout their lives. When they learned that foster homes were needed for mama cats and their kittens, they immediately volunteered. Not only does this allow the kittens to build up their immunity against disease, but they get socialization with people and other cats and dogs, rounding them out to be adoptable, loving pets. Dennis and Faye say the work is minimal — daily cleaning the litter and providing food and fresh water—and the cost is nil since the Humane Society provides everything for their care. BUT the rewards are huge and last forever. Their home life is enhanced as they watch their fosters mature from babies to vibrant and playful pets with their own personalities They also gain pleasure from watching the mama cats, so devoted to their kittens yet willing to share them with their foster parents. After fostering 9 mama cats and close to 40 kittens, and caring for their own ten cats, two dogs and two horses, Dennis and Faye say their home should be called the “Boot, Hoof’n Paw Prints Ranch.” And now they’re ready to open their hearts and home again to new fosters as the kitten season is about to begin! If you are interested in fostering, call 607-746-3080 SENIOR PALS ARE THE bEST! “Senior Pals are the best” according to Eleanor Reed, a very active retired music teacher who just adopted 8 year old Nicki through our Senior Pals Program. “Tell more people this program is great – you can adopt a wonderful pet without having to pay a cent! They’re already vaccinated and bring their supplies with them.” Eleanor adopted Nicki as a companion for her other dog, Cash, when his canine buddy recently passed away. “I saw Nicki and thought, ‘I haven’t had a smaller dog’ and Nicki had lots of life in him and looked like he’d be fun.” She certainly made the right choice because Nicki and Cash hit it off immediately. “They’re best friends already.” Eleanor happily tells the pleasures of having Nicki in her home, along with Cash and her 3 cats. “Nicki is very smart,” she informed us. Nicki and Cash ride in the car with Eleanor every day as she delivers flowers or just takes them for a ride. “My dogs have to learn to ride even if they don’t like it at first,” she says. “I’m active and always on the go.” Luckily, both Nicki and Cash love to ride. “Many older people think dogs tie them down; I say they only do if you want them to.” They obviously don’t slow down this extraordinary lady, but do add lots of fun and joy to her life. At times when you can’t make traveling convenient for your dogs, you can occasionally board them or have a pet sitter come to your home. And if walking a dog is impossible for you, there are plenty of senior cats at the shelter longing for a quiet home to share! Take Eleanor’s word, “Senior Pals are great—and they’re easier than training a puppy (or kitten!).” To find out about our Senior Pals Program, call 607-746-3080. www.heartofthecatskills.org dog walk 2006 Canine competitors and their guardians went for gold on Saturday, September 9th, at the 4th Annual Woofs n’ Wags Dog Walk and Fair. In keeping with current events, the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society (HCHS) hosted The Doggie Olympics at the animal shelter’s premier fundraising event. The event was held at the American Legion Field in Delhi, and there were demonstrations, food, contests, vendors, and raffles. This event celebrated the joys of pet companionship in our community. In addition, we spotlighted our incredibly adoptable dogs and cats while raising funds for the shelter. This year, our new attraction for cat lovers was our Feline Tent which showcased adoptable cats and kittens and displayed our beautiful feline furrtography contest poster boards created by shelter staff member, Laura Wright, which was a huge hit. The funds raised at this year’s event helped to cover the shelter’s daily operational costs which top $1,100 a day. Super SUNY Student Volunteers The Dog Walk officially began with shelter staff, dog and board member introductions by emcee Tara Collins. These shelter dogs and their handlers led the way down the quarter-mile path circling the American Legion Field. From there, dogs and their guardians were encouraged to have a doggone good time experimenting with the obstacle course, grabbing a bite to eat at the Paws Café and bake sale or shopping at the Beastie Boutique. The Doggie Olympics, led by Joanne Callahan was new this year and ended up attracting a huge audience and many teams of competitors with their dogs. Everyone wanted to win the gold in the 3 events which included Sprint with Pup; Team-of-Two-Passthe-Dog Relay Race and Musical Sits & Downs. It was great to see Spot, our very own shelter dog, win the gold medal for Musical Sits & Downs. Don Ackerman, from Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB), joined by his retired dog, gave an inspiring presentation about raising service puppies. Last year alone, GEB volunteers raised 205 puppies. After 15 months, the dogs are tested and graduate, either guiding disabled people nationwide or breeding future guide dogs. Anyone interested in learning more about Guiding Eyes for the Blind can go to their website, www.cdc.guidingeyes.org. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) K-9 unit was back by popular demand. The officers Doug Disciullo and Kelly Kilpatrick and their dogs Argus and Brix demonstrated both with verbal and hand commands, a drug search and suspect apprehension. Also new this year was a pet wellness seminar, “The Health Benefits of Having a Pet.” “There is no denying the connection between pet and owner in relation to what they eat, drink and 10 Heart of the Catskills Humane Society The bleachers were filled! do,” says Kingston-based Holistic Health Counselor, Julie Barone. “As caregivers and companions, we owe our best friends a healthy environment and lifestyle so we can share longer, happier lives together.” Barone, a whole-foods nutrition and lifestyle consultant, provides pet owner consultations dealing in pet safety, animal communication, and holistic pet care. Once again we were lucky as the weather held out for us and at 2 p.m. just when the day was over, the skies opened up and it began to downpour. The breakdown went much faster than usual which made all of the volunteers happy. This event is made possible because of the contributions of over 31 sponsors/businesses. A special thank you is extended to the “Sittin’ Pretty” Sponsors, Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties, Joel Canfield’s Backyard Enterprises, Frank Lumia Real Estate Plus!, B&B Construction, Alta Log Homes, Delaware National Bank, Farmer Brown’s Barns, the amazing student volunteers from SUNY Delhi and of course, all of you who walked and raised money for our areas homeless pets. Without all of you, this would never have been the best dog walk yet! Schnoz and Rain in Musical Sits dog walk 2006 Sponsors! sittin’ pretty sponsors B&B Construction Lorrayne and John Bolger Railroad Avenue - PO Box 68 Roxbury, NY 607-326-4957 Farmer Brown’s Barns 2331 State Highway 28 S Franklin NY 607-829-6996 American Legion Legion Field Delhi, NY 607-746-3036 woofs sponsors Catmando Designs - Margaretville LL Dog Fencing - Oneonta Ron Guichard Realty - Andes wags sponsors Audi & Volkswagen of Oneonta Clark Companies - Delhi Delhi Motor Co., Inc. Delhi Telephone Company Invisible Fence of Central New York & Albany Region Margaretville Telephone Company National Bank of Delaware County – Walton Quarltere’s Garden & Market Place – Roxbury Ray’s Fine Wines - Delhi Tyco Healthcare/Mallinckrodt – Hobart Binnekill Square Restaurant - Margaretville LaFever Excavating, Inc. – Bovina Miller’s Pharmacy – Margaretville Now & Then Video - Margaretville C & M Landscaping & Excavating – Oneonta Delhi Critter Sitter Grand Gorge Animal Hospital Gruver, Zweifel & Scott, LLP – Oneonta Margaretville Liquor Store Uncle Alan’s Antiques & Oddities - Delhi Wilber National Bank – Delhi www.heartofthecatskills.org 11 Shelter news blurbs happy days for hchs pets To walk into Tracey Mattice’s restaurant, SUNDAE’s in Grand Gorge is like walking on the set of “Happy Days”…very cool. Tracey’s enthusiasm for helping animals is MORE than cool, it is infectious! Tracey, with the help of her friend Vicky Rutherford, held a fundraiser and adoption clinic to help the homeless pets at HCHS. For two months they “beat the pavement” promoting the event and collecting donations of money and items. When the dust settled, Tracey presented the shelter with over $1,300 and 2 van loads of needed items. But most important, a lab mix named Bear found a great forever home and several people from Grand Gorge have visited the shelter looking for a furry friend to join their family. Tracey and Vicky, you ROCK and ROLL!! So, What’s Your Sign? After recently undergoing many changes at the shelter; a new name and logo, a new web-site and new additions, shelter members Jean Henderson and Santo Cambareri, along with Jennifer and Brent Truitt, thought it was time to replace our shelter’s outdated road sign. These great supporters along with Clarice Harper (Florida) and Carol Spinelli, generously donated the funds to replace the sign on the road and to add a sign on our building. Laura O’Connor, Ann Lukin and Jennifer worked with the designer at Timely Signs in Kingston to create both eye catching signs. There is no way you can drive by and miss the welcoming cat and dog showing you the way to HCHS! Word has it that more visitors are dropping in and adopting our homeless cats and dogs because of our appealing signs! A heartfelt thank you from all of us! Jennifer Truitt & Bear at Happy Days Thank you! the rembrandts of the kennels Domenick Fucci’s calendar is always full and he has a long list of people waiting for him to paint the interior of their homes. So what a gift it was when he offered to donate his time and services to paint the shelter’s indoor dog kennels! With a hardworking team of volunteers, Deb Crute, Kenny Fass, Ellen Giambalvo, Tara Collins, Barb Geywits, Carl Merena, Mark and Ann Lukin, Linda & Harry McCartney, Marcy Elkin, Ann & Steve Rayment, Jen & Brent Truitt, Bob Guerrazzi and Delhi Paint & Paper, the kennels were “professionally” painted a two-tone meadow and spruce green. Chosen by the staff, the new colors really show off the dogs best profiles. As a special surprise, Domenick’s daughter, Amanda (the shelter princess), joined the crew to help even though her wedding was only a week away! A most wonderful tribute Arlene Tanney wanted to do something very special to memorialize her friends, Cheryl and Fred Sherman’s beloved dog Bruno. Bruno was the Sherman’s loving companion for thirteen years and he truly touched Arlene’s heart as well. The beautiful new planters and window boxes filled with flowers, pavers and wonderful park bench in the front of the shelter were all donated in Bruno’s memory. The plaque reads: “This garden is dedicated to Bruno, ‘A Handsome Fellow.’ Loved by Fred and Cheryl Sherman. Here, loving new and old memories intermingle.” We know Bruno’s tail is wagging knowing that the homeless dogs and cats temporary home was made more beautiful in his name. Thank you Arlene! 12 Heart of the Catskills Humane Society Shelter with new sign and planters! a funraising event at the cantina Ole`, Ole`….Tom Joyce and Deborah Schneider held a high energy fiesta for furry friends at their beautiful Mexican restaurant, CANTINA, in Andes. There was an abundance of great food, unbelievable people (some in Mexican garb) and non-stop dancing to lots of exciting tunes by DJ “Tito!” Tom kept the tables full of Mexican fare all night and Deb kept everyone dancing. They were fabulous hosts who generously donated their proceeds to help the homeless pets at HCHS to a tune of $3,000…Muchos Gracias Amigos!!! ! new E-Tails Every once in a while you have an experience with your pet that’s worth sharing. We hope you’ll enjoy the latest addition to the Scoop and email us your favorite pet tale to [email protected]. Maybe you’ll see it in the next newsletter or on our website. Please note that we have the right to edit and publish. Carl’s E-Tail I took Jaz, our dear stray adopted dog, for a walk up above the house today. The area is quite wooded and thick. I am about 200 yards above the house and Jaz, as usual, is somewhere ahead of me checking things out. All of a sudden I hear some weird noises, more of a commotion like I can’t ever remember hearing before. Then I see something black running up the hill through the brush. I figure it is Jaz. Then I see two black shapes running up the hill with Jaz chasing them. Instantly, I realize that she is chasing two bear cubs and I am freaking out. Screaming at the top of my lungs (lucky I didn’t damage something) for her to come back, hoping she will listen (which would be rare), and stop the chase. The next thing I know, about fifty yards up the hill I see Jaz running at top speed down the hill. She has listened. This always makes the dog’s human happy. Momentarily I am ecstatic and relieved. Then instantly, the ecstasy fades… for right on her heels is a very angry momma bear. Now where do you think my terrified dog is running? Right back to big daddy who probably thinks I am some kind of sanctuary. Honest, and this is not one iota of exaggeration, Jaz goes barreling somewhere past me and that bear is plummeting down the hill at supersonic speed right at ME. I have to tell you that in what seemed like nanoseconds, a number of thoughts went through my head. What can I do? Do you lie down or fight? Will it hit me and maul me? Is this going to hurt? What do you do when a black bear attacks you? Will it just hit me and continue on? Will it just eat me? This is a big **** animal! New Monthly Giving Program Heart of the Catskills has a new way for our supporters to show their heart and help us give shelter to our homeless animals. A year ago, we launched a new monthly giving program that gives you a convenient way to donate each month by using your credit card or checking account. These monthly contributions help to provide ongoing care for the animals and support the programs of the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society. It’s easy to sign up for this program using our new monthly giving enrollment form, and contributions can be canceled at any time simply by notifying HCHS. If you’re interested in becoming one of our special monthly contributors, please check the box for monthly giving on the enclosed return envelope. My dumb dog! And in the same instant that I thought all those thoughts, I raised both arms, whistled as loud as I could and then yelled something which slips my mind now as the whole thing left me shaking. And about ten feet from me, that out of control bear must have come to her senses, for she screeched to a halt and turned around and ran up the hill just as fast as she came down, probably now realizing that she had been separated from her cubs. I must say that you have never felt real relief until you have a teed off mother bear charge right up to your face and then inexplicably leave you alone. I did think this could be my end. I would wish this on no one. Well, maybe just...... www.heartofthecatskills.org 13 ~ october 2005 - september 2006 ~ IN MEMORY OF... John Aikens By Kenneth Gill Antoinette Golfetto Bassani By Linda Dean Edna Bishop By Marilyn & Ernest Francis Millie Boni By Gabriel Kirch & Dale Hughes Bill Bowser By Anne & Harvey Slatin Agnes Bullis By Dave & Margaret Bullis Philip Caswell By Gerald & Dorothy Demorat Gardner & Buhl CPA’s, PC Kluane National Park Thomas Korzelius Ann & Mark Lukin Ronald O. Morse Sheila & Bob Stanton Mr. & Mrs. Ray Stone Catherine Wilbur Neal & Donna Wixson Denise Zarick Stella Crosby By Marilyn Crosby Linda & William Houston William & Teresa Voorhies Louise De Myttenaere By Joanne Westcott Isaac Finkle By Debbie Finkle-Stanton Mac Fricano By Janice Whittaker April Gorsch By Andrea Moore Judy Sidorowicz TS Pink Corporation Antoinette Golfetto By David & Barbara Elmore Geneiveve Graham By Rachel Couse Deborah Domonkos (niece) Katharine B. Hanor Jim Heron By Marcia & Brian Olenych Ralph V. Huyck By Timothy & Sarah Jane Clifford Nicole Franzese Valerie Stroughton Carrie Ruth Johnson By Marion Gavett Donald Jones By Ira & Betty Hedges Marion Jones Sabine Koengeter & Peter Kelsh Aaron & Iris Kramer Jeffrey & Pamela Kurkowski Robert & Katherine March Gordon & June Meagley Miriam Sharick Katherine & Bob Wickham Lillian Kelly By Deborah Domonkos Nancy P. Ferguson Margaret Merenberg Philip Parsons Dan Kissane By James Heinegg & Maureen Prince Edward Lange By Audrey Lange Howard LaFever By Dennis & Mary Anne West Leona LaFever By Theresa Ballard Marlene Cammer Sandra Cortright Anthony & Norma Gabriel Janet Gransbury Lillian Hilson Howard & Linda LaFever Susan LaFever Pat Morris Marcia & Brian Olenych Jennifer O’Neill & Elton Dise Elaine Rodecki Dorothy Ryder Sherri & Ernie Tellan South Kortright School ESP Association Helen Tyrell Wesley & Shirley Warren Dennis & MaryAnne West Mike Lee By Dr. Sindy & Malcolm Becker James Makemson By German-American Club of Northern Catskills Thomas & Francis Wander Louise K. Maurer By Paul & Linda DeAndrea Framington Nissan Agnes Miller By Marshall D. MacNaught Jr. Clyde Miller By Marshall D. MacNaught Jr. Delaware Academy Douglas & Michelle McDonald Jane & Ivan O’Dell Georgia Miller By Debbie Boynton Townsend School Sunshine Committee Della T. Morgan By Directors, Supervisors and Secretaries @ AO Fox Memorial Hospital Ginny Ruhe By Dr. Sindy & Malcolm Becker William Rynack By Donald & Peggy Kearney Bruce Schoonmaker By ONC BOCES – Innovative Programs Staff, SCS SGT. Henry Johnson, Youth Leadership Academy Carl Donald Schulz By Leslie & Virginia Sanford Mary Siciliano By Margaret & Ronald Marsh Margaret Sidorowicz By John & Grace Allidi Theresa Ballard James & Judith Bauer Sandra Cortright Christopher Durso Hazel Coyle Janet Gransbury Verne & Mary Jane Henderson Pat Morris Tom & Katherine O’Connell Bette Shaw Linda Sue & John Warner South Kortright School ES Assn. Kiley Stickeler By Flip & Annette Archard Bobbie Strickland By Curves For Women - Oneonta Richard Stocksieker By Gabrielle Kirsch & Dale Hughes Lori Sutton By Anne Pratt Slatin Chucky Utter By Sydney & Barbara Utter Al Vereb By Herbert & Eleanor Pappky Herman Wadler By Dr. Sindy & Malcolm Becker Robert Weber – beloved father of Volunteer Ellen Giambalvo By Krislynn & Michael Dengler Steven Dixon Barb Geywits Alan & Barb Kaplan Linda & William Kulaski Ann & Mark Lukin Pamela Peters Scott & Gail Purdy IN HONOR OF... John Allidi – Merry Christmas By Grace Allidi Lynne Attanasso – Merry Christmas By Beth & Charles Goetz William Beckman By Fredricka Cranston Red & Shirley Brower – Merry Christmas By Bonnie E. Goss-Colone Deb Crute – Woman of the Year! By Gail Rasmussen Purdy Christopher Durham – Merry Christmas By Gerard Duffy Sheila Guidera – Merry Christmas By Rita Antilety Meredith Hancock By Heather Stevenson Verne and Mary Jane Henderson By Robert and Barbara Davidson HCHS Staff & Volunteers – Thank you for being there!! By Rosemairie Tuefjer Hale Kathy Ingalls and Jude Todd By Monica & Joseph Tarantino The Janoff Family By Linda Wilson & H.L. Gidding Carolyn Jenkinson By Ray & Maureen Lindie Gwen Kent – Merry Christmas By Linda Wilson Rena Kosevsky – Merry Christmas By Richard Friedberg & Elisabeth Searles Kelsey Rae Little By Margaret Maxwell Ann & Mark Lukin – Merry Christmas By Susan Cassella Mr. & Mrs. Marsh’s 50th Wedding Anniversary By Benson Agency Jack & Nohmie Myers By Jean Henderson & Santo Cambareri Dawn Norwood – for care of cat By Linnea Goodwin Burnwood - Merry Christmas Leslie Mokay - Merry Christmas Sharon Moyse - Thank you for taking care of our cat Max Robin – Merry Christmas By Richard Friedberg & Elisabeth Searles Tony Robin – Merry Christmas By Richard Friedberg & Elisabeth Searles ~ october 2005 - september 2006 ~ Sandy Russell – Happy Birthday By Eleanor Goodnough Mark Thompson & Mark Wolbert By Polly G. DeMille Brent & Jennifer, Haylee (Alumni dog), Josie (cat), Niner (cat) Truitt By Joan H. Smith Gerda Walling – Happy 84th Birthday By Marie Palko & John Schoomaker Kelly Walsh – Happy Birthday By Joy Archer Frank & Deborah Lumia Wes & Shirley Warren By Gary & Joyce Manning William & Mary Jane Roberts Gerda Weber By Bob & Ellen Giambalvo Linda and Ronald Wilcox - Holiday Cheer By William W. Brown Andrew Zietkiewicz By Penelope Queen Barney – alumni dog By Gregor & Maria Denning Beauty – alumni dog By Beth Barrett Donovan Payne – dog By Michael & Christine Leonardo Emmalynn – shelter dog waiting for her home By Christine O’Rourke Emmie By John & Pamela Dorr Ike & Midget – our loving pets By John Bramley Jim, Joanna, Sid (dog) and Jack (dog) Richardson By Jane Dewitt & Ryan Orton Oscar (alumni dog) By Deborah W. Hunt Rufus (cat) By Marlene Cammer Shelter Staff – Thank you for all you do! By Deborah W. Hunt Mark Quigley & Bruce Ledbetter Shelter Van (“Josh Mobile”) – like the energizer bunny it just keeps going By Deb Crute Splash Kisser (alumni dog) By Nancy Furstinger Sunny (dog) By Judy Speranzi RAINBOW BRIDGE PETS Attila The Honey Myers – beloved cat By Jean Henderson, Santo Cambareri & Oliver Bogus Bear By Linda & Walter Janczak Boots Pansabene-Beerman – beloved dog Bridget – beloved dog By Bob, Jordan, Kellie & Erin Walsh Bruno Sherman – beloved dog By Deb Crute & Kenny Fass Susan & Brian Greenberg Lisa Kaplan & Tim Brennan Ida Rubel Sherry Spergel Buford Sheppard By Jerry Wolbert Ceasar Bellotti - beloved cat By Dorothy & John Friedman Charlotte – beloved shelter dog By Anonymous (for Deb) Cocoa Lange – beloved dog By Audrey Lange Virgil & Irene Parrish Cricket Pansabene-Beerman – beloved dog By The Ehnle Family Daisy – beloved dog By Herbert & Elanor Blish Danny Boy – beloved cat By Renata Aslakson Dottie Briscoe – beloved dog of Joe and Wendy Briscoe By Bruce Ledda Edward Arcos - beloved cat By Cynthia Sanford Fur Elise “Lucy” – beloved cat By Dorey Munch & Jim Lettis Gopher Milutin-Tovar – beloved dog By Bruce Ledda Gracie Searles/Friedberg – beloved dog By Rena Kosersky Guy Noir – beloved cat By Jacqueline Morris Hagar Richardson – beloved dog of Aaron Richardson and Sarah Morgan By Jane Dewitt & Ryan Orton Hubbell Vogler – beloved cat By Nancy Furstinger Indiana O’Beirne – beloved dog By Dale Trethaway & Carl Merena Ivan & Minnie By Marcia Bradford Jack – beloved dog By Jacqueline Morris Jack - beloved dog By Dorothy & John Friedman Jerry O’Connor (“rude boy”) – beloved dog By Bruce Ledda Ann & Mark Lukin Jeter – beloved cat By Joanne & Christopher Erickson KC – beloved cat By Martin & Rita Finch Kelly – beloved cat By Marge & Peter Churuti Lacey Vogler – beloved dog By Nancy Furstinger Maggie Canty-Lounello – beloved dog By Dale Trethaway & Carl Merena Mickey – beloved cat By Sally A. VanBenschoten Mollie – beloved Beagle By S.B. Allen Morris – beloved cat By Dominick Pampinella Nemo – beloved shelter dog By Anonymous (for Deb) Nikki Fass/Crute – beloved Dog By Ann & Mark Lukin Niner Truitt – beloved cat By Adrianne Baron Bob Guerrazzi Ann & Mark Lukin Linda & Harold McCartney Joseph & Joan Smith Shana & Karyn & Maura Plato – beloved cat By Corliss & Joseph Hubert Poke – beloved dog By Rayeann Stein Punquette – beloved cat By Joan Miller Ripley By Philip & Annette Archard Rocy Bovalino - beloved dog By Francis and Lisa Bovalino Russell Crute/Fass, the - beloved “D” Cat By Ann & Mark Lukin Rusty, Mikki & Tommy – beloved cats By Muriel & Henry Drewitz Sally Kitty – beloved cat By Sally A. VanBenschoten Sasha Lukin – beloved dog By Jean Henderson & Santo Cambareri Jennifer & Brent Truitt Schaefer – beloved cat By Freddi Dunleavey Shane Ledda – beloved dog By Bruce Ledda Shaq Townsend – beloved dog By Ellen & Bob Giambalvo Schissy Kaplan – beloved cat By Ellen & Bob Giambalvo Ann & Mark Lukin Silky – beloved cat By Patricia Morris Sky, Murphy, Banana, Winnie and all our other loving pets By Richard Friedberg & Elisabeth Searles Sundance – beloved cat By Karen Drewitz TC Budine – beloved cat By Marian Burdine White Shadow – beloved horse By Janice Whittaker Buzzy, Buffy, Susie, Dixie, Cookie, Candy - beloved dogs By Artie Zier tHANK YOU from our furry friends Howard & Jack Brazie (alumni cats) - Send their allowance to help the less fortunate Ben Froehlich (alumni dog) – With Love Katie (alumni dog) & Carolyn (guardian) Jenkinson - Merry Christmas to all the shelter cats and dogs waiting for homes Lenny Lemmon - (alumni dog) - sends his regards Schnoz (dog) and Rain (guardian) – send Blessings Poopy Annie & Binky Van Breeman – alumni cats Heart of the Catskills Humane Society 46610 State Highway 10 P.O. Box 88 Delhi, NY 13753 “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ~ Ghandi. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Due to many changing forces and natural disasters our schedule of events is in transition. Please forgive our delay and please be patient with us as we look for appropriate locations and/or dates to hold a few of these fundraisers. 7th Annual Holiday Store – opens Thursday, November 24th thru December 30 – weekends (or by chance/appointment) – 10am – 4pm - the location will be announced – donations of new or gently/rarely used items are appreciated. Drop off at the shelter or call to arrange for a delivery. Please contact Laura O’Connor, 845-586-3292 for more information. 2nd Annual Holiday for the Heart – Saturday, December 2, 2006 – at the Delaware County Historical Association, Delhi, from 10am – 4pm. Over 25 beautiful Christmas trees and wreaths will be decorated by volunteers in various themes, to be raffled at the end of the event. A day-long event filled with holiday musical entertainment, baked goods for sale, shopping for holiday gifts, photos with Santa Dog and possibly winning your Christmas tree this year. If you would like to sponsor and decorate a tree please call Deb Crute for more details, 607-746-3080 or [email protected]. 7th Annual Rummage Sale – Saturday, March 24, 2007, 8:30am – 1pm at the United Ministry Church Hall in Delhi. Donated items needed – Drop off items (NO clothing, computers or electrical appliances please!). Donations can be dropped off in the classroom off the church hall on Wednesday, March 21st and Thursday, March 22nd that week. Baked Goods for the Paws Café my be dropped off Friday March 23rd, 9am – 3pm or Saturday morning. Volunteers needed – Call Barbara Kaplan, Chairperson 607-746-2515. Public Meeting – Monday, April 16, 2007, 7pm – Guest Speaker and agenda to be announced – SUNY Delhi, Sanford Hall. Room 1. 7th Annual Spring Dance and Auction – April, 2007 – Date Time and Location to be announced – Donated items needed for the auction – Contact Ann Rayment, Chairperson 845-246-6917. 16 Heart of the Catskills Humane Society Complete Services Offered Low Cost Spay/Neuter Certificates Dog and Cat Adoption Service Microchipping for Adoptees Presence on PETFINDER.com Humane Education Programs Senior Pals and Animal Angels Programs Dog Training Classes Junior & Adult Volunteer Program Barking Books Reading Program Cremation Services/Memorials Lost & Found Registry Lilac Lane Pet Memorial Garden We’re open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11am to 4pm and by appointment. We’re located at 46610 State Highway 10 in Delhi, two miles north of the Village. Turn at the Delaware County Historical Association, where you will see our new sign. We Welcome Your Visit! w w w. h e a r t o f t h e c a t s k i l l s . o r g