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P. O. Box A • East Smithfield, PA, 18817 • (570) 596-2200 • www.animalcaresanctuary.org

WINTER 2011-2012 NEWSLETTER

Treasures Shoppe recently opened in November and will be offering upscale, donated or consignment items such as home décor, furniture, and antiques. Customers will be greeted by dogs romping about or welcomed by cats meowing. Having animals present will keep them at the forefront of peoples’ minds and serve as a reminder of the importance of their purchases. This is also a wonderful socialization opportunity for our animals!

WMany animals were lucky to find forever homes during the Grand Opening of Animal Care Sanctuary’s (ACS) Wellsboro location in Tioga County on September 23rd. The shelter was formerly operated by the Pennsylvania SPCA (PASPCA), a non-profit organization headquartered in Philadelphia. In response to the state’s challenging economic climate, the PASPCA ceased operations at the Wellsboro facility in April 2011. On August 3, the PASPCA announced that they had selected Animal Care Sanctuary’s proposal to operate the shelter. As part of the operating agreement, ACS will lease the shelter for $1 for each of the next two years.

Continued on page 2

» IN THIS ISSUE

ACS Opens in Wellsboro / 1

ACS Accredited by ASA / 3

Canine Care Dedication / 4

New Canine Real-life Room / 5

ACS Helps Animals Displaced in Flood / 6

Dogs Say “Thank You” for Beds / 6

New Animal Sponsorship Program / 7

Mutt Strut 2012 / 8

!We are excited to be part of the Wellsboro community! Wellsboro, the County Seat, is the home of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and a popular tourist destination. The Wellsboro site is situated on 65 open acres along Route 6 east of the borough. The property has a shelter which houses nine dogs and 21 cats. Additionally, it has a house which functions as our adoption center and consignment shop.

The Purr~fect

ACS Opens NewSatellite Shelter

The very first adoption at Wellsboro: Lucky the cat is adopted by Nicole Killingstad and her family.

ellsboroWelcome to

Animal CareS A N C T U A R Y

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Wellsboro Continued from page 1 expansion

2“We are excited to be part ofthe Wellsboro community!

Joan Smith-Reese, Executive Director

ACS relies completely on donations and receives no funding from county, state, or federal entities. Unfortunately, during this extended economic downturn, donations have decreased. ACS Executive Director, Joan Smith-Reese, created the idea of a store in an effort to provide for our animals. Stores have proven very successful for many other rescues and shelters earning from $5,000 per month at Salem Friends of Felines to $10,000 in the most profitable month at East Lake Pet Orphanage in Dallas.

Wellsboro ACS is planning numerous exciting opportunities, including a pet park and a low cost spay/ neuter clinic. As we go forward, we want to continue to involve the entire animal-loving community! ■

Getting Ready for Black Friday

Getting ready to open our Purrfect Treasure’s Shoppe in Wellsboro on Black Friday is Markie Kane, our volunteer director of the shop. Markie is pictured here with Buffy, who has been at the sanctuary for eight Christmases and wants to be in somebody’s home for next Christmas. Let’s make it happen!

The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, near Wellsboro.

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recognition

Animal Care Sanctuary is proud to announce that they have been accredited by the most comprehensive accrediting organization in America. American Sanctuary Association (ASA) was organized to provide a more efficient means in which to find and identify quality facilities in which to place homeless, abused or abandoned animals, facilitate the exchange of information among animal caregivers, and to create public awareness of this national tragedy.

In order to be accredited, Animal Care Sanctuary submitted our policies, procedures, operations manuals, and

the rescue and placement of homeless animals, supporting legislation that protects animals, educating the public, and reaching out to other segments of the rescue community.

Nationally, there are hundreds of animal sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers that assist, rescue, and provide refuge and humane care for animals. Offering an alternative to euthanasia, or a lifetime of suffering, all these groups have one thing in common: They are all struggling each year to accept into their sanctuary thousands of homeless domestic and wild animals with no place to go.

This is a unique period in the history of the sanctuary movement. Building on the need to differentiate between true sanctuaries that do not breed, buy, sell, trade or use animals commercially, from those that exploit animals, it is important that the public knows where we stand. Foundations and other grantors often look to ASA for certification that sanctuaries do meet those standards.■

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strategic plan to ASA. We also agreed to abide by the ASA’s policies that include: No breeding, no use of animals for commercial activity that is exploitive, that we maintain our non-profit status, accept responsibilities for lifetime care and welfare of the animals in our custody, maintain an emergency plan, provide veterinary care and maintain a humane euthanasia policy for animals who are severely injured, terminally ill or suffering.

The ASA exists to assure the humane and compassionate care for these animals by setting standards for their care, accrediting sanctuaries that meet these standards, networking with member sanctuaries, assisting in

ACS EarnsAmerican Sanctuary AssociationAccreditation

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Animal Care Sanctuary (ACS) dedicates the Canine Care building to Ronald J. Sheehan of Toms River, NJ. Mr. Sheehan was a lover and protector of all God’s creatures both large and small. He was an U.S. Army Veteran, self-employed businessman, co-founder, trustee, and board member of ACS.

Mr. Sheehan found the Animal Care Sanctuary property in East Smithfield for Lesley Sinclair, founder of ACS, when her operation in Toms River outgrew the converted chicken farm there. Mr. Sheehan designed the Canine Care building and provided careful supervision of the construction process. At 400’x36’, the Canine Care building is now home to approximately 100 dogs.

As part of the dedication, tours through the Canine Care building were given to showcase Animal Care Sanctuary’s recent renovations geared toward improving the quality of life of the dogs in our care. A wall was erected which serves to

remembrance

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The dedication ceremony was held on October 15, 2011, one year after Mr. Sheehan’s death. The ceremony was well attended by his family and friends, many of whom traveled from great distances, extending from Ohio to Massachusetts, to honor this wonderful man. The ceremony opened with a prayer by Brendan Sheehan, Mr. Sheehan’s son. A plaque was erected outside of the Canine Care Building with a duplicate being presented to Jacqueline

Greulich, Ron’s best friend and soul mate of 24 years. Carrie Carroll, ACS board chair, highlighted Ron’s dedication to ACS’ mission and shared fond memories. Next, tours were given through the Canine Care building with a lunch to follow. To all who knew him, he was a religious, clearheaded man of integrity, who loved life, family, friends and animals. He lived his life deliberately, with much gratitude and a gifted sense of humor. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Ron’s life and love of animals with the people who shared his life. ■

edicationDreduce noise & stress. An isolation and quarantine area was completed to house intakes or sick animals. In addition, traditional kennel areas were transformed into a real life room where dogs could live together in a homelike setting complete with furniture and décor. This allows the dogs greater comfort and will increase their adoptability. Our goal is to erect three more walls and create nine additional real life rooms as grants or donations are received.

Jacqueline Greulich dedicates the Canine Care building with a plaque of Ron Sheehan. Friends and family at the dedication ceremony.

RCanineCare

Ron Sheehan and Toby

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improvements, please be sure to write ‘for Canine Care’ on the memo line of your check. ACS is offering naming opportunities for the additional walls, real-life rooms, and furnishing for the rooms.

We are also seeking contributions of time! We need volunteers who are interested in assisting the Canine Care Team in acclimating our dogs to this room by simply hanging out! Bring your book and pass your time in comfort with the companionship of a dog who craves your attention.

ACS would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Anne & Elgene Ward whose contributions made the construction of the first wall possible and to Nacine Supinsky & Robert Barrish for contributing real life room furniture in memory of Triumph. ■

facilities

Roomboth of which will greatly reduce each dog’s stress level.

The construction of the first wall created our intake area. Here, we keep newly-arrived dogs separated from those who have been here longer to prevent the spread of disease while they undergo a medical evaluation. The construction of the second wall resulted in the creation of a quiet section for senior dogs (lovingly referred to by Canine Care staff as the ‘Old Folks’) by partitioning this area from the main Canine Care building.

The Sanctuary realizes the need to construct two more interior walls and is actively seeking funds to do so. If you would like to financially contribute to these

R New Canine

Our first real-life room is almost ready! We will use this room as a respite for stressed dogs who need a break from being in a regular run, as a tool to help housetrain dogs, and as a place where volunteers and staff can spend quality time with Canine Care dogs in a home-like setting. According to Cornell’s Shelter Medicine Program, allowing a dog some time in a real life room is “one of the best ways to reduce stress in shelter dogs and prepare them for a home environment.”

A real-life room is just that; it is a room with solid walls, furniture, and other home-like amenities. The goals of the room are to improve the quality of life for our dogs while they are at ACS, to make them more adoptable through lowering their stress level, to improve their behavior, and to improve their level of housetraining. As ACS finances allow, the Sanctuary will be building additional real-life rooms. The Sanctuary sees them as crucial for the health, the well-being, and the adoptability of our dogs.

In addition to the new room, the Canine Care dogs have benefitted from the construction of two walls. These are part the Sanctuary’s plan to divide the 400’ long building into smaller, more manageable sections. These walls are essential for sound suppression and visual stimuli reduction,

eal-life

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activism

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Bettie and Patty are among the 50 dogs that wagged “thank you” for the recent arrival of donated beds at ACS Canine Care. These 50 raised beds were purchased by Animal Rescue Aid (ARA) www.animalrescueaid.org through a grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project http://www.refresheverything.com/how-it-works. ARA has the mission to “provide much needed support to non-profit organizations on the frontline of animal

rescue, by raising funds, securing resources and building awareness on their behalf.”

Little do Bettie and Patty know that ARA donated their beds based on recommendations solicited through an email-writing campaign, asking respondents, “Which animal welfare organization do you recommend be the recipient of a donation of raised dog beds and why?” In response to

an outpouring of emails on behalf of Animal Care Sanctuary to the question, ARA donated 50 beds to ACS Canine Care.

These donated beds are a significant improvement over the pallets and blankets used as bedding by many of the ACS Canine Care dogs as they provide each one a dry and comfortable resting area off the floor. They are also durable and easy to both clean and maintain.

Unfortunately, not every one of our dogs has one of these beds. If you are interested in donating a bed, please visit our website and click on the Get Involved tab.

On behalf of Bettie, Patty and all of our dogs, ACS Canine Care thanks you, our supporters, who took the time to email and help us obtain the beds. They will bring added warmth, comfort, and a touch of home for our Canine Care dogs. ■

In this rural Pennsylvania area, the existing problems of pet homelessness & overcrowding in area shelters were only exacerbated by the flooding that was widespread in the area following Tropical Storm Lee in September. Fortunately, Animal Care Sanctuary (ACS) was able to help.

ACS helped many displaced pets when floodwaters devastated the Twin Tiers region. As people found themselves homeless, many were forced to surrender their animals. Some animals are staying at the Sanctuary temporarily until their owners can get their lives back on track, but many of the animals have been surrendered by their owners permanently. ACS is very fortunate to have facilities available to aid the community in an emergency.

Four members of the ACS staff; Kellie Roberts, Jesse Newell, Carol Bennett and Ellen Lowery have received extensive training and are members of the Bradford County Animal Response Team (BCART). BCART is a volunteer group consisting of local professionals, community leaders and concerned citizens who are dedicated to preparing, planning, responding and recovering during animal emergencies. The BCART program trains participants to facilitate a safe, environmentally sound and efficient response to animal emergencies on the local, county, state and federal level. ■

Jasper was adopted after losing his home in the flood.

Animals

flood

ACS HelpsDisplacedby

50“Thank you!”

Dogs SayDonated Beds,

After Receiving

Bettie the dog licks her thanks for her new bed!

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The layout services for this newsletter were donated by Randy Heffernan (randyheffernan@yahoo.com). All copy and photos were provided by Animal Care Sanctuary. The printing was done by USA Printing Online at a significant discount. ■

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

AB

OU

TACSBoard of Directors

Carrie CarrollChairperson

Eric Chase Treasurer

Jacqueline GreulichBoard Member

Sherry SevierBoard Member

Monty HughesBoard Member

Megan StrattonBoard Member

Marquene KaneBoard Member

Executive Staff

Joan Smith-ReeseExecutive Director

Rachel HighamCommunity Liaison

Animal Care Sanctuary is a dedi-cated, nurturing stepping stone for animals of all kinds.

ACS is a non-profit animal shelter located in northeast Pennsylvania. We strive to provide nuturing, healthy homes to cats, dogs, and other animals who are abandoned or abused. We rehabilitate as many of these animals as possible in order to place them into permanent homes. Those that cannot be adopted remain in our care.

Contact

jsmithreese@animalcaresanctuary.org(570) 596-2200

on his/her background, and updates on their adoptability status. Think about how much you spend every morning on a cup of coffee. At a minimum of $10.00 a month-a third of what you spend in three days on coffee, you can sponsor an animal! You will also receive our colorful and informative Animal Care Sanctuary newsletter every quarter. This is a great way to stay informed and provides our sponsors with a feeling of accomplishment when they provide for an animal in need.

Animal profiles are available via our website, www.animalcaresanctuary.org, under the adoptable animals tab. You could also inquire over the phone about our animals that require extensive behavior modification or veterinary care; these animals would greatly benefit from a special friend to support them. We offer a one- time donation with a minimum of $50.00 or a monthly donation of $10.00. Your sponsorship donations are tax deductible. All monies sent to the Animal Care Sanctuary is directly put towards the betterment of our animals and in turn should make you feel better about where your money is being used. To impact the life of an animal is to make an impact on oneself. Sponsor an animal as a gift or a tribute in honor or memory of a loved one! Sponsorship donations can be made on our website www.animalcaresancutuary.org or by sending a check. Please note the name of the animal in the comment section of your online donation or in check memo.■

Program

programs

S NewponsorshipBy sponsoring an animal at Animal

Care Sanctuary you are creating a unique bond! Animal Care Sanctuary understands that not everyone is able to adopt an animal. Fortunately, for those who find themselves in this situation, we offer a friendly alternative to adoption. Animal sponsorship gives you the opportunity to financially sustain the care of one of our animals whose story touched your life.

As one of the largest and most successful sanctuaries in the country, Animal Care Sanctuary is home to nearly 700 animals and is solely kept alive by the generosity of our donors and sponsors. When in a home environment, the annual cost of owning a dog is approximately $1,300-$1,800 and $1,000 for a cat. Factoring in the added expense of providing extensive veterinary care, labor costs, exceptional facilities, and specific foods based upon nutritional needs; the amount of money necessary to sustain an animal in a shelter environment is significantly

higher. Many of our senior animals have spent years at ACS; therefore, the financial obligations that we have for these animals tend to be higher as the animals age and require medication or therapeutic tools to manage their aging bodies.

Your support saves lives! The bond formed through sponsorship is one that keeps you connected. Upon your sponsorship of one of our adoptable animals, you will receive a picture of your animal, information

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P.O. Box AEast Smithfield, PA 18817

fundraiser&mutt strut

fun fest2nd Annual

May 19, 2012Join us for a doggone fun day to raise money for your four legged friends at Animal Care Sanctuary! Events will include: • Dog walk to raise money• Agility demonstration• Food, music, & entertainment• Vendors & rescue groups• Obedience demonstrations• Canine good citizen demonstrationsRegistered walkers will receive: Exclusive event t-shirt, doggie bag, free pet health screening, and prizes for individual and team fundraisers. Gather your friends and walk as a team. Even if you can’t attend, you can register to walk. ■

REGISTER NOWwww.animalcaresanctuary.org(570) 596-2200