Collection of Feline Stories is the Cat`s Meow!

the
Shelter Scoop
Summer 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
Collection of Feline Stories ......1
Spotlight on Our Staff.............2
Spotlight on Our Volunteers......2
Happy Tails..........................3
Shelter News........................4
The Path to Forever Homes......5
Long-Termers.......................5
New Digs for the Dogs.............6
Adopt-A-Kennel Program..........6
Shop Online and Help HCHS......6
Dog Walk............................7
Planned Giving.....................7
HCHS Events & Services ..........8
A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization
Director of Shelter Operations
Deb Crute, LVT
Shelter Staff
Beth Cressman LVT, Supervisor
Laura Wright, Supervisor
Brandi Carufe, Kaitlin Cronin, Devin Gardner,
Tessa Hartwell, Kathryn Jackson,
Garrett Jester, Lori Rheel, Joel Schermerhorn,
Maria Schermerhorn, Judy Sidorowicz,
Elaine Stefanelli,Tim Yeary
PetSmart Adoption Center Staff:
Christina Russell, Coordinator
Fay Amatrano, Erin Sinnott
Board of Directors
Marion Ott, President
Laura O’Connor,Vice President
Brent Truitt, Treasurer
Amanda Fucci-Bartoszek, Secretary
Beth Adams, Lynne Attanasso,
Nicole Franzese, Cathy Karlin,
Dick Stinson, Dale Trethaway, Jennifer Truitt
Newsletter Committee
Deb Crute, Kenny Fass,
Amanda Fucci-Bartoszek, Marion Ott,
Brent Truitt, Jen Truitt
Newsletter Contributors
Beth Cressman, Kelly Haas, Laura Wright
P.O. Box 88, Delhi, NY 13753 ~ (607) 746-3080
e-mail: info@heartofthecatskills.org
website: www.heartofthecatskills.org
Collection of Feline Stories
is the Cat’s Meow!
What do you get when you pair a retired schoolteacher and a freelance
artist who are both cat lovers? A wonderful book with lots of “cat-titude!”
Mary Jane Henderson and
Aubrynn Nealis conceived of
the idea for Cat Whiskers: A
Book of Special Cat Stories
and Colorful Illustrations after
discussing a book written and
published in 1938 by Delaware
County resident Bess Hughes
Burns, entitled Cat Tales. This
book, along with their love for
animals, inspired the two women
to collaborate on a more recent collection of cat stories that were gathered
from many local residents. Over 100 copies of the book were published,
with all of the proceeds from the book sales donated to HCHS.
A benefit book signing of Cat Whiskers, hosted by O’Neill’s Shire Pub
in Delhi on March 8th, was a local triumph.
There was a huge turnout, which packed the
bar and restaurant, and a line out the door
with people waiting to get their books signed.
The books were sold out in less than 2 hours!
Thank you to Mary Jane, Aubrynn, those
who contributed cat tales for the book, the
Shire Pub, as well as all who came out to
support Cat Whiskers and the shelter. We
appreciate the hard work that went into this
very special project. And congratulations
to those who were lucky enough to get a
copy of this local treasure!
Printed By Courier Printing Corporation
Copyright 2013 Heart of the Catskills Humane Society
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Spotlight on Our Staff
Our family’s involvement with HCHS
started in 2003, when we moved
into the log home next door. We
would occasionally walk dogs, but
mostly tended to the Rainbow Bridge
Garden and brought one or two of the
adoptable shelter dogs to the Annual
Dog Walk. Around that time, I was
doing “backyard” dog agility with
my Chihuahuas, Bo and Boquet, and
I later donated our obstacle course
to the shelter. In the summer of
2008, I started as a volunteer and by
September, had become a part-time
employee, cleaning and caring for the
shelter cats. In July 2009, I adopted
McDoogle, a Schnauzer/Yorkie/
Dachshund mix. He is such a sweet
and loveable boy. In 2010, we fostered
a sweet Yorkie, Mocha, and we are
currently fostering a quirky kitty,
Isaiah. My brother and I have also
and keeping to myself. But just ask
my parents and brother and they will
tell you that if you get me on the right
subject, I can talk your ear off! For
example, ask me something about
gardening and it will eventually lead
into how my chickens, rabbits, and
ducks play an integral part of the
gardening cycle through composting
organic materials and food scraps. I
also love to take photos of animals,
flowers, natural scenery, and family
events.
~Maria Shermerhorn
mowed Lilac Lane and the shelter’s
grassy areas for several years.
When I am working at the shelter,
I am there to get the job done as
efficiently as possible without cutting
corners. Because I am always busy,
most people think of me as very quiet
Maria also mentioned that her family
really appreciates the good neighbors
they have at HCHS, and all of us here
can sincerely return the compliment.
The Schermerhorns are wonderful
neighbors who not only keep an eye
on things for us, but always have a
friendly smile, a helping hand, and a
kind word!
Spotlight on Our Volunteers
Pat Svegl, or “Aunt Pat”
as she is affectionately called by the
shelter staff, has been a fun-loving
and dedicated shelter volunteer for
many years. Aunt Pat prefers to work
“behind the scenes” and helps with a
wide variety of tasks such as copying,
mailings, cleaning and organizing the
storage areas of the shelter, and getting
the materials for all of our fundraisers
ready in advance so the events can go
as smoothly as possible.
other favorite pastimes.
Pat uses her creative talents to benefit
the shelter as well. She has blessed
Pat and her husband, John, who have
the shelter with her love for sewing
been married for 28 years, live in a
by donating soft and colorful cat
two-room renovated old school house
hammocks for our cat cages, which
and have three cats of their own that
the kitties love! She also created a
they adore. Pat can share another of
beautiful, original quilt made from
her hobbies, bird watching, with her
all of the Annual Dog Walk t-shirts,
kitty, Scrappy Doo (so named for her
which hangs in our reception area
spunky and bold personality), that she
at HCHS. Pat includes reading and
adopted from HCHS. Their other cats,
working in her flower beds among her Smokey Joe and Rusty, were both
2 Heart of the Catskills Humane Society
Become a Volunteer
Call Today!
(607) 746-3080
found and rescued from the outdoors
as tiny kittens. Rusty is a traveling cat
and enjoys going to tractor shows and
flea markets with Pat and John. They
are three lucky cats!
We truly appreciate the time Aunt
Pat puts in at the shelter and, of
course, the good-natured teasing
that takes place between Pat and the
staff whenever she is volunteering at
HCHS, which always creates a lighthearted atmosphere!
Happy Tails
Burroughs
We adopted Burroughs from you a few
months back. Our other older cat Dax
(who is also polydactyl)
and Burroughs get along terrifically.
They box, wrestle, and chase each
other around quite a bit. We’ve learned
that Burroughs is very clumsy, but he’s
also very smart as he seems to learn
from his mistakes. We love him dearly.
Adopting Burroughs has proven to be
just what this family needed. Thank
you for your time, and thank you,
thank you, thank you for Burroughs!
~John Winter Hale
Sunny
Here are just a few of the wonderful tales about
pets who, because of your support, have now
found their forever homes...
Winchester &
Charlotte
Hazel & Soda
In December 2011 I adopted Winchester, and
one year later on Christmas Eve we brought
Charlotte home. It wasn’t long before “the
kids” became best friends— playing tug of
war, wrestling around the living room, and
snuggling together on the couch. Don’t get
me wrong, adopting two senior beagles has
not always proved to be the easiest task, and
we’ve definitely had some tough moments;
however, I wouldn’t trade either one of them
for anything. Rescuing my two senior kids
was the best decision I’ve made in a long
time. Thank you, Heart of the Catskills, for
allowing me to bring these two exceptional
dogs into my life. I only wish I had met them
sooner, so that I may have more time to love
them!
~Tracey Brown
I adore Hazel and Soda. They seem to find
the weirdest positions to sleep in (Soda
sleeps on his back with his legs in the air,
and Hazel tries to sleep in the window sill
but falls off). They both will go absolutely
crazy when they have their toys. Sometimes
Soda tries to steal Hazel’s food. It’s just
adorable the way he does it. He’ll take his
paw and dip it into her food and then lick it.
Hazel will just stare right at him while he’s
doing it. I would be so bored without these
two. I love them so much.
~Kristina Armstrong
Angus
After 15 years of having my cat, Bow, his
time came to pass. I went to HCHS and told
them that I needed to hold a cat and cry.
While in the cat room, all of a sudden I felt
a tap on my shoulder and turned around and
there was Sunny. I sat down on the floor
with her and cried, and she purred and let
me tell her all about Bow and what a good
cat he was. Three months later, I decided it
was time to get another cat. Sunny had been
in the shelter for two years, so I adopted
her! To me, she is the most beautiful cat in
the world, has a heart of gold, and is full of
sunshine. Sometimes it’s not the little kitten
that catches your heart, but the older cat. I’m
a great believer that the cat picks you and
not the other way around.
~Bette Shaw
Angus has been a welcome addition to my
home. He was a quick study and has adjusted
to it here with ease. His favorite activities
are lounging, eating, and being a joyous
presence. Thank you all so much!
~John Schneider
Opt to Adopt!
Foster Caregivers
Needed
HCHS is looking for foster
caregivers for kittens and
their moms. All you need
is an extra room to keep
them in while they are
in your care, attention, a
little time, and lots of love!
If interested, please call
or email HCHS for more
information.
Do you want to keep
informed on HCHS
updates?
Visit www.heartofthecatskills.
org and sign up to receive our
Shelter Scoop e-mail bulletins.
www.heartofthecatskills.org
3
Shelter News
Three Woofs for the Shire
Pub & The Andes Hotel!
HCHS would like to give a special
thank you to Sally and Ed O’Neill,
owners of the Shire Pub in Delhi and
The Andes Hotel, for their amazing
and “paw-some” support over the past
several years in hosting fundraisers at
their restaurants that have benefited
HCHS. Events like their Annual
Beer Festival, the Toga Party, and
the Cat Whiskers book signing have
all been great successes. And, the
funds raised at these events have
helped us to keep our doors open for
the homeless animals that need us.
Thanks Sally and Ed— you are “pawsitively” wonderful supporters, and we
appreciate all you do for HCHS!
Toga Party Benefits Animals
On October 13th, O’Neill’s Shire
Pub hosted a special Toga Party
event featuring regional party band,
Esquela, to benefit HCHS. The Toga
Party became a widely-popular party
practice following the 1978 hit film,
Animal House. Appropriately, Esquela
performed select songs from the movie
as well as an evening’s worth of fun,
danceable music. Patrons were invited
to attend adorned in traditional, Greek/
Roman “toga” attire and were asked
to make a donation to HCHS in any
financial amount, or donate essential,
daily supplies for the shelter. It was an
evening full of great music and dancing
for the animals… and the toga tradition
continues!
4
HCHS Celebrates
St. Patrick’s Day
We’ve Been Adopted!
The cats and dogs of HCHS are very
lucky to have been “adopted” by
a great group of dedicated college
men from the Kappa Sigma Epsilon
fraternity on the SUNY Delhi campus.
KSE is a group that works together
towards a shared vision with principles
to achieve their goals by being a
“men for others” organization. They
have chosen HCHS to be one of their
“others” as a beneficiary for their
Alumni Weekend Memorial Golf
Tournament during SUNY Delhi’s
Centennial Celebration this year. In
addition, the college brothers donate
their time and energy onsite at the
shelter walking dogs, socializing cats,
and helping out with projects. While
HCHS is in the business of adopting
out wonderful cats and dogs, how
lucky are we to have been adopted by
this wonderful group of men?
Thirty-One Helps HCHS
Supporters Get Organized
In April, the United Ministry
Church of Delhi hosted a ThirtyOne fundraiser for HCHS. These
fun and functional products to help
our supporters stay well-organized,
including bags, purses, totes, and
more, all benefited the shelter’s cats
and dogs with orders placed that
evening and online. We are very
grateful for the time and energy that
went into organizing this event and for
the funds raised!
Heart of the Catskills Humane Society
The Annual Delhi St. Patrick’s Day
Parade was held on March 23rd, where
the HCHS parade float received best
runner-up! For three years, it has been
a pleasure for our cats, dogs, shelter
staff, and shelter and SUNY Delhi
volunteers to participate. Our best float
decorations are always the animals,
which has even gotten some of them
adopted over the years!
Petco Adoption Partnership
HCHS is happy to announce our
newest adoption partnership with
Petco in Oneonta, NY! The Petco
management and staff have been
wonderful to work with, and we
are grateful for this “purr-fect”
opportunity for our animals. Please
visit our wonderful cats available for
adoption at the adoption center at
Petco where they are all waiting for
their “fur-ever” homes!
Spring Dance 2013
Everyone enjoyed a fun night at
HCHS's 2013 Spring Dance at Hanah
Mountain Resort in Margaretville!
Don’t forget, it’s not too
late to renew your annual
HCHS membership!
Still Paving the Path to Forever Homes
It is hard to believe that on May 25, 2013 we celebrated our 10th unveiling of new pavers in our Heart Walk path on the shelter
grounds. Looking back to the fall of 2007, we had a suggestion from one of our devoted supporters to look into selling engraved
pavers as a fundraising idea. It took many months of research, meetings, and decisions before we knew the type of paver we
wanted to use, who we wanted to hire for the engraving, and where the best place would be to install our beautiful Heart Walk.
Our first biannual installation and unveiling of the engraved bluestone pavers took place on
Saturday, November 8, 2008, in front of the Gazebo on the grounds of our animal shelter.
Over the years, we have had many people, both individuals and groups, purchase pavers
in honor of special friends, beloved pets, special birthdays, weddings, and many other
occasions. We also have several pavers engraved with company logos from businesses in the
communities that we serve.
As you walk along the Heart Walk path and read all of the inscriptions on the pavers, you feel
all of the emotions that people express when they compose the wording for their pavers. Each
and every paver has a very special meaning to someone, and we are so thankful that they are
sharing these heartfelt feelings with us.
We hope you will help us continue to expand our Heart Walk path around the shelter grounds
by purchasing a locally-quarried bluestone paver in either 4” x 8” for $100 or 8” x 8” for
$200, and at the same time help us care for our area’s homeless animals! If you would like more information on the Heart Walk
or to purchase a paver, please visit our website or contact HCHS.
Long-Termers Looking for their Forever Homes!!
Did you know we have lots of cats and dogs that have been at our shelter for a very long time, waiting for their forever
homes? One of the misconceptions we hear is that our shelter pets only have a “certain amount of time.” However, that is
not true at our shelter. As long as animals are mentally and physically healthy, they are adoptable and have no time limit.
Below are two of our “long-termers” who continue to wait for a new home— do you have a place in your heart for them?
Snickers is a six-year-old Australian Shepherd/Lab mix that came into the shelter on
February 17, 2010. She has beautiful blue eyes with a slight vision impairment. She loves to play,
especially with stuffed toys which she “nurses” on. Snickers knows how to sit, gets along well
with other dogs, and really enjoys walks.
Beanie is a three-year-old black and white short hair cat that entered the shelter on
September 2, 2010 with his siblings and mother. He only has one eye, but that doesn’t stop him
from being an affectionate boy. Beanie is very talkative and likes to “squeak.” He would enjoy a
home where he can be indoors but also hang out on an enclosed porch.
Double your gift-giving opportunity to HCHS!
Does your employer participate in a charitable matching gift program? If so, please
consider HCHS! Many companies will match their employees’ contributions to a
charitable organization of their choice. That means you can help our shelter animals x2!
www.heartofthecatskills.org
5
New Digs for the Dogs
If you haven’t visited the shelter lately, stop by and see the beautiful new area for
our adoptable dogs while they await their forever homes. Thanks to a generous donor
and some grant funding, our indoor kennels have undergone a complete overhaul!
New windows, new lighting, and fresh paint make for a brighter and more cheerful
environment, not only for the canines, but for the humans who come to visit (and
hopefully adopt) them, as well as for our shelter staff and volunteers. There are also
sturdier new doors that make transferring dogs between the kennels, the puppy run,
and outdoor play areas easier and more efficient for the staff. Long gone are the old,
noisy hallway fan and the rusty, unused
overhead heater. Now we have energyefficient heaters, overhead fans, and a
Adopt-A-Kennel or
much crisper look all-around. One of the
Cage Program
most noticeable improvements is the new
sound silencer panels on the ceiling and walls. It’s not exactly a monastery in
Would you like to sponsor one
there now, but it sure is a lot quieter than it used to be. We even installed a sound
or more of the cat cages or dog
system in the kennels. (Did you know that playing soothing background music
kennels that house our animals
helps to keep the dogs calm and quieter?)
during their stay at HCHS for a
month, six months, or a year?
All of this would not have been possible without the support of a generous donor
By participating in our Adoptwho identified a need, and then stepped up to fund it. Income that we generate
A-Kennel or Cage Program,
through donations, membership dues, adoption fees, and fundraisers is just barely your sponsorship will help fund
enough to cover the $1,350 a day that it costs to operate the shelter. Big capital
the food, vaccinations, and
improvement projects, like the kennel renovations, are made possible only
spay or neuter surgery for each
through grants, generous donations, and planned giving.
cat or dog housed in the cage
or kennel while they wait for
So stop by and check out our dogs’ new digs. Even if you are not looking
their forever homes! For more
to adopt right now, you will enjoy seeing the improvements and might even
information, please visit our
consider joining our Adopt-A-Kennel or Cage program and sponsor one of the
website or contact HCHS.
beautiful new kennels. (And, if you are like many of us, you might just adopt a
new pooch anyway!)
Shop Online and Help HCHS at the Same Time!
Shop online through iGive.com where up to 26% of each purchase you make is donated to HCHS.
You can shop from over 1,200 stores such as Amazon, BestBuy, Lowe’s, Travelocity, Staples, and
many, many more. We are listed on iGive.com under our corporate name: Humane Society of Central
Delaware County, Inc.
HCHS has also become a certified eBay Giving Works nonprofit
organization. This means that if you sell items on eBay, you can now
donate a percentage of your sale to benefit the shelter. So how does it
work? Simply list an item on eBay, select HCHS as your charity, and choose the percentage you want
to donate (between 10% and 100%). When your item sells, PayPal Giving Fund, eBay’s nonprofit
partner, will collect your donation and send it to HCHS. And remember all donations are tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law!
For more information on iGive or eBay Giving Works, please visit the HCHS website. And don’t forget our homeless fourlegged friends the next time you shop ‘till you drop!
6 Heart of the Catskills Humane Society
Long Live Ruff & Roll:
10th Annual Woofs & Wags
Dog Walk & Fair
Long Live Ruff & Roll, HCHS’s 10th Annual Woofs & Wags Dog Walk & Fair,
was a rockin’ success! Held at the American Legion Field on September 15th,
event-goers enjoyed beautiful fall weather; burgers, pie, and ice cream sodas
at the Hard Ruff Café; as well
as classic 50’s-style music and
dance as they perused the sights
with their four-legged friends.
Everyone got into the spirit
of the event. We saw several
Elvis impersonators (human
and canine), as well as cool
cats sporting leather jackets
and pretty girls in poodle skirts
and saddle shoes. Many of
the shelter dogs were dressed as “Pink Ladies” and got lots of attention after
strutting-their-stuff to the song You Ain’t Nuthin’ but a Hound Dog during the
shelter dog parade. The shelter’s cool cats, not to be outdone by the dogs, had
a chance to show off their feline charms in the Kool Kats tent where folks were
able to vote on the photos in the Feline Furtography contest and buy handmade
cat toys, blankets, and feline themed tasty treats.
Some other highlights included a cruise-in car show, a hula-hoopster demo and
contest, a 50’s dance demo, a Best Elvis Impersonator contest, and our rockin’
doggie maze and obstacle course. A good time was had by all, and we would like
to give a big thank you to everyone who participated and supported the shelter
cats and dogs!
And what will be the theme for the 11th Annual Woofs & Wags Dog Walk,
you ask? Here’s a hint… you might want to start teaching your dogs some new
tricks, and they might just get some
treats! Yes, this year’s theme will be
Consider Planned
“Howl-o-ween,” and we have some
really fun and creative ideas in the
Giving with HCHS
works, such as trick-or-treating at the
If you are interested in
tents (for dogs and kids); bobbing
becoming part of our growing
for hot dogs; a costume contest with
Planned Giving Program—
prizes for the scariest, cutest, and most
original costumes; a pumpkin carving
such as including HCHS in
contest; and maybe even a haunted
your will, insurance, or other
house! So mark your calendars for
estate plans— or would like
Saturday, September 14, 2013, and
more information, please
come with your furry, four-legged
download our Planned Giving
friends to the American Legion Field
Guide from our website, or call
on Route 10 in Delhi, and be ready for
Brent Truitt at (845) 586-5108.
some tricks, some treats, and some fun!
2012 Sponsors
King of Dogs
Delhi
Liquor Store
55 Main Street, Delhi, NY 13753
607-746-2321
Joanne Callahan
Associate Broker, ASP
Century 21 Chesser Realty
160 Main Street, Delhi NY 13753
Cell: 917-612-4054
jcallahan@catskill.net
www.joannecallahanc21.com
Sittin’ Pretty
B & B Construction– Roxbury
CADI– Delhi
Chet Delameter– Hancock
Delhi Animal Hospital
Dianich Excavating– Davenport
Two Old Tarts– Bovina
Veccvideography.com– Hamden
Wags
Elite Home Inspections– Walton
Margaretville Liquor Store
Otsego Auto Crushers, LLC– Oneonta
Phyllis Grooming From the Forest Kennels– Delhi
Wadler Bros.– Fleischmanns
Woofs
Andes Hotel
Becker’s Tire Service, LLC– Grand Gorge
Brookside Veterinary Hospital– Arkville
Buena Vista Inn– Delhi
C & C Feeds– Walton
Coldwell Banker Timberland Properties – Delhi
Community Bank N.A.– Delhi
Curtis Lumber– Delhi
D & D of Walton, Inc.
Delhi Diner
Delhi Motors Company
Delhi Telephone Company
Erickson’s Automotive, Inc.– Arkville
Five Star Subaru of Oneonta
Joel Canfield’s Back Yard Enterprise
- Treadwell
Public Restaurant- Roxbury
Second Nature Construction- Hamden
Uncle Alan’s Antiques & Oddities- Delhi
www.heartofthecatskills.org
7
Heart of the Catskills Humane Society
46610 State Highway 10
P.O. Box 88
Delhi, NY 13753
“Until one has loved an
animal, a part of one’s soul
remains unawakened.”
~Anatole France
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
Look for HCHS at these upcoming area events!
Roxbury Sidewalk Festival:
-Saturday, July 6, 2013; 10 AM–3 PM
Margaretville Memorial Hospital
Auxiliary Flea Market:
-Saturday, August 3, 2013; 9 AM–4 PM
Delhi Telephone Company Open House:
-Wednesday, August 7, 2013; 11 AM–2 PM
Central Catskills Great Outdoor Experience
Festival, Margaretville:
-Saturday, August 24, 2013; 10 AM–4 PM
Belleayre Ski-Tember Fest:
-Saturday, September 28, 2013; 10 AM–6 PM
Join us at these HCHS Events:
11th Annual Woofs n’ Wags Dog Walk & Fair
Saturday, September 14, 2013
American Legion Field, Delhi
Keep an eye out for pledge forms in August!
HCHS Annual Meeting and 11th Biannual
Heart Walk Unveiling
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Annual Meeting at the Delaware County Historical
Association, Delhi; 12 PM–1:45 PM
Heart Walk Unveiling at HCHS; 2 PM
Complete Services Offered
Public Low Income Spay/Neuter Vouchers
Dog & Cat Adoption Services
Microchipping for Adoptees
Pet Listings on Petfinder.com
Humane Education Programs
Senior Pals & Animal Angels Programs
Dog & Puppy Training Classes
Junior & Adult Volunteer Program
Barking Books Reading Program
Cremation Services & Memorials
Lost & Found Registry
Lilac Lane Pet Memorial Garden
HCHS is open Tuesday through Saturday,
from 11am to 4pm, and by appointment.
We’re located at 46610 State Highway 10 in Delhi, just two
miles north of the Village. Turn at the Delaware County
Historical Association, where you will see our sign.
We Welcome Your Visit!
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