It was a glorious evening on the Monarch Rooftop June 6 for our Wooftop® party, where friends of North Shore Animal League America showed up in force to kick off our Giving Day fundraiser. Animal League America supporters were rewarded with puppy love, in addition to great food, lively music, and a specialty cocktail from sponsor Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
June is a busy month for us animal people. Besides being National Pet Preparedness Month, which coincides with first month of hurricane season, it’s also Pet Microchip Month and, closest to my heart, Adopt a Shelter Cat Month.
“Too much responsibility.” These words are simply infuriating, especially right now with May being Responsible Animal Guardian Month. I believe that having a pet is a privilege that we earn by being responsible. So, what does it take to be a responsible animal guardian? I’ve thought a lot about this, and I’ve come up with five characteristics that define responsible pet guardianship.
It’s clear that Riley, the newly adopted dog of longtime North Shore Animal League America donor Andrew Williams, is now living the good life. And not just because he is named after a classic British car. While we spoke to Andrew about his commitment to animal rescue, Riley ran and explored a nature trail off leash, getting lots of fresh air and making new friends.
Our Freed Special Recovery Center welcomed Boone and Doc, pair of Siberian Husky-mix puppies in need of emergency medical treatment for parvovirus. These young brothers suffered from neglect, and would likely have perished without intervention. Their tragic circumstances — avoidable with standard vaccinations — serve as a reminder that taking an animal into your home is a significant, lifelong commitment.
Renowned philanthropist Sandra Atlas Bass has been a vital partner of North Shore Animal League America for decades. Chair of the Lewyt Humane Awards Luncheon, Ms. Bass provides invaluable support to many of our events and initiatives, driven by her deep sense of compassion and belief in our mission. Her desire to make the world a better place includes concern for both animals and people. Most recently, our Long Island community celebrated the opening of the Sandra Atlas Bass Otolaryngology Center, an 18,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, comprehensive care facility in New Hyde Park, NY.
Melanie Waller found Animal League America to be a valuable respite when the nation locked down due to COVID-19. Melanie previously interned with our web team and returned to volunteer in BFF during quarantine. She found volunteering at Animal League America provided a source of much-needed human interaction, in addition to the emotional lift that comes from being around our animals.
The lifesaving work of North Shore Animal League America does not rest. Just weeks from rescuing 40 dogs from commercial breeders in the Midwest, our Rescue Team made another trip westward and returned with more than 50 dogs and puppies from Kansas-area breeding facilities.
To meet Mildred, you must be ready to receive her hugs and kisses. Despite her difficult start to life — struggling with hypothyroidism which was left untreated — this six-year-old pug is incredibly affectionate and welcomes everyone enthusiastically.
For Ana Sanchez, her time spent in our Pet Health Centers is about more than her passion for animals, it is a future vocation. Ana was accepted into a veterinary technician training program, and hopes to make a career of healing the injured.