August, also known as “DOGust,” is a busy month for pet people. Besides being Immunization Awareness Month, it’s chock-full of special dog and cat “holidays,” each reminding us of the importance of caring for the precious animals in our lives. But for me, this month is special for another reason: I will always think of August as the Month of the Sparrow.
Itt was clear skies ahead for the 21 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens who landed at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY, on their way to Animal League America and a brighter future. Through a new collaboration with Amelia Air Animal Rescue, and the efforts of our South Carolina partner Lakeside Animal Rescue, Animal League America was able to save these precious animals, some of whom were pulled from overcrowded shelters. All these animals are now well on their way to finding responsible, loving homes as safely and quickly as possible.
Our shelter partner, Turks and Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TCSPCA), reached out to us to help a hurt pup needing medical care beyond what they could handle. Our rescue team acted swiftly, and brave Niko was soon on his way to the safety of our Port Washington, NY campus.
After ten-year-old Phoenix was rescued from a puppy mill, he wasn’t ready for his journey to be over. Though his frail body gave out from cardiac arrest within minutes after arriving to our campus, miraculously this little Maltese sputtered back to life in our Pet Health Center, earning him the nickname Phoenix.
When 14-year-old Danielle was left with extra time on her hands last year while schools and activities were shut down, she decided to get creative. “I have loved animals – especially dogs – my whole life,” said Danielle. “It’s why I want to be a vet someday. There were so many dogs in my neighborhood and helping out with them seemed like a great way to combine doing something that I love and raising money to help North Shore Animal League America.”
Two-year-old, Pittie mix Alice was late in her pregnancy and left to fend for herself in a house in Georgia, while her body struggled to nourish the large litter of pups she carried inside her. It was a life-threatening time for her to be abandoned. Thanks to the compassion from her neighbors, Alice had food for four days. Once these kind strangers realized that no one was coming back for her, they called Animal Control, and it was in the nick of time.
Summertime is supposed to be a season of fun in the sun and lazy days with lots of time to do all the things you love, like reading, walking on the beach, and gardening…or just plain doing nothing at all. But for people dedicated to animal rescue, summer can be frustrating and heartbreaking. Let me begin with Independence Day!
First thing you might notice about four-year-old Calico Aja is her beauty, but make no mistake. Aja has the fight to survive. Rescued from homelessness in West Virginia, this stunning cat was pregnant when she arrived to us. We didn’t know how critical being in the safety of Animal League America’s Nursery would be for her. Aja’s delivery was complicated when one of her six kittens became stuck in her birth canal.
North Shore Animal League America took part in a rescue that saved more than 150 dogs from an extreme hoarding situation in Tennessee. Shelter partner Rescue DOG (Mountain City, TN) led the mission in lifting the dogs – primarily Chihuahuas of varying ages — out of unfathomable living conditions.
The mission of North Shore Animal League America to rescue, nurture, adopt, and educate is saving lives every day in the Adirondack region through the establishment and operation of North Country Initiative (NCI) — a no-kill adoption center in Warren County, NY. The NCI Adirondack Region Cat Adoption Center offers protection for felines in need, whether they are struggling to survive outside, or victims of injury or neglect.