Kitten season seems to arrive earlier and earlier every year…or maybe it never ends. Right now, I am swamped. I have mamas and kittens in Manhattan, Palm Beach, and on Long Island. And most of these mamas are kittens themselves! My kitten rooms are full, my spare baths are full, and I even have one feral mama, Missy, and her four little calicos living in a cozy shed for the next 7 to 8 weeks.
Seamus’s story began in heartbreak. Found abandoned in a Manhattan apartment with no access to food or water, the young black Lab mix was on the brink of death. Severely malnourished and too weak to stand, his condition shocked even our most seasoned veterinarians. But with time and specialized care, Seamus he slowly began to heal. Today, this amazing dog has truly had his life changed for good.
For high school senior Grace, volunteering at North Shore Animal League America started as a school requirement, but quickly became something much more. “I always knew I wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter,” Grace told us. “When I had to complete service hours for class, I saw it as my chance. I had adopted a cat from Animal League America before and loved the organization. Once I started volunteering, I knew I wasn’t going to stop.”
With Mother’s Day approaching, we’re celebrating a very special mom — one whose courage, love, and strength carried her family through the harshest of beginnings. Meet Hazel, a two-year-old Australian Cattledog mix, whose heroic story shows the incredible bond between a mother and her babies.
And too many dogs, too. But for now, I’m thinking about cats, mainly because of a tragedy that occurred in Medford, Long Island, on March 31. That morning, around 7:00, a fire broke out at Happy Cat Sanctuary, where as many as 300 cats lived with owner and founder Chris Arsenault. About 150 cats perished, along with Chris, who died trying to save as many as he could.
For Saarah Shahid, volunteering at North Shore Animal League America was a natural step, inspired by a lifelong connection to animals. “I’ve always felt a special connection to animals, and I’ve wanted to help them in any way I can,” she shared.
When six tiny, terrier mix puppies were surrendered to our shelter partner Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), they were already fighting a deadly battle. At just 10 weeks old, they had contracted parvovirus — a highly contagious and often fatal disease. Without immediate intervention, their future was grim. That’s when North Shore Animal League America stepped in.
For Gloria, the joy of seeing a once-homeless pet walk out the door with a loving family never fades. “Even after all these years, I still get excited when an older or hard-to-place animal gets adopted. That moment — that’s why I’m here.”
Growing up, there was never a time when a four-legged friend wasn’t part of Cliff’s household. When he retired after 35 years of service as a fire prevention and building codes official, he knew he wanted to spend his time giving back — and he knew it had to involve dogs. That decision led him to North Shore Animal League America, where for the past four and a half years, he has been a dedicated volunteer, helping our canine residents on their journey toward adoption.
Furry-Side Chats. Heartwarming Adoption Tails. Our adoption events are all about bringing new families together, whether on our Long Island campus, or any of our 2,000 shelter partners across the country!