Animal Care Fund

THE HUMANE COMPASSIONATE TREATMENT OF ALL ANIMALS.

1) CATTERY - RESIDENT ACS CATS ARE PROVIDED WITH MULTIPLE TYPES OF ENRICHMENT DESIGNED TO STIMULATE THE PERSONALITY AND DRIVE OF EACH CAT. COMMUNAL LIVING SPACES PROVIDE THE CATS WITH THE COMPANIONSHIP AND STIMULATION OF OTHER CATS, ENABLING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PLAY, INTERACTION, MUTUAL GROOMING, AND OTHER NORMAL CAT BEHAVIORS. THESE ENVIRONMENTS ARE ALSO FURNISHED WITH SHELVES, TUNNELS, BOOKSHELVES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER ITEMS DESIGNED TO ALLOW CATS TO CLIMB, HIDE, AND SLEEP AS THEY WOULD IN A HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENT. THEY ALSO HAVE ACCESS DURING MORNING HOURS TO A "CATIO" THAT IS OPEN SEASONALLY; A SCREENED-IN PORCH PROVIDES ACCESS TO FRESH AIR, BIRD- AND BUG-WATCHING, AND NEW AND INTERESTING SMELLS. ACS PROVIDES TOYS, SCRATCHING POSTS AND CAT TOWERS FOR ADDITIONAL ENRICHMENT, AND SEVERAL TIMES EACH MONTH, CATNIP IS DISTRIBUTED FOR THEIR ENJOYMENT. WE ALSO DISPENSE TREATS ONCE WEEKLY IN A SCATTERING METHOD INTENDED TO STIMULATE THE CATS' HUNTING INSTINCTS. IN 2021, ACS CONTINUED OUR BARN CAT PROGRAM WHICH HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR. THE INTENTION OF THE BARN CAT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE A LIFE-SAVING AVENUE FOR THOSE CATS THAT ARE AT RISK OF DEATH IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR EUTHANASIA IN A MUNICIPAL SHELTER. WHILE THESE ANIMALS ARE TECHNICALLY "SAFE" IN OUR SHELTER BECAUSE WE DON'T EUTHANIZE THEM, THEY ARE ALSO LIVING A LIFE THAT IS UNDESIRABLE TO THEM. THE CONSTANT PRESENCE OF HUMANS AND THE NECESSARY EVILS OF GROOMING AND CLEANING THAT PUT THEM IN CONTACT WITH US ARE VERY STRESSFUL TO THEM, AND CAN NOT ONLY RESULT IN A LOWER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE ANIMAL, BUT ALSO INCREASED RISK OF DISEASE. OUR FOSTER CARE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED AND 206 CATS WENT INTO FOSTER HOMES, MOSTLY BOTTLE BABIES. A NEW PROGRAM IS OUR FELV PROGRAM. SHELTERS TEST CATS FOR FELV AND IF POSITIVE THEY EUTHANIZE. WORKING WITH CORNELL AND AUSTIN PETS ALIVE WE NOW PULL FELV CATS FROM OTHER SHELTERS. THEY CAN LIVE A NORMAL LIFE, JUST NOT BE HOUSED WITH OTHER CATS. WE HAVE ADOPTED MANY AND WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE ABOUT WHY THESE CATS DO NOT NEED TO BE EUTHANIZED.

2) KENNEL -DOGS IN OUR CARE RECEIVE DAILY ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. ACS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE TOYS, TREATS, EXERCISE AND LOVE TO MAKE THE TEMPORARY STAY AT THE SHELTER LESS STRESSFUL. ON A DAILY BASIS ACS PROVIDES DOGS WITH 20 MINUTES OF LEASH WALKING, OFF LEASH YARD PLAY OR PLAY GROUP INTERACTION, DAILY SCENTS, BLANKETS & TOYS, LIGHTS OUT AND MUSIC THERAPY EITHER LIVE OR VIA CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYED OVER THE STEREO SYSTEM, TREAT DISPENSING TOYS, PUZZLES, OR KONGS, & DAILY POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING. ACS WAS APPROVED TO BE A PARTNER WITH HSUS TO BRING DOGS UP FROM THE SOUTH. THEY ARE VETTED AND BROUGHT TO ST. HUBERT'S IN NJ FOR FINAL HEALTH SCREENING AND THEN BROUGHT TO ACS. WE ALSO ARE WORKING WITH RESCUES IN TENNESSEE AND ARRANGING TRANSPORTS TO BRING TO ACS.

3) VETERINARY CARE -ANIMAL CARE SANCTUARY IS ONE OF THE FEW SHELTERS IN THE NATION THAT HAS ITS OWN VETERINARY STAFF. IT HAS ADOPTED THE STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETERINARIANS AND PARTICIPATES IN MADDIE'S SHELTER MEDICINE PROGRAM AT CORNELL'S COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. ALL ANIMALS AT ACS ARE EVALUATED BY THE VETERINARY TEAM UPON INTAKE AND A TREATMENT PLAN IS ESTABLISHED. THE VETERINARIAN PERFORMS WEEKLY ROUNDS AND ADJUSTS TREATMENT PLANS AS NECESSARY. PRIOR TO ADOPTION, A PRE-ADOPTION PHYSICAL IS COMPLETED AND, IF NECESSARY, THE VETERINARIAN MEETS WITH THE ADOPTER TO EXPLAIN ANY OUTSTANDING MEDICAL CONDITION, HOW TO CARE FOR IT, SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF AILMENTS, AND ANY REQUIRED FOLLOW UP. HAVING RESIDENT VETS ENSURES THAT ALL ACS ANIMALS ARE VACCINATED, CHECKED FOR PARASITES AND DISEASE, SPAYED OR NEUTERED, AND MICROCHIPPED FOR IDENTIFICATION SO THAT THEY ARE HEALTHY AND READY FOR ADOPTION. ACS RECOGNIZED THE NEED IN OUR RURAL AREA FOR A TRANSPORT PROGRAM TO GO TO THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND BRING CATS AND DOGS TO THE CLINICS TO BE SPAYED AND NEUTERED AND THEN RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS. GRANTS PROVIDED ACS WITH A TRANSPORT VAN THAT BRINGS DOGS AND CATS TO THE CLINIC FOR SPAY/NEUTER FROM RURAL AREAS. WE EXPANDED OUR CLINIC OPERATIONS AND PERFORMED 4,031 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES AND 2,547CLINIC WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS IN 2021.

ADOPTIONS -ADOPTIONS WERE DOWN A BIT IN 2021- WE ADOPTED 964 DOGS AND CATS- THIS DECREASE IS DUE TO A NATIONWIDE ADOPTION DECREASE THAT IS BELIEVED TO BE HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER OF DOGS AND CATS ADOPTED DURING THE PANDEMIC. CLINIC- WE SET A RECORD WITH 4031 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES IN 2021 AND 2547 WELLNESS EXAMS