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Volunteers for Animals: city not involved in effort to reduce feral cat population

By Billie Owens
We received this e-mail from Rich Pearson, treasurer of Volunteers for Animals, in regards to the story we published April 12 about trapping and treating Batavia's community cats.
 
I wish to clarify some of the points presented in your recent article on trapping and treating cats under the city's program. I am not sure how Ms. DiFante came to receive the information for this article but this is a completely inaccurate account of recent events. This implication of the article is that the City was involved in this operation.
 
Ms. DiFante presents this as proof that the city's program is actively working to control the community cat problem. This is not at all true. Two volunteers from Volunteers for Animals initiated the assessment of this particular situation and arranged for spaying/ neutering and vaccinating these cats. Ms. DiFante, Mr. Sheflin and Ms. Brade were not consulted or involved in this issue. There was no coordination requested from nor provided by the city.
 
The funds to pay for vetting these cats came from Volunteers for Animals  community spay/neuter efforts. VFA has been awarded a grant through the ASPCA to cover spay/neuter of pets belonging to low-income families and through a donation from an individual, VFA provides low-cost spay/neuter of pets belonging to families who don't qualify for the ASPCA grant but need some assistance with the cost of the surgery.
 
Almost all of the information given to you regarding this incident was incorrect, including the location and number of cats. It is correct that all of the cats were treated at State Street Animal Hospital.
 
The VFA is committed to the spay/neuter of pets and we have spent a great deal of time and effort and have committed volunteers who devote a great deal of personal time to this endeavor. While the city is attempting to use our results to show that they are doing something, the bottom line is that apparently the city has no grant writers who can apply for the grants ASPCA does have for spay/neuter of feral colonies. The VFA actively promotes spay neuter programs while the city flounders in discussions and releases inaccurate press releases.
 
For the original post, click here.

Grant money available to people on public assistance to spay and neuter pets

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Volunteers For Animals wants to remind you that grant money is still available from the ASPCA to provide low-cost spay and neuter of canines and felines belonging to NYS residents who receive public assistance.

The ASPCA administers the New York State Animal Population Control Program on behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The grant, via a voucher system, will cover the spaying or neutering of the pet, a rabies vaccine, a distemper vaccine and deworming.

Since 1984, Volunteers For Animals has assisted with the care, treatment, and adoption of animals residing at our area's municipal shelter, the Genesee County Animal Shelter in Batavia. We provide care and services that would not be available if not for our involvement. Prior to our participation, sick animals were euthanized and none were spayed or neutered.

Our group is staffed completely by volunteers, some of whom have been involved for over a decade. We are a dedicated group of volunteers who coordinate all the the necessary care and treatment for the animals at the shelter.

For many years, Volunteers For Animals has been committed to spaying and neutering all animals prior to adoption at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. We are now expanding that commitment to help pet owners in the community. We understand the pressing need to spay and neuter dogs and cats to alleviate the pet over-population epidemic.

Volunteers For Animals has partnered with local veterinarians and their staff to provide quality, low-cost services to low-income residents in Genesee and surrounding counties. We believe that not only will this program help to reduce the pet overpopulation problem but will benefit the quality of life for both pet owners and pets.

We believe that sterilized pets present a win-win situation. The pet is generally healthier and the pet-owner relationship is generally less stressful and, therefore, more enjoyable.

To receive a voucher, the pet owner must speak with a member of Volunteers For Animals. The pet owner can call the Shelter at 585-343-6410 to leave a message for a volunteer -- please leave name and phone number where a volunteer can call the pet owner. An e-mail can also be sent to info@vol4animals.org.

Volunteers For Animals awarded grant to provide low-cost spay and neuter services for pets of low-income residents

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Volunteers For Animals is proud to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the ASPCA to provide low-cost spay and neuter of canines and felines belonging to NYS residents who receive public assistance.

The ASPCA administers the New York State Animal Population Control Program on behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The grant, via a voucher system, will cover the spaying or neutering of the pet, a rabies vaccine, a distemper vaccine and deworming.

Since 1984, Volunteers For Animals has assisted with the care, treatment, and adoption of animals residing at our area's municipal shelter, the Genesee County Animal Shelter in Batavia. We provide care and services that would not be available if not for our involvement. Prior to our participation, sick animals were euthanized and none were spayed or neutered.

Our group is staffed completely by volunteers, some of whom have been involved for over a decade. We are a dedicated group of volunteers who coordinate all the the necessary care and treatment for the animals at the shelter.

For many years, Volunteers For Animals has been committed to spaying and neutering all animals prior to adoption at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. We are now expanding that commitment to help pet owners in the community. We understand the pressing need to spay and neuter dogs and cats to alleviate the pet over-population epidemic.

Volunteers For Animals has partnered with local veterinarians and their staff to provide quality, low-cost services to low-income residents in Genesee and surrounding counties. We believe that not only will this program help to reduce the pet overpopulation problem but will benefit the quality of life for both pet owners and pets.

We believe that sterilized pets present a win-win situation. The pet is generally healthier and the pet-owner relationship is generally less stressful and, therefore, more enjoyable.

To receive a voucher, the pet owner must speak with a member of Volunteers For Animals. The pet owner can call the Shelter at 585-343-6410 to leave a message for a volunteer -- please leave name and phone number where a volunteer can call the pet owner. An e-mail can also be sent to info@vol4animals.org.

Don't forget Genesee County's homeless dogs and cats this Christmas

By Billie Owens

Photo of "Mike."

This information is from the newsletter of the Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. They encourage everyone to give the gift of health and compassion for homeless and needy cats and dogs by donating money, food and/or supplies to the shelter. And consider bringing home a new BFF by adopting a pet today. Just in time for the holidays, you could give a forever home to a forever friend.

How "Mike" got a second chance at life and to learn what it means to be loved and cared for...

A scrawny, hairless dog was brought to the Genesee County Animal Shelter by the woman who found him lying in the road. She stopped and helped this oozing, smelly, weak dog into her car. That alone is amazing but she continued to visit him at the shelter right up to the day he was adopted about six weeks later.

"Mike" had a terrible case of mange and a skin infection. He was very underweight and bony. His skin was bright red, oozing and itching constantly. He was taken to the vet and started on medications for the mange, the infection, and the itching. He was bathed regularly and put on a special diet to gradually increase his weight.

It wasn't long before little patches of fur began to grow in. Mike gained weight and started to show interest in his surroundings and in the volunteers who cared for him. His rescuer visited at least two or three times a week. She walked him and brought him special treats. He loved visiting with her and always wanted to check her pockets to see what she had brought for him.

Mike had a bout of stomach problems and needed further treatment but within a week or so he was back to normal and enjoying his walks again. Mike's new fur came in soft and shiny and by the time he went home his coat was almost perfect. The volunteers spent a lot of time with Mike, walking and playing with him. He was always a gentleman, polite with other dogs and gentle with every person he met.

Mike's rescuer couldn't adopt him but she brought a few potential adopters to meet him. In the end it was Mike's patience and good nature that made the difference. He found his person.

There was a celebration at the shelter when Mike finally walked out the front door to go home and his rescuer was there to share the big moment along with the volunteers. What a lucky dog! How many cars must have passed Mike while he laid on the road before this wonderful, compassionate woman stopped and scooped him up off the road.

Photo of "Lucky."

How "Lucky" lucked out and found a bunch of new friends to chill with...

"Lucky" is a 14-year-old cat that was brought into the Genesee County Animal Shelter because her family had no place to live that would allow animals. She had been theirs for 14 years. They said she was a very sweet cat who loved having her belly rubbed.

Lucky was tested for FIV/FeLV, which was negative, and given her vaccines. She was not spayed so the issue was debated and volunteers consulted with a vet. She did great with the surgery. Finally, she was available for adoption.

They knew it would take a very special person to adopt this very special kitty but we were patient. Her story was posted on Facebook, which got over 2,500 views and 30 shares! They were hopeful.

After a couple of weeks, there was an opening at Petco and someone suggested Lucky go there to try her luck. They packed up her favorite bed and got her settled at Petco. With little time to settle in, someone came along and fell in love with her. They put their application in for review.

As luck would have it, the person was a resident of a local group home. The manager of the home spoke highly of the resident and she was immediately approved. No one could imagine a better place for Lucky. Word is that Lucky has settled right in and gets along great with all the residents. And best of all she is a part of their family now!

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So far in 2015, Volunteers for Animals have spent more than $70,000 on vet care, tests, vaccines and medications. They paid for: orthopedic surgery on a lab with a badly healed fracture; provided heartworm treatment on a sweet lab girl; covered the cost of a C-section on a mama dog who was having trouble birthing her puppies; provided dental care for a JRT with a mouthful of rotten teeth; and did treatment for possible parvo on a little pit puppy.

A local vet reached out to take over rehabilitation of a cat that had such a badly infected bite wound that they had to surgically remove part of her shoulder; she recovered and was adopted. Numerous cats and kittens came into us suffering from dehydration, diarrhea, fleas, worms, bite wounds, eat mites or infections, and upper respiratory infections.

More than 100 kittens too young to be adopted went into loving foster homes until they were big enough to be spayed and neutered prior to adoption. All of the animals adopted out of the Shelter left with vaccines, deworming and flea treatment, and were spayed/neutered. These are just some of the things donations go toward for the animals that come through the doors of the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

Last year, 523 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered. This year, they are on track to do even more. Also, they have started to provide assistance to the community for the spaying and neutering of pets. After receiving a substantial donation at the end of 2014, they started a Community Spay/Neuter Program. In partnership with local vets, they are now providing low cost spay/neuter for pets to the local community.

So far this year, more than 230 families got their cat or dog spayed/neutered thanks to the new program, as well as vaccinated against rabies and other deadly viruses.

In August, they were awarded a grant for $20,000 from the ASPCA to provide low-cost spay and neuter of dogs and cats belonging to NYS residents who receive public assistance. The grant, via a voucher system, will cover the spaying or neutering of the pet, a rabies vaccine, a distemper vaccine and deworming. They hope to help close to 250 animals with the grant. They are committed to reducing the population of “unwanted” dogs and cats in Genesee County and are asking for your help and support to continue this important work.

Volunteers For Animals is a 100-percent volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that assists the Genesee County Animal Shelter, making possible efforts that cannot be achieved via the County’s operating budget. Your charitable gift is tax deductible and goes directly toward saving lives and providing comfort to the animals that depend on us.

To learn more and to donate, visit the Volunteers for Animals on the Web, or mail a tax-deductible contribution, payable to Volunteers for Animals, to this address: Vol.unteers for Animals, P.O. Box 1621, Batavia, NY, 14021.

Visit the shelter during visiting hours to meet potential furry companions, and to drop off much-needed cat and dog kibble, canned food, cat sand, paper towels, cleaning products, etc.

NEW auction items still being accepted for next week's Fur Ball to benefit shelter animals

By Billie Owens

The 12th annual Fur Ball to benefit the Volunteers for Animals -- Spay/Neuter Program will be held starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Days Inn in Batavia, located at 200 Oak St. And your donations of NEW items for the auction are still being accepted!

You can drop them off at the animal shelter on West Main Street Road during adoption hours, or drop them an e-mail if you need them picked up. (www.vol4animals.com)

Next Saturday, expect great food, lots of fun, quality auction items and some surprises, too!

Tickets are $25 each, but $50 if purchased the day of the event. Children 12 and under pay $15. A table of 10 seats is $250. Only 200 tickets are available.

Make checks payable to the Volunteers for Animals -- Spay/Neuter Program.

Adoption hours are:

  • Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday -- 1 to 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday -- 1 to 3 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Saturday -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Closed Thursday

At least four cats adopted during event at Petco

By Howard B. Owens

porkyadoptoct32015.jpg

This kitty was known as Porky until today, but Porky will soon have a new name, undecided at the time of the picture, says new parent Diana Fox, of Holley.

Fox was one of at least four people to adopt cats today during the Volunteer For Animals 50th Anniversary Fall Fur Event at Petco this afternoon.

The Volunteers for animals will continue the 50th anniversary festivities later this month with its annual Fur Ball. The 12th annual event is at 6 p.m., Oct. 24, at the Days Inn in Batavia. For more information, click here.

Mark your calendar: 12th annual Fur Ball is Oct. 24 at the Days Inn, Batavia

By Billie Owens

Mark your calendar: the 12th annual Fur Ball to benefit the Volunteers for Animals -- Spay/Neuter Program will be held starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Days Inn in Batavia, located at 200 Oak St.

Expect great food, lots of fun, quality auction items and some surprises, too!

Tickets are $25 each, but $50 if purchased the day of the event. Children 12 and under pay $15. A table of 10 seats is $250. Only 200 tickets are available.

Make checks payable to the Volunteers for Animals -- Spay/Neuter Program.

The volunteers and event coordinators are accepting NEW items for the auction. You can drop them off at the animal shelter on West Main Street Road during adoption hours, or drop them an e-mail if you need them picked up. (www.vol4animals.com)

Adoption hours are:

  • Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday -- 1 to 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday -- 1 to 3 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Saturday -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Closed Thursday

Hogs for Paws to benefit shelter at Stan's Harley Davidson on West Saile Drive, Batavia

By Billie Owens

Hogs for Paws will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Stan's Harley-Davidson, Inc., located at 4425 W. Saile Drive in the Town of Batavia. This is a fundraiser and reunion event for the Genesee County Animal Shelter. In addition to Stan's, it is sponsored by Beds-N-Bones Pet Lodge.

There will be:

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Big honkin' three-day garage sale to benefit the GC Animal Shelter

By Billie Owens

A big honkin' garage sale to benefit the animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 18th, 19th and 20th at Rick's Storage Garage, 3566 W. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia.

All proceeds will go directly to the animals.

Plus, Duke's Smokin Bone BBQ Catering Co. will be offered for sale on the last day of the garage sale, June 20, starting at 11 a.m. There will be pulled pork sandwiches. So come on out for lunch and paw through all the good stuff for sale to help the needy, homeless animals.

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Help the animals: Bring your scrap metal to the GC shelter this weekend

By Billie Owens

Press release:

"Scrap for the Pack!" Come out and support the animals of the Genesee County Animal Shelter this weekend by donating your scrap metal.

The fundraiser is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, at the shelter, located at 3841 W. Main St. Road, in the Town of Batavia.

Bring your scrap metal to the parking lot. Volunteers for Animals are accepting metals of any kind: railings, doors, garbage cans, file cabinets, bicycle frames, gutters, pipes, poles, fencing windown frames, lawn furniture, tools, shelving, washing machines, dryers, stoves, wheel barrows, wagons, etc.

They CANNOT take propane tanks, a/c units, or refrigerators.

If you have metal donations that need to be picked up, e-mail Volunteers for Animals to arrange for pickup.

www.vol4animals.org

Scrap service is being provided by Ed Arnold EAS Scrap Processors, of Corfu.

Reward hiked to $1,550 for info to arrest and convict man who publicly stomped cat to death

By Billie Owens

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a tall white man who stomped a cat to death on Main Street, Batavia, Dec. 3 has been increased to $1,550, according to Volunteers for Animals.

According to a witness, the man was walking a large, dark brown German shepherd near the Raceway Mini Market in the 600 block of East Main Street at the time of the incident. It was about 6:30 p.m.

The cat suffered numerous injuries, including a broken spine and crushed skull from being stomped, and wounds from the dog.

The initial reward was $500.

Batavia Police encourage anyone with information to call their confidential tipline at 345-6370.

 

Volunteers for Animals offering $750 reward in animal cruelty case

By Howard B. Owens

Via The Batavian's news partner, WBTA:

A man walking a dog on East Main Street sometime two weeks ago reportedly stomped a cat to death and Volunteers for Animals is offering a $750 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit.

"The owner of the dog sent the dog after the cat and the cat was being thrown up in the air," said Wendy Castleman, with the volunteers. "Then the man stomped on the cat, and according to the examination by a local veterinarian, the cat had numerous injuries caused by the dog as well as a broken spine and a crushed skull caused by the stomping."

The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m., Dec. 3, Castleman said, in the area of 600 E. Main St., Batavia.

"We see a lot of neglect at the shelter but this is different in that it is a very violent act," Castleman said. "We all found it extremely disturbing that someone would do this."

The volunteers initially offered a $500 reward, but through a donation this morning were able to up the reward to $750.

Batavia Police encourages anyone with information to call their confidential tipline at 345-6370.

Photo: Santa stops at PetCo for a photo session

By Howard B. Owens

Johann (seated on the floor) and Coco got their picture taken with Santa today at PetCo. Members of Volunteers For Animals served as elves for Santa and proceeds from the pictures benefit the organization. Johann and Coco's owner is Barb Nowicki.

Pet Photos with Santa

By Wendy Castleman

PHOTOS WITH SANTA 

AT THE BATAVIA PETCO

Saturday, December 6th and 13th from 1 to 4 pm,

PETCO will be offering photos with Santa.
Volunteers For Animals will be assisting and will receive proceeds from each photo. 

So pack up your pet and bring them out for a photo with Santa and help support the animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

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Pet Photos with Santa

By Wendy Castleman

PHOTOS WITH SANTA 

AT THE BATAVIA PETCO

Saturday, December 6th and 13th from 1 to 4 pm,

PETCO will be offering photos with Santa.
Volunteers For Animals will be assisting and will receive proceeds from each photo. 

So pack up your pet and bring them out for a photo with Santa and help support the animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

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UPDATED: 11th annual Fur Ball to benefit spay/neuter program is Saturday

By Billie Owens

UPDATE: Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at the shelter during hours today from 1-3 and tomorrow from 11-1.

The 11th annual Fur Ball will be held this Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Days Inn in Batavia. The fun begins at 6 p.m. and there will be lots of food, surprises and auctions.

This year's theme is "Shelter Pets are Pawsitively Purrfect."

Tickets are $25. ($50 if purchased the day of the event). Children 12 and under are $15. A table for 10 is $225.

Proceeds benefit the Volunteers for Animals Spay and Neuter Program.

Make checks out to:  Volunteers for Animals - Spay/Neuter Program.

The Days Inn is located at 200 Oak St.

To contact Volunteers for Animals:

info@vol4animals.org

www.vol4animals.org

(585) 813-3839

P.O. Box 1621, Batavia, NY 14021

11th Annual Fur Ball

By Wendy Castleman

Shelter Pets are Pawsitively Purrfect . A fun evening of food, auctions, friends and surprises to support the animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. Tickets are $25, children under 12 $15 and the day of all tickets are $50. Space is limited, so get your tickets early! The Fur Ball will be at the Days Inn, 200 Oak St, Batavia, NY. For more information, visit www.vol4animals.org

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Get your pet microchipped at Hogs for Paws at Stan's Aug. 16

By Billie Owens

Information from Volunteers for Animals:

For $30, you can have the peace of mind that if your pet gets lost, there's hope it can be reunited with you. It's called microchipping and there will be a clinic set up at the Hogs for Paws animal shelter fundraiser on Aug. 16 at Stan's Harley-Davidson.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., your cat or dog can be microchipped, which includes the injection, a collar ID tag and national registration with AVID.

Each dog or cat must be accompanied by someone who can control it. Cats MUST be in carriers. Please bring the name of your vet and an alternate contact person (name, address and number) for registration purposes. Accepted payment is either cash or checks (made out to Volunteers For Animals), sorry no credit cards. No preregistration necessary.

What is a microchip?

The microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it and is encapsulated within a biocompatible material. The whole device is small enough to fit inside a hypodermic needle and can be simply injected under the skin of our pets, where it will stay for the life of the animal. This provides a permanent, positive identification which cannot be lost, altered or intentionally removed -- a safe, simple and inexpensive way to protect your pet against loss or theft.The computer memory in the microchip contains a unique number -- no two animals will ever have the same number. A radio signal is used to read this number through the skin of your pet. It is routine for animal shelters and veterinarian offices to scan pets for microchips.

Here are two stories to think about.

Chevy the Cat

Chevy was a stray cat that came into the Shelter from Summit Street in Batavia. She had been on her own throughout the winter. She had a BB lodged in her side and patches of fur missing, most likely from a car engine fan. She was posted for adoption on our Web site and within days her family spotted her on the Web site. They came into the Shelter and sure enough it was her. They lived a block away on Tracy Avenue. Chevy had bolted from the house in the fall. They were lucky in many ways: the nice person on Summit took her to the vet for her care and brought her to the Shelter and they spotted her on the Web site. Had Chevy been microchipped we could have found her family more quickly without risk of her being adopted by someone else. Even house cats need to be microchipped!

Molly the Dog

Molly was found in Oakfield after being missing for two years. After setting traps, leaving food and lots of patience, they were finally able to catch this bedraggled dog. Molly was taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and that is when they found she was microchipped. They called the owner and gave her the incredible news that her dog who had ran away two years ago was at the Shelter. It was quite a reunion which never would have happened had Molly not been microchipped. Microchips talk for animals when collars and tags go missing.

10th Annual Fur Ball tonight! Tickets available! Benefits the Spay/Neuter Program!

By Billie Owens

The 10th Annual Fur Ball is tonight, Nov. 2, at the Days Inn in Batavia. The fun begins at 6 p.m. There will be food, auctions and surprises, too!

This event benefits the Volunteers for Animals' Spay/Neuter Program.

Tickets are $25.

For more information call 813-3839 or e-mailVol4animals@yahoo.com

See you there!

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