Winter 2016

Newsletter - Fall/Winter 2016 A Quality of Life Shelter 133 Hilltop Road • Sprakers, NY 12166 • 518-673-5670

MISSION STATEMENT

Greetings, Has it been a while since you have had a pet? Maybe circumstances have changed and you’re ready to reconnect with a companion animal. Remember what it was like to come home and be greeted by that loving, faithful pet? All the day’s pressures seem to melt away. Do not ever forget the joy animals bring to our lives. If you have children, teach them the value and responsibility having a pet can bring to a family.

Our dedicated staff is here to help. Your new pet will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, and completely vetted. Our adoption fees are the best in the area. I promise you that you will not regret adopting a new pet.

The AMAS Board of Directors would like to thank all of our wonderful supporters, from members to fundraising event workers and contributors. Also, we would like to express how grateful we are to have the most dedicated staff anywhere. A big thank you to all the great volunteers. You are wonderful!

Again, thank you for supporting our four-legged orphan friends.

Joseph M. Rosemyer President - AMAS Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter, Inc. Joseph Rosemyer - President Suzanne Stegich - 1st V.P. Dale Folmsbee - 2nd V.P. Elaine Nalli - R.S. Elizabeth Wilson - C.S.

Melanie Shibley - Treasurer Esther Frank Karen Fredericks Jeanne DeValve Stan McMillan

SHELTER STAFF Claire Custer, Manager • Lorraine Fredericks Marissa Glasser • Rich Christman Veterinarians

Dr. Linda Kolnick • Dr. Tom Armitstead Fort Plain Animal Hospital • Glove Cities Veterinary Hospital Printed & Designed by Lee Publications • 6113 St. Hwy. 5 Palatine Bridge, NY • 518-673-3237 • www.leepub.com

SUPPORT THE AYRES SHELTER - BECOME A MEMBER

Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter is a 501c3 (not-for-profit) organization whose mission is to provide an excellent quality of life to homeless cats and dogs until we find a suitable forever home for them.

Since we have no state funding, our support comes from donations, fund raising, and the generosity of local communities.

★ U PCOMING E VENTS ★ 11/23

Thanksgiving Pie Sale @ Big Lots, Palatine Bridge 9:30AM - Sold Out

12/3

Ayres Shelter Christmas Open House @ Ayres Shelter Noon - 4PM

2/9/17

Annual Wine Tasting @ to be determined 5:30PM - 8:30PM For current information check www.ayresanimalshelter.com or visit us on Facebook

Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter, Inc. 133 Hilltop Road Sprakers, NY 12166

Bubba’s Beds Bubba’s Beds for Shelter Friends is an amazing organization in central New York that raises funds to buy durable, cleanable, and comfortable beds to give to shelter dogs and cats while they await their forever homes. In May of 2016, Ayres was the shelter chosen to receive them, and we couldn’t be more thankful!

Julie and Matt made the whole thing so easy. We just had to provide the number of beds that we needed, and they did all the rest. They even delivered and assembled the beds.

Bubba’s Beds began their first fundraiser in January of this year, and since then, they have purchased 184 beds and repaired almost 40 that were already in shelters. Can you believe it? That is an amazing number of shelter animals helped, and it is all because of one amazing dog’s legacy.

Bubba was a dog that Julie and Matt adopted from a shelter. He had a hard beginning to his life, but his mom and dad strove to give him the best of the best. They lost their little boy in August of 2015. His mom says, “We miss Bubba terribly and would love to honor him by doing something special for other animals.”

And that they sure have!

Thank you, Julie and Matt, for enriching shelter animals’ lives!

Ayres Shelter Spay & Neuter Clinic

The clinics are now held right at Ayres Shelter (133 Hilltop Rd., Sprakers, NY 12166) Call for more information 518-673-5670 LIMITED APPOINTMENTS Call ahead to be put in our waiting list CAT NEUTER (MALE) $45 CAT SPAY (FEMALE) $70 DOG NEUTER (MALE): (under 20#) $70 (20-50#) $85 (51-75#) $115 (76-90#) $135 (91-109#) $155 (Over 110#) $175 DOG SPAY (FEMALE): (Under 20#) $90 (20-50#) $105 (51-75#) $145 (76-90#) $165 (91-109#) $185 (Over 110#) $220 Every animal must have a valid rabies certificate.

Rabies and DHPP shots available at the clinic.

Rabies - $10 • Distemper - $15 Microchips available at $25 per pet

AYRES SHELTER MEMBERS $5 DISCOUNT per pet.

No animal accepted at clinic without full payment of fees prior to surgery

SUPPORT THE AYRES SHELTER - DONATE MONEY, FOOD OR SUPPLIES

Memorial Contributions Don Countermine Barbara Baker Ron Keator Hazel Komar Leta Weber John Richard Geweye Frank T. Vainauskas Sara Pope Jean Wrobel Richard Heiser Stella Slimack Conner Christman Elena Belyayeu Mrs. VanAlystine Christine L. Hayes David Williams Thelma Laymon Jamie Homkey Pet Memorials:

“Lexi” Shuster “Baby Nelly” “Yukon” and “Molly” Sperbeck “Louise” Oesterreich “Chance” “Noah” Brewster In Honor Of: Tony and Jetty Soren Veit Scott - birthday Sarah St. Andrews - birthday Amanda and Joe Moore’s 10th Wedding Anniversary

Shelter Report since January 2016 We took in 149 dogs Adopted 108 dogs and reunited 28 dogs with their owners.

We took in 124 cats and kittens and have adopted out 124

Wish List and Needs Clay Litter

Garbage Bags Dye Free Dog Food (4 Health, Purina One, Iams, Rachel Ray) Paper Towels • Bleach Sponges • Dish Soap

From

SUPPORT THE AYRES SHELTER - SPONSOR A “ONE-OF-A-KIND” PET

Beggin’ for Adoption Hunter 5 Year Old Male Coonhound

Ty

Brutus

Dooley

7 Year Old Male Pit Bull

2-3 Year Old Male Pit Bull

2 Year Old Male Pit Bull

Jordan 5 Year Old Female Blue Merle Catahoula Leopard Dog

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Rylie

4-5 Year Old Male Shepherd

Jax

2 Year Old Female Pit Bull Mix

Precious 5 Year Old Female Akita

6-7 Year Old Female Min Pin

Baby 8 Year Old Female Greyhound Mix

2 Year Old Male Yellow Lab/Boxer Mix

2-4 Year Old Female Pit Bull Mix

Robin

April

Chase

Luna

2 Year Old Male Rottweiler Mix

Ledger 5-6 Year Old Male Australina Kelpie Mix

Female Mixed Breed

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Sawyer 4-5 Year Old Male Lab/Rottie Mix

Ruby

1 Year Old Female Black Standard Poodle

Hal 9 1/2 Year Old Male American Eskimo Mix

Rocket 7 Year Old Male Shepherd Mix

Luna Puppies 4 Females & 5 Males Born October 4, 2016

SUPPORT THE AYRES SHELTER - FREQUENT THE SHELTER SHOP

Beggin’ for Adoption Hoover

Oz

3-4 Year Old Male

1 Year Old Female

Cosmo

Donny

Kramer

7-8 Year Old Male

3 Year Old Male

Missy

3 Year Old Male

Cyrus

2 Year Old Female

Jayna

Dawson 6-8 Year Old Male

4-6 Year Old Male

1 Year Old Female

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Wesley

Bridge Kittens

Percy

2 Females

10 Year Old Male Persian

Hayden

1 Year Old Male

3 Year Old Male

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Katie’s Kitten

Snuggles

Tiger Female

13-14 Year Old Male

Jack

Binky

6 Month Old Male

10 Year Old Male

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SUPPORT THE AYRES SHELTER - BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Katie 4-6 Year Old Female

~ Featured Canine ~

Hal

~ A Story of Survival ~

Joy

by Frankie Page Please meet Joy, an 8-year old pitbull, who has lived a life of being over bred, undernourished, and neglected.

Unfortunately, stories like Joy’s have been told numerous times; the very place from which she escaped has been the subject of investigation in years past when over 60 of her puppies, brothers, and sisters were seized from deplorable conditions. Unfortunately for Joy, she was hidden from her rescuers, most likely due to her desirable coloring and her ability to make a lot of money for her abusers.

Hey, guys! My name is Hal. I am an older boy of about 10 or 11 years, but I still have a lot of life in me yet! I am medium sized and weigh about 28 pounds. I love people, other dogs, and cats! The only people who make me a little nervous are young kids, so I’d prefer a home without them.

I am clean in the house and I am crate trained.

I love long walks, longer car rides, and back scratches that last for hours! There’s only one thing that my shelter family says may be my downfall... I am epileptic. I don’t have many problems: the pills they sneak into my canned food twice a day keep me super healthy.

How great is that! I hope that my age and one health issue don’t deter too many more people from looking at me. One minute with me and I promise you would fall in love. Don’t I deserve a family of my own, too?!

Joy has experienced things that no living creature should ever have to face, but she is a survivor. Even after the abuse that she faced from humans, her sweet soul still shines brightly. As she lies in front of us who are blessed to know her, as she rests her head on our hands, as she rolls around in the grass, as she sleeps, as she now knows love, we fight for her.

She is the face of something that we should not ignore, a reminder of abuse that we scroll past or change the channel on rather than look at it and acknowledge its harsh reality. It is not an easy thing to do, to look into the eyes of an animal that has known much pain and heartbreak, but we must. We as a community must stand up for those who cannot fight for themselves, demand that our authorities and politicans take swift and firm action to stop the continuation of this abuse.

“What can I do?” you may ask. Reading this is a start.

Thank you. Share Joy’s story, volunteer at a local shelter, donate, speak to your local politicians, vote for those who understand how we treat our animals is a direct reflection of how we treat each other. Most importantly adopt, don’t shop.

I invite you all to follow Joy’s journey with us.

SUPPORT THE AYRES SHELTER - ATTEND THE FUND-RAISERS

Increased Adoption Fees For Adult Dogs

Not everyone knows the seriousness of Lyme disease so here are a few basic facts. Lyme disease is a bacterial disease spread by ticks.

Symptoms vary, but they usually involve depression, swelling of the lymph nodes, loss of appetite, fever and lameness with swollen and painful joints. The disease occurs throughout the US, espeically in warm climates. Ticks live in tall brush or grass and are most active from spring until fall.

Prevention is easier than treatment, especially if the illness is not diagnosed early.

Ways to avoid a tick problem: Topical or chewable flea & tick treatments Seresto Flea & Tick Collars Regular tick checks and grooming Avoiding areas where ticks thrive Lyme testing & Lyme vaccinations Beginning on January 1, 2017, we will be adding heartworm and Lyme disease testing as well as administering Lyme vaccinations for dogs having negative results and treatment for dogs having positive results to prepare him/her for vaccinations. Our adoption fee for adult dogs will be raised to $125 to cover the additional costs.

SUPPORTING AYRES MEMORIAL ANIMAL SHELTER Levels of support:

Member $25

Friend $50

Sponsor $100

Donor $150

Benefactor $200+

Other $ ______ Your Choice _____________________________ If you would like to help with fund-raisers, please call Dale at 673-5114. We always need help, especially bakers!

If you would like to volunteer at the shelter, call Claire at 673-5670 (afternoons).

Please provide your name ____________________ Address _________________________________ __________________________________ Phone # ___________________

Dogs - $125 Two distemper vaccinations, rabies shot, two wormings, flea treatment (if needed), spay/neuter, microchip

Cats - $50

email ___________________________________ Please send your support choice, this form, and your check to Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter 133 Hilltop Rd., Sprakers, NY 12166

Two distemper vaccinations, rabies shot, two wormings, flea treatment (if needed), FELV/FIV test, ear mite treatment (if needed)

Puppies - $70 (Plus $35*)

The greatness One or two distemper vaccinations, rabies shot (for pups of a nation and over 3 months old), one or two wormings, its moral flea treatment (if needed), microchip progress can be judged by Kittens - $15 (Plus $35*) the way its One or two distemper vaccinations, rabies shot (for kittens over 3 months old), one or two wormings, animals are flea treatment (if needed), FELV/FIV test (if old enough), treated. ear mite treatment (if needed) Mahatma *State law requires $35 spay/neuter deposit to be taken for all kitGandhi tens and puppies at adoption. Deposit is refundable.

Furry Friendz Salon & Daycare 6137 NY-5 Palatine Bridge, NY 13428

Gregory Baldwin Owner/ Groomer 518-844-2009 furryfriendzsalon@icloud.com furryfriendzsalon.com

SUPPORT THE AYRES SHELTER - BECOME A MEMBER

Happy Endings Snookie

Snookie was brought to Ayres as a stray in August 2015. She was a little brindle and white pit bull whose owner identified her but could not come back to take her home.

Snookie was with us for almost a year when a call came in from the Malone area. A man whose family had loved and raised pit bulls his whole life was looking for a sweet companion pittie since his last one had passed.

He saw Snookie’s picture on our website and felt she was perfect. He made the four-hour drive to meet her and spent a lot of time getting to know her. He was so impressed with her that he took her home. He sent us many updates (which we really appreciate) showing her totally happy with her comfy home, her many toys, and her big backyard. Since her adoption, Snookie has also enjoyed playing on the beach, boating on the St. Lawrence River (on the boat named after her), and bonding with her “dad.”

In fact, when he recently had surgery, this loyal, loving little girl stayed right beside him returning all the unconditional love he has shown her. Life has certainly changed for this pittie. Snookie is definitely enjoying the amazing “forever home and family” that a sweetie like her really deserves.

Tyson Hey, everyone! My name is Tyson!

Many people know me because I was at the shelter since May of 2013! I came in as a stray, running loose in St. Johnsville and no one ever came to bring me back home. That was okay though, because my shelter family loved me and took such great care of me. They were always playing with me, taking me swimming and taking pictures of me to show potential families.

Many people believe that our duties as animal caretakers begin when we arrive at the shelter in the morning and end when we leave at night. Little do they realize how much more our work encompasses. For example, earlier this year all four of our staff members were housing shelter animals in our homes since they required 24-hour care. Some were orphaned kittens who needed bottle feeding every two hours - day and night.

Others were sick and needed meds, fluids, and 24/7 supervision. As soon as one pet or litter was able to return to the shelter, there was always another that needed to go home. In fact, two of our staff still have multiple animals in their foster care. Fortunately, we have some wonderful volunteers who have given us a helping hand. Some have taken moms and kittens; another cared for a dog and her nine puppies.

If you have ever considered fostering, give it some thought. It’s a chance to open your heart and home to animals who seriously need your help. It’s a full-time commitment, and, of course, the hardest part is giving them up when they are ready for adoption.

But every one of them will leave paw prints on your heart even after they have started new lives in their new forever homes.

I met a lot of families and other dogs, but they obviously weren’t the right homes for me, because I kept saying goodbye to them and then meeting new ones again and again.

It wasn’t until recently that I met a family who didn’t say “Bye” to me, they said, “We will see you later.” My shelter family got me all dressed up, did some paperwork for me and I was going for a car ride. It was a long car ride too! Which was okay, because I love going for rides! We pulled into the driveway, and my family was there waiting for me! Smiles and happiness all around! We walked down my new back yard, and I wanted to see everyting! I even ran into the water. It was great!

I got to spend the next hour with my favorite shelter family and my new mom and dad. I saw the house, saw my yard, checked out my crate and my big bed, and I even made the screen door into my own personal doggy door into the back yard.

I am so happy to be in my new forever home. I have met many of my extended family and they all love me so much. I will always miss my shelter family, and I know they will miss me.

But I am happy to say that I am doing amazingly well in my home! And I think my new mom and dad will treat me just right!

Love, Tyson

We Make It Easy!

Rt. 30A Johnstown 762-4609

Rt. 30 Amsterdam 843-4600

www.brownsford.com Proud to support Ayres Animal Shelter Web Design by Nancy Bell • Facebook Page by Marissa Glasser

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