Pet Pride Cat Sanctuary & Adoption Center Expansion Complete

BY JODY LYNN GREER

The Empire State showed it cares for animal shelters. Last November, Governor Hochul included the Companion Animal Capitol Fund in her proposed executive scal budget for 2023. is unprecedented move showed Hochul and the state recognize the capacity strain pet shelters have endured in recent years, and they commit to providing safe housing for abandoned dogs and cats awaiting adoption.

One local shelter, Pet Pride of New York, a no-kill cat sanctuary on Route 251 in Victor, received $200,000 from the Fund to renovate and expand. Pet Pride is the only shelter in our region to receive this generous endowment. is money, with other local philanthropic donations, enables Pet Pride to compassionately care for the vulnerable feline populations in its newly renovated $1.2 million addition that opened to the public on January 21, 2023.

Vice President Marlies Sullivan, says, “We’re a little di erent than most shelters because we have an open enrichment environment. Our cats come out during the day. We have a full surgical and veterinary suite… We have windows everywhere. ese cats can actually go outside and get fresh air and hang out on perches. We purchased some more for our new building. We have six catios now.”

Upon entering the facility, you might be welcomed by Herby, a friendly, black and white, u y tuxedo cat. A er leaving the entrance area, you take Tabby Lane, decorated with pictures of Pet Pride alum. From there, you can enter Kitten Kingdom or peruse the community rooms.

Each room is beautifully lit and spacious. Any cat lover would love to explore Calico Cottage, Catnip Cavanagh, Meow Manner, and Kitten Kingdom. While Kitten Kingdom provides adoptable cats with an enclosed space, other rooms allow cats to roam freely around the building as they interact with visitors and employees. In some rooms, cats can even safely “bird watch” on televisions, entertaining them while harming no birds.

“We are excited about the Healing Paws medical center. We have some vets that are excited about helping us. Vets sign on to do a shi ; it could be once a month. ere’s a lot of veterinarians that like to give back. Giving back to homeless animals is something they’re passionate about.”

Pet Pride of NY also relies heavily upon a network of kind and caring foster families to meet their needs. Sullivan says, “Overcrowding is a huge problem. We have this expansion, but we will still have a long waiting line. ere are a lot of homeless cats and kittens out there, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better. We now spay and neuter early. ere’s still a lot of homeless ones out there. When you start to do the math, it’s very daunting.” e motto of Pet Pride is “Every cat deserves a home,” and thanks to the Companion Animal Capitol Fund and local community donations, they are closer to making that dream a reality. With continued support, they can remove more homeless, abused, and neglected felines from the streets and place them in suitable, loving, forever homes. ere are many ways to support this animal shelter. Pet Pride is always seeking volunteers and donations, whether it be visitors helping socialize the cats to ensure they are adoptable, veterinarians and vet techs helping spay/neuter the cats, and families fostering pregnant momma cats and kittens under eight weeks. Pet Pride also o ers enclosure naming rights to memorialize loved ones.

For more information on Pet Pride and its services, visit petprideny.org or stop by Pet Pride at 7731 Victor Mendon Rd, Victor, NY 14564.

Pet Pride assesses each animal’s temperament and viability for adoption and chooses a space that ts the needs of that cat. Each cat appears lovingly cared for and content. Meticulous thought and detail make this expansion like no other, ensuring felines are as comfortable as possible.

Community support is vital when it comes to caring for shelter animals, and the work is never done. According to Sullivan,

Music Can Impact Emotions

Music is an integral part of the human experience. Songs have been sung for centuries, and music plays an integral role in many cultural ceremonies, rites of passage and other traditions. Love songs may be enjoyed on Valentine’s Day and stir up strong romantic feelings that enhance the theme of the day. But why is music so impactful?

Researchers have had an interest in music and its impact on human emotion and perceptions for many years. Music of all genres and styles can be therapeutic and boost mood while bringing listeners pleasure and comfort. Sad music may intensify grief. Music can evoke strong feelings andmayinfluencehowindividuals perceive other people and things. According to a recent study by researchers Nidhya Logeswaran and Joydeep Bhattacharya from the University of London, music affects how people see visual images. In an experiment, 30 subjects were presented with a series of happy or sad musical excerpts. After listening to the songs, the subjects were shown a photographofaface.Somepeople were shown a happy face - the person was smiling - while others were exposed to a face with sad or neutral facial expressions. The participants were then asked to rate the emotional content of the face. Researchers found that happy music made happy faces seem that much more pleasant, while sad music exaggerated frowns.Similareffectswerefound with neutral faces.

These findings illustrate how music can help improve physical and mental health when used in concert with other strategies. The American Music Therapy Association reports that music therapy programs can be used to manage stress, enhance memory and alleviate pain.

The right music can serve as a catalyst for romance. Men and women can increase feelings of affection in their romantic partners by playing love songs in the background while offering gifts and tokens of their love. If a proposal is planned for February, one can set the mood with a favorite song that exemplifies the special relationship shared with a significant other. Those who may not be able to express their feelings verbally may find that music helps to convey those feelings.

Music certainly can impact emotions, though the reasons why are not entirely known. However, people can use music to their advantage, particularly on Valentine’s Day.

PAW’S CORNER

By Sam Mazzotta

Crying in the Car Is Never a Good ing

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My Border Collie, Sugar, gets very anxious during car rides. She is not one of those dogs who likes to stick their head out of the window! Instead, she whimpers, cries, drools and paces around on the back seat. I’m very worried that she’ll try to jump into my lap. How can I stop her crying? -- Wendy G., Atlanta

DEAR WENDY: Poor Sugar! Anxiety in pets is o en tied to a distressing experience in their past. And her uncontrolled movement around the car is a safety issue.

Talk to Sugar’s veterinarian about her behavior. ey can provide advice and help determine if and when anti-anxiety medication should be given.

Adding a pet restraint system (like a doggie seat or seat belt) or kennel cage will keep Sugar from sliding around in the car and may help her feel more secure.

Next, help reduce Sugar’s anxiety by helping her associate car rides with good things. is will take a little extra time and e ort each day, but it’s worth it.

-- With the car parked in the driveway, sit in the back seat with Sugar (in her seat or cage) for about ve minutes. Give her a small treat and lots of praise when she does. Do this daily, without driving anywhere.

-- When Sugar regularly stays calm, shi to the driver’s seat a er sitting with her in the back seat.

-- Step up to the next level: Turn on the car, giving Sugar a treat when you do so. Put soothing music on the radio.

A trainer can be a good investment, as well. ey’ll work with Sugar (and o en the vet) to make her car rides bearable, and maybe even enjoyable.

How does your pet stand car rides? Tell us about it at ask@pawscorner. com.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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ECO-FRIENDLY WAYS TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine’s Day is second only to the holiday season with regard to gift giving. Although this day devoted to love and exchanging gifts can be wasteful, that does not mean those with a mind toward green and simple living should ignore the holiday altogether. Valentine’s Day celebrations canbeenjoyedinaneco-friendlywaythatcanmakethisspecialdayeven more meaningful to eco-conscious couples.