Author: Mark Taylor

In 2009, the Humane Society assumed management of the existing dog shelter. Since that time the Humane Society has provided the towns of Schuyler County with the stray dog sheltering services which the  towns are required to provide under Article 7 of the New York State Ag and Markets Law.  The Humane Society also provides sheltering services for dogs that are seized by the Schuyler County Sheriff’s office for cases of hoarding, neglect and animal cruelty under NYS Ag and Markets law  Article 26 and owner surrendered pets.

 The Humane Society has not increased fees to the towns since 2009. Going into contract discussions for 2019 the Humane Society proposed increases which were rejected by the towns.  However, in the spirit of providing care for the animals and the betterment of the community, the Humane Society agreed to the existing terms at that time.  However, since 2009 costs have risen dramatically.  Minimum wage alone has increased from $7.25 an hour in 2009 to $15.50 in January of 2025. The cost of utilities has increased as have other costs of care for dogs housed until they are either redeemed by their owners or placed for adoption. These costs were simply not being covered by the existing contracts.  The primary source of revenue from each town has been 70% of the dog licensing fees collected by the towns which have steadily declined.  This has resulted in a financial deficit which Humane Society has been funding for several years.

To arrive at a proposed fee for the towns, the costs associated with dogs brought in as strays were separated from dogs and cats admitted to the shelter under other circumstances and other costs  not related to animal care. The costs presented to the towns reflected care for those dogs for whom the towns are responsible under article 7 of NYS Ag and Markets Law. The proposed fees were allocated based on the average number of dogs housed from each town over the recent four-and-a-half-year period. 

 In June we requested a meeting to present a new proposed contract structure and fee schedule to the towns at the Council of Governments meeting. Several meetings were held from June through November.  The Humane Society proposed a subsidy to the towns that would have reduced the burden, but the towns chose to pursue an alternative supplier.

The Humane Society proposed a flat yearly fee for each town, with the towns retaining their dog licensing fees collected during the year.  For 2025 the proposed cost to each town is listed, along with the anticipated 2025 license revenues. The anticipated net cost is the Humane Society Fee minus the anticipated 2025 license revenue, based on 2023 actual figures.

Town	Proposed 2025 Humane Society Fee	Anticipated 2025 License Revenue	Anticipated Net 2025 Cost to Town
Catherine	$5,989	$2,164	$3,825
Cayuta	$3,214	$242	$2,972
Dix	$11,248	$2,578	$8,670
Hector	$8,619	$3,568	$5,051
Montour	$11,686	$2,430	$9,256
Orange	$3,944	$1,284	$2,660
Reading	$11,778	$2,242	$9,536
Tyrone	$8,619	$753	$7,866

The proposed flat fee was intended to enable the towns to set an accurate budget figure for the year, regardless of the number of strays they may be responsible for in any given year.  The towns are able to offset a portion of the cost by ensuring that more dogs are licensed, increasing licensing fees and/or charging a surcharge for unlicensed dogs.

 The shared services agreement which has been in place for 15 years with the county, the towns, the Sheriff’s Department and the Humane Society has served the residents of Schuyler County well, providing complete coverage of animal welfare issues 24×7.

It is unfortunate that these discussions have not resulted in a workable agreement.  The Humane Society remains committed to resolving these issues in the future and to providing other vital services to our community.  These include shelter and adoption services for owner surrendered pets, victims of animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment, low-cost spay/neuter services, a pet pantry, and a commitment to expansion of educational and community outreach programs. It has been an honor to serve the hundreds of stray dogs who have crossed our doors over the past 15 years.

The Humane Society of Schuyler County will continue to provide sheltering services for the town of Van Etten.

Thank you so much to everyone that participated in FLXgives and our online auction. This year was our most successful year for FLXgives, and the auction was a huge success.
Thank you to all of the generous people who donated items. If you are a winner, then please pick up your item at the Shelter during open hours.

With spring’s arrival, the earth comes alive.  The days become longer, birds return from warmer climes, and we welcome the awakening of long dormant gardens.  But, with spring, also comes kitten season, which lasts well into October.

Litters of unwanted kittens arrive at our door in need of food, shelter, and medical care, creating huge demands on staff and volunteers. So, this issue of our newsletter focuses on the importance of population control and takes you inside our spay neuter program to learn more about our long–standing efforts to reduce pet overpopulation.

For 20 years, we have contracted with Shelter Outreach Services, a not-for-profit MASH style spay/neuter practice, to provide sterilization services for our shelter animals, feral cat populations and pets of the income eligible public in our community.  Together, we have sterilized over 17,000 animals.  Shelter Outreach Services provides a veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician and surgical equipment and supplies.  Our staff and trained volunteers provide administrative support and recovery services.  During a typical day we perform about 30 dog and cat surgeries, starting at 7am and ending at 7pm. 

But, it doesn’t really start there.  Several weeks prior to a clinic the scheduling begins.  Let’s take a look!

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Then, it’s time for cleanup, readying the facility for the next day’s activity.

Every effort is made to keep costs to a minimum with Humane Society staff and volunteers providing support at no cost to clients. We seek grant funding to help offset the costs for those who simply cannot afford it and to fund the sterilization of feral cats.  Companion animal sterilization remains critical to the mission of the organization and the cornerstone of the work we do.

Through March of this year, we have sterilized 217 animals, 50 dogs and 177 cats.  If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please visit our website at www.schuylehumane.org or call us at 607-594-2255 ext.205.

YTD Adoptions

• 53 cats
• 17 dogs
• 15 dogs returned to owner

Montour Falls, NY – April 25, 2023 — BISSELL Pet Foundation, a national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness, is excited to announce it will team up with Dogtopia for the foundation’s first “Empty the Shelters” national adoption event of 2023. From May 1 to May 15, BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Spring National “Empty the Shelters” will occur at more than 350 shelters in 45 states with pets available for adoption for just $50 or less, including the Humane Society of Schuyler County.

The Humane Society will participate May 1 – 15, 2023 at the Shelter located at 124 Marina Drive, Montour Falls, NY, offering $50 adoption fees for adult cats and dogs. All interested adopters can find application forms and more details online at the Humane Society’s website or call the Shelter at 607-594-2255

Since the 2016 inception of BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters,” nearly 140,000 pets at 605 animal welfare organizations in 47 states and Canada have received second chances. An average of 1,000 shelter pets are adopted each day during each quarterly national event. Through this partnership and continued support, the foundation is looking forward to reaching more pets in more shelters and communities during this upcoming event.

“BISSELL Pet Foundation’s “Empty the Shelters’ is proven to make a lifesaving difference, and we are thrilled to team up with Dogtopia, who shares our vision to give every pet their best life,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “This is a very difficult time for shelters across the country, with increasing owner surrenders due to the housing crisis and inflation as well as slowed adoption rates. With Dogtopia’s partnership, we are hopeful more pets than ever will find homes during this national event.”

“We are delighted to once again partner with the BISSELL Pet Foundation to offer adoptable cats and dogs for a reduced fee,” said Georgie Taylor, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Schuyler County. “We have dogs and cats for every living situation. All our companion animals are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and fully vaccinated.”

BISSELL Pet Foundation and the Humane Society of Schuyler County urge families to do their research about the pet they are interested in adopting, as well as adoption requirements. For more information on adopting or donating to “Empty the Shelters,” visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters as well as the Humane Society’s website.

About BISSELL Pet Foundation:

BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501©(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, microchipping, and crisis and disaster response. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 5,700 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Homecare, Inc., where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.

As many shelters around the country are overcapacity, we reflect on how far the animal welfare movement has come and the work that remains to be done. An excerpt from Tom Colvin, CEO of the Animal Rescue League in Iowa, was quoted in a recent article in Rolling Stone as saying, “In 2000, 90 percent of the dogs in pounds were euthanized within days of arrival. Last year, that figure was nine percent, an extraordinary, if incomplete, achievement.” For 40 years, the leaders of the animal-welfare movement have waged a two-front war to save pets’ lives. The first was pushing for spay-neuter laws to shrink the number of homeless dogs. The second was changing people’s hearts and minds about where they got their pets. There was so much stigma attached to dog pounds. But the rescue movement enlightened the public on the virtues of shelter dogs. Adoptions have spiked since 2000, then soared in the past two years. Twenty-three million dogs were adopted during the pandemic, a 600 percent increase over the norm. Still, 3 million dogs remain in shelters, many in need of clinical care and shelters around the country find themselves at, or beyond capacity. With rising inflation, housing changes, the increased cost of veterinary care and many people struggling to make ends meet, shelters from coast to coast are seeing a drastic increase in the number of owner surrenders. Thousands of people each month are being forced to leave family members behind. To make matters worse, length of stay for pets is also increasing as adoptions slow. Like many other shelters around the country, we are experiencing a significant increase in surrendered pets. Kitten season was late to start, but we now find ourselves swimming in cats and kittens. And we too, find ourselves over capacity. We do not euthanize for space, which means that some adoptable pets are with us for an extended stay. So, if you’ve been considering adopting a pet, summer is a wonderful time to do so!

Bissell Pet Foundation Empty the Shelters Event

We are thrilled to be part of The Bissell Pet Foundation Empty the Shelters Adoption Event! What a wonderful time to add a furry friend to your home!

The adoption fee for all eligible dogs, cats and kittens is only $50 from July 11 through July 31st.

Please visit us at www.schuylerhumane.org to see adoptable pets and to complete an adoption application.

To qualify for the $50 adoption fee, applications must be general in nature and not specify a particular pet.

Please call us at 607-594-2255 to schedule an appointment. We’re here every day! Or, just stop by on Saturdays from 10am- 1pm without an appointment

Just a Few Adoptable Pets

Introducing our Royal Family…..

As coincidence would have it three of our royal family came to us already named, not all from the same location either.

We had already named Princess after another dog who looked just like her and came to us just before her, named Queen. 

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And the kittens!!!!!

Did you know that July 10^th celebrated National Kitten Day? 

 Speaking of adoptions…We have lots of kittens, young adults and more mature felines in every shape, size and color, all with different purrsonalities. So, if you’ve been considering adopting a furry friend, give us a call at 607-594-2255 ext 204 to schedule an appointment. Or just stop by on Saturdays from 10am- 1pm without an appointment.

Visit our website www.schuylerhumane.org to see adoptable cats and kittens with more posted almost every day! It’s kitten season after all!  

Visit our Facebook page for pictures, videos, fun facts and more! All of our kittens are spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies and FVRCP, treated for parasites, are feline leukemia and FIV tested, microchipped and when necessary, have had other medical issues addressed. June is a great time to adopt! 

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Join us for A Sidekick Soirée – July 28 at Lakewood Vineyards Our friends at Lakewood Vineyards believe that dogs make our lives better. As a demonstration of their love of dogs, Lakewood is introducing a new spritzy, lower alcohol rosé they’ve named Sidekick.  To celebrate the introduction of this exciting new wine, Lakewood is hosting a launch party on Thursday, July 28th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Join us for tastings of Sidekick, light refreshments, and live music by StratCat Willie and the Strays. (Perfect, right?)  StratCat Willie has been playing blues with some of the best musicians around the country for decades. A $20 donation at the door will benefit The Humane Society of Schuyler County. Lakewood is committed to supporting the community’s four-legged friends in need. Beyond the launch a portion of the proceeds of every bottle of Sidekick sold at the tasting room will benefit the Humane Society of Schuyler County states Erin McMurrough Stamp, brand manager. “We are truly overwhelmed by the generosity of the great folks at Lakewood for this exciting partnership. We are grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to the community and animals in our care,” said Georgie Taylor, executive director. And a huge thank you to StratCat Willie!

 

A Fundraising and Fun Raising Fourth of July

 For the second year in a row this generous, hardworking extended family set up a lemonade stand to benefit the shelter animals. With this year’s goal of $300 in mind, they raised a whopping $584! They clearly went all out! The lemonade stand has become an annual event during their visit with their grandparents. Let’s give them a huge round of “APAWS !

Donate Your Redeemables

Caroline has been busy collecting cans and bottles on her daily walks!

Sometimes it seems like an endless task, but she soldiers on. She’s hoping that you’ll do the same and drop off all those redeemables in our can shed. It’s fast, it’s easy and every can or bottle helps to care for Caroline and all of her friends.

You can help us even more:

• Do not crush your cans and plastic bottles – we cannot redeem them and it costs us money to dispose of them;
• Make sure you are only donating redeemable containers – others just have to be trashed;
• Put your bottles in large trash sacks so we can load them more easily;
• If you still have your cardboard cartons for bottles, put the bottles back in them to reduce chances for breakage;

It’s open 24 x 7! It’s just amazing how those nickels add up! The shed is located on the west end of our property

Thank you!

Our small, dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to find permanent, loving homes for every pet who crosses our door and to serve the needs of our community.  We couldn’t do the work we do without your generous support. For that, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. 

Please direct all mail to:

The Humane Society of Schuyler County

124 Marina Drive

Montour Falls, NY 14865

 

Our phone, fax and email all remain the same.

Phone: 607-594-2255

Fax:      845-501-3211

Email: Info@schuylerhumane.org

Other ways to help:

• You can purchase items on line through Amazon Smile and a portion of your purchase will benefit The Humane Society.
• Visit Chewy.com to see our Wish List and make donations of Alpo canned dog and Fancy Feast/Friskies cat food. The cats prefer non-fish flavors and pate (not shreds or chunks)! Chewy will ship directly to us and shipping is free for orders over $49.00.

The Humane Society of Schuyler County is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing animal welfare in our community. All contributions are tax deductible. You can donate online, via our PayPal account, or send checks to us directly at 124 Marina Drive, Montour Falls, NY 14865

 

Happy New Year! As we wave good bye to 2020 in the rear view mirror, we look ahead to a far better new year – one filled with hope for good health and the promise that together we can overcome the long list of crises that have impacted our country and each of us. While 2020 was challenging for so many in so many ways, with your generosity and support we not only got through it, we celebrated some amazing results that we’re excited to share with you. Our staff and volunteers doubled down, worked against the odds and demonstrated what a small group of dedicated people can accomplish when they share a passion and a common goal.  For them, we are so grateful! The Numbers – For 2020 We took in 121 dogs – down a bit from previous years, which appears to be the trend nationally.  With so many people at home, the pooches have been on lock down too! But, this enabled us to assist other area shelters and collaborate for our first transfer of dogs from rural North Carolina.     A total of 62 were adopted, 58 were reunited with their families and 5 were transferred to new shelters.  We took in a total of 263 cats and placed 245! (And, many more are going home in January! And, drum roll please…………we sterilized 963 dogs and cats through our spay/neuter clinics! And, remember, clinics were suspended from March into June.

A Round of Apaws! THANK YOU! We’ve said it before, but we simply have to say it again – we couldn’t do the work we do without your generous support! This holiday season you totally crushed it! This year end fundraising campaign was one of the most successful ever!  Your support was matched with a donation of $24K from the Staffworks Fund Save a Life Holiday Campaign!  While we know that so many of you faced your own challenges during this pandemic, you still found it in your hearts to care for the shelter animals! Your generosity is nothing short of amazing and your support will help us to carry us through the next few months.  The Staffworks 2020 Save A Life Campaign raised an incredible $3,041,832! The 2020 Campaign included 39 nonprofit animal welfare organizations in 17 counties in Central and Southern New York and Pennsylvania.  Since its inception in 2014, the Save A Life Campaign has raised $6,156,444 for nonprofit organizations providing direct care and services for at-risk animals in regional communities where Staffworks operates. Additionally, the Staffworks Save A Life Campaign has provided matching levels for community donations during the month of December.

 

Looking for Love Lily, as we’ve named her, arrived as a stray on the bitter cold morning of December 23rd. Found in a remote area, she was unkempt, thin, and unable to walk. She was immediately taken to the vet, who determined that Lily had not been hit by a car as we feared, but was suffering from chronic arthritis. She was given a short acting steroid injection and was prescribed medications which have enabled her to walk again. It wasn’t until ten days after Lily arrived that we discovered that she had not been abandoned as we suspected, but amazingly enough, had wandered from home. Her owner, no longer able to care for her, surrendered Lily to us with the hope that we would find her a home better able to provide for her.  Now, we are asking for your help in doing just that. At about 12 years old, Lily would enjoy a quiet adult home with someone home with her for much of the day. She is very undemanding and most appreciative of everything you do for her. She spends much of her day napping, enjoys several shorter strolls a day and appreciates good food. For the most part Lily gets around well, although stairs would be challenging for her. Her medications are simple and not costly.  She is a lovely soul, who so deserves to spend her days with someone who loves her.  If you, or someone you know, might be able to offer Lily a loving home in which to spend her golden years, please call us at 607-594-2255 ext 201. She promises to return your affection with all the love she has to give.

A Tail Wagging Happy Tail: Jonny Cakes  Perhaps you remember that scared, scruffy little waif of a guy who had found refuge in an old outhouse? We appropriately called him “Jonny Cakes”, which suited him well. He arrived thin, flea ridden, matted and covered in feces and had experienced some trauma to his right eye and was absolutely terrified.  It took several days before he began to trust. His medical issues were treated and within a few weeks he was becoming a much happier, healthy little guy, ready to be neutered, vaccinated and to find a new home.  Much to our surprise our spay/neuter clinic vet took one look at him and said “He’s just the kind of dog we’ve been looking for!” So, obviously, the rest is history! Look at him now!

 

Can and Bottle Redemption – A Record Year! You support us in so many ways. You donate financially, you volunteer, you adopt, and you donate your cans and bottles – this year a record number. You might not think that bag of cans means much, but put ‘em all together and they totaled thousands of dollars! Yup, that’s right!  Those cans and bottles feed the shelter animals, provide medications, pay veterinary bills and help to pay our dedicated staff. Let’s go for another record in 2021!

 

Wags to Riches Jewelry, Housewares & Womens Clothing Sales Jewelry Sale – Feb 5 – 14   Jewelry $19 and under – Buy One Get One Free                           Jewelry over $10 -25% off   Housewares Sale February 1 – 28  20% off all housewares and decorative items   Women’s Clothing Sale  February 1 – 13  25% off February 14 – 28 50% off  Shop Early for Best Selection

Wags to Riches is now open six days a week! Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am – 5:00 and on Sundays from noon – 4:00pm. We’re located at 313 N. Franklin Street in Watkins Glen. And remember, all your purchases support the care of shelter animals!

Thank You! We would be remiss without publicly thanking each of you who helped us so generously during this difficult time, with your financial support and your donations of food and supplies.  We hope that we’ve thanked each of you individually but, if for some reason we missed you, please accept our heartfelt thanks! We couldn’t do it without you!

Other ways to help: ·     You can purchase items on line through Amazon Smile and a portion of your purchase will benefit The Humane Society. ·     Visit Chewy.com to see our Wish List and make donations of Alpo canned dog and Fancy Feast/Friskies cat food. The cats prefer non-fish flavors and pate (not shreds or chunks)! Chewy will ship directly to us and shipping is free for orders over $49.00. As we all continue to navigate through these turbulent times, please know that we truly value your on-going support. For that, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please take care and stay safe! The Humane Society of Schuyler County is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation dedicated to advancing animal welfare in our community. All contributions are tax deductible. You can donate online, via our PayPal account, or send checks to us directly at 124 Marina Drive, Montour Falls, NY 14865