We need your help in recovering from the recent ice storm.

Please consider donating a cookie for our pets.

Due to the loss of supplies and revenue
associated with clean up and costs from the ice storm,
we are in much need of donations for our pets and programs.
Please consider donating a COOKIE for our pets

To our supporters and pet loving friends. On Thursday, 11 December 2008, our community was hit by the worst ice storm in decades. Our Shelter had a full kennel of 47 puppies and dogs, nursing cats with kittens, and dozens of cats and kittens awaiting adoption.

We lost all power, heat, electricity, phones, cable, and the internet. As I write this on Tuesday,
16 December 2008, we still DO NOT have phones, cable, or credit card access. Sadly, our Shelter lost thousands of dollars worth of vaccinations, medications, and medical supplies. But our pets survived and they weren’t phased in the least!

I am proud, and fortunate, to say that our staff is wonderful and extremely dedicated. I’m so proud of them, and so fortunate to have them as my co-workers. Despite all that was happening in their own ice nightmare, they struggled against their own situation without power or heat, inability to physically reach our Shelter, and against all odds, they GOT HERE to care for our pets!.

Thankfully, because our kennel has a wood stove we were able to keep our pets warm and safe. Though it was an exhausting five days of filling the wood stoves and putting gas in the generators every couple of hours (24 hours a day), we made sure our pets were warm and safe.

However, on Saturday, 15 December 2008, out of safety concerns for our furry friends well-being and the unknown factor on when we would be up and running again, we opted to transfer 26 puppies and dogs to our "sister shelter", the Boston Animal Rescue League (ARL).

We also made the decision to transfer our pets based on the fact that our Shelter is a disaster approved facility for Massachusetts in times of disasters. We work with several animal-related disaster services. Being a certified facility meant that we would have to be available to assisting pets in our own community. Thankfully, we only had a couple of dogs that needed sheltering. We are still open and available to those who might need help.

In any case, I knew that the ARL’s entire staff would take great care of our furry friends and their every need medically, emotionally, and psychologically would be cared for, not to mention that they would be spoiled rotten!

In the dark afternoon of Saturday, 15 December 2008, with tears in our eyes, our staff carefully loaded our precious cargo into ARL’s Mobile Adoption and Rescue Vehicle (MARV):
 

As a proud certified Animal Disaster Rescuer, I have responded to multiple disasters over the years, such as Hurricane Charley in Florida and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. I have traveled to assist in spay and neuter clinics in Saint Lucia, the Galapagos Islands, and other Caribbean destinations. Our staff has always responded to disasters and now we need to be rescued!

Thankfully, we’ve learned a lesson and will updating our disaster plans for the future. This storm was certainly an eye opener! Please join our Shelter in reviewing what you should plan for as a pet owner in disasters:
 

The key to survival during a disaster, crisis or emergency is to be as prepared as possible before the storm hits. Take the time to make a plan and assemble an emergency kit for you and your pet. By taking these steps now, you will greatly increase your pet’s chances of survival.

Happy Holidays...and be safe!

Leigh Grady, Executive Director
Animal Shelter Inc.
17 Laurelwood Road
Sterling MA 01564
www.sterlingshelter.org

978.422.8585 phone
978.422.8574 fax
 

Want to help the Shelter? Have you considered our Recurring Giving system. This convenient system allows you to automatically make a donation to the Sterling Shelter every month via credit card or checking account. This is an extremely powerful fundraising method that can allow the Shelter to save thousands of additional animals every year with a donation as small as $2.00 per month from you. Thank you for your support!