September 2008


 

 

 

 

 

 

Jingle bells, jingle bells...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before you know it, the holidays will be upon us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get your pet portraints done now for those holidays cards and presents!

 

 

 

 Santa is Coming!

Santa is coming back to town and wants to have photos taken with YOUR PET(s). Family members are also welcome to pose in the photos, too!

Who could believe that the summer is OVER and the holidays are right around the corner? We can! That’s why we are already planning for Santa Pet Photos!

Date: Saturday - November 8, 2008
Location: Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling
Photography sitting will be in the main office building UPSTAIRS

Please NOTE:
 - We do NOT have handicapped accessibility to the 2nd floor
- All dogs must be ON leash and cats/small animals must be in a cage

Find directions to our Shelter at www.sterlingshelter.org
Time: 10am - 3pm. Slots will fill up quickly so make sure you get booked early!
Sniffin’ for more info? Email Melissa at Melissa@sterlingshelter.org or call 978-422-8585, ext. 114


Families can also have pictures taken WITHOUT Santa. Contact Melissa for booking information at  Melissa@sterlingshelter.org or call 978-422-8585, ext. 114.

We are THRILLED to have professional photographer, Kris Struminsky, from Struminsky Photography in Rhode Island as our OFFICIAL photographer! Kris has a lifetime of love & respect for animals as well as over 20 years of professional photographic experience specializing in animal portraiture! If you have ever been to Pet Rock Fest or the Whisker Walk, then you probably saw some of her beautiful work!

Frequently Asked Questions from Struminsky Photography:

  • My pet doesn’t sit still. Can you really photograph him/her? Photographing animals is a very difficult art. We pride ourselves on our extensive experience in this specialty. Most pets we photograph are not obedience trained, nor do they just "sit & pose." It is most important that you remain calm and relaxed throughout the session. Don’t get frustrated! It just takes a little time, your cooperation, and lots of patience for great results!
     
  • What age should my pet be for a session? Is my pet too young/old? Any age is the right age, but please don’t delay! Young pets have adventure, whimsy & wonder, and "senior" pets have loyalty, character & a lifetime of unconditional love worthy of being treasured.
     
  • How much does it cost? We will have various packages available including prints and holiday cards! We have a range of packages and pricing, please contact  Melissa@sterlingshelter.org for more information. We will be accepting VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or ATM payment as well as CASH. We do not accept checks or American Express.
     
  • Should I bring a helper with me? If your session involves more than one pet, we suggest you bring along a helper who is personally familiar with your animals. Make sure that person is patient and will not upset or make your pet (or you) nervous or tense. For the benefit of your pet’s well-being, and the successful outcome of the session, we reserve the right to ask disruptive, impatient, negative, or uncooperative people to wait outside the studio during the session time.
     
  • Does my pet need to be washed or groomed before the session? If your pet is regularly groomed, you can plan a visit to the groomer at least one or two days before the session. You pet’s well-being is our concern, therefore, we do not photograph a pet that has been to a groomer on the same day as their session. Often, signs of stress may not be obvious to you, but a visit to the groomer can be extremely stressful for most animals. If your pet does not require regular grooming, then a good brushing before the session is sufficient. Please bring your pet’s own brush or comb. You can also bring a bandanna, a different collar, or a favorite toy as nice accessories in some of the poses!
     
  • How long is the actual session? Very short! We are booking in 10 minutes slots depending on how many pets and/or people you wish to include. We will also need to know that when you book your appointment so we don’t over/under book other families.
     
  • Can I bring treats for my pet? We do not recommend using food during the session, with very rare exceptions (obedience trained pets). Treats and food usually overexcite most pets, making them far more difficult (or even impossible) to work with. When a pet becomes focused on food, a variety of expressions is nearly impossible to achieve. If your pet is stressed, they will usually reject food. We do suggest bringing your pet’s favorite treat(s) in a sealed bag or plastic container for a reward after the session is completed.
     
  • Do you photograph animals other than dogs & cats? Yes, we can also accommodate small pets, such as rabbits, cats, or ferrets.

All the proceeds from our pictures with Santa benefit our pets and programs!
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Together, WE can WIN FOR THE DOGS!

 

 

 

Wonderland Greyhound Park and Raynham Park BOTH REQUIRE a population of over 1,000 dogs to function as gambling enterprises.

 

 

 


Because these tracks require such a large number of dogs, greyhounds ENDURE lives of TERRIBLE CONFINEMENT, kept in small cages barely large enough to stand up or turn around for long hours each day.
Greyhound Protection Act
Vote Yes on 3 in November

Mighty Mouse was a two-year old greyhound who spent her short life racing for profit. Before her untimely death, she lived at a commercial racetrack and endured a life of terrible confinement. Along with hundreds of other dogs, she was kept inside a warehouse style kennel, inside a small, solitary cage, for 20 hours a day.

On January 9, she became the first greyhound to be injured while racing in Massachusetts this year. Rounding the first turn, Mighty Mouse crashed, suffered multiple leg fractures, and died. But sadly, her story is not unique.

Since 2002, over 800 greyhounds have been injured while racing in Massachusetts, including dogs that suffered broken bones, paralysis, seizures, head trauma and death from cardiac arrest.

  • Sean hit a pole and broke his neck.
  • Echo fractured a front leg and was immediately destroyed "at [her] trainer’s request."
  • Die Cut was paralyzed.
  • Mesa Tony was "degloved," the skin of his tail ripped off his body.
  • Hibbert had the right side of his skull crushed in.
  • ...and the list goes on!
Recently, the Committee to Protect Dogs released footage of violent and fatal dog race collisions that took place at Massachusetts racetracks in the past year. The video can be seen on the Committee's website. According to state records, more than 800 greyhounds have been injured while racing in Massachusetts since 2002.

This is why we need your help — NOW — to
phase out greyhound racing in Massachusetts!

On November 4th, voters will have the chance to vote Yes on Question 3 to phase out greyhound racing in the Commonwealth by 2010. This will be a precedent-setting vote; no other state has outlawed greyhound racing when working tracks were in existence. The Greyhound Protection Act, or Question 3, is promoted by the Committee to Protect Dogs, a ballot question committee of which the MSPCA is a major sponsor.

In order to win on November 4th, though, we have a lot of work to do in a short time — and you can help!

  • First and foremost, we need money to produce campaign materials, including TV commercials, which are very important tools to get the message to the voters. The other side has pledged to spend millions to keep greyhound racetracks legal in Massachusetts, so we need to spread the word about the cruelty, such as intense confinement and serious injuries, inherent in this "sport". To make a donation, click here.

If you would like to give more than a monetary donation, there are many ways that you can help with this campaign. Click here for volunteer ideas and materials.

  • For example, you can volunteer on September 16th, at the Massachusetts Primary elections, by displaying a Yes on 3 yard sign and handing out fliers to voters. The people who turn out for the primary are going to turn out on Election Day, too, and we want them to be ready to vote for the dogs in November.
  • You can share materials, including voter registration forms, with friends, neighbors, dog lovers, your veterinarian, your dog-sitter, your groomer, and other local businesses.
  • You can host an event to raise money for the Yes on 3 campaign.

For more information or to discuss your ideas, contact the Committee to Protect Dogs at info@protectdogs.org or 617-666-3526.

Thank you for all you do for the animals - together we can win in November!
 
 
OPEN HOUSE at Lancaster VCA Animal Hospital

Our good friends at the Lancaster VCA Animal Hospital are hosting an open house! Many who have adopted from our Shelter have had the pleasure of visiting the Lancaster VCA for their post adoption exams and medical care. We hope you will join them for their Annual Autumnal Open House on Saturday, October 4th from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

By visiting the hospital for the open house, you will have a great opportunity to meet the wonderful, kind and compassionate doctors and staff that WE at the Shelter love and adore!

Our Shelter is closely affiliated with the VCA Animal Hospitals, and even more so with the Lancaster location! They are only five miles down the road and our Shelter pets often get to visit with the caring staff at the hospital when they need medical work/care that we cannot at our Shelter clinic.

We hope you will all come out to tour the hospital and participate in their activities. Bring the kids for the Teddy Bear Clinic!

» For more info and directions, please contact the VCA Lancaster Animal Hospital:

456 High St. Ext. Suite A
Lancaster, MA 01523
978-368-8363
http://www.VCALancaster.com

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!