Vote now and the Shelter could win a grant that will help us continue helping our pets in need.

Vote for Animal Shelter, Inc. of Sterling and we could win $20,000 to help our pets in need.

1. Go to The Animal Rescue Site website.
2. In the Shelter Name field, enter: Animal Shelter Inc
3. For the Country field, select United States.
4. For the State field, select MA.
5. For the City field, enter: Sterling
6. Click on the Search button.
   One result will be displayed. Follow the instructions to vote today!

This contest started on September 14th and continues through December 20th. VOTE daily and spread the word!  The grand prize is a $20,000 grant with other grants to rescue groups with the most votes—a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations. Think how many animals we could help for $20,000!

Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote ONCE a day, every day, and even set up an automatic reminder to CLICK once daily - from September 14, 2009 through December 20, 2009. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

» Vote today!

Storm or no storm,
the dogs were still
hungry. Sterling
Animal Shelter staff
were on hand to
make sure their
animals were
cared for.

The worst ice storm in decades hit our community in Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire last Dec. 11. Nearly a million homes and businesses throughout New England faced a week or more without electricity in single-digit temperatures after a rare combination of low pressure, moist air, and cold, powerful winds produced a punishing ice storm that swept through the region, felling countless power lines and trees and closing hundreds of roads.

Our shelter—Sterling Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling, Mass.—was smack in the middle of this storm and had a full kennel of 47 dogs and puppies, multiple nursing moms with kittens, and dozens of cats and kittens awaiting adoption. (The puppies had been rescued from Virginia and Tennessee through one of our transport programs.)

» Read more.

We are THRILLED to have professional photographer, Kris Struminsky from Struminsky Photography in Rhode Island as our OFFICIAL photographer!

Do you have questions about the photo session?

100% of the proceeds will benefit our pets and programs.

Holidays are right around the corner and the Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling is already planning for the 3rd Annual Pets & People Photos with Santa. This is a great holiday present and don't forget the family photo! Struminsky Photography has a lifetime of love and respect for animals with over 20 years of professional photographic experience specializing in animal portraiture!

NOT EVERYONE believes in Santa, so we have also made arrangements to have pictures WITHOUT Santa! Contact Melissa for booking info Melissa@sterlingshelter.org or call 978-422-8585 ext. 114.

This year we are bringing Santa to you even BIGGER and BETTER!

We are THRILLED to have professional photographer, Kris Struminsky from Struminsky Photography in Rhode Island as our OFFICIAL photographer! If you’ve ever been to Pet Rock Fest or the Whisker Walk, then you have seen the beautiful work of Kris!

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 and 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 and wonder, and “senior” pets have loyalty, character and 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 will be accepting cash, VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or an ATM payment. 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 and cats? Yes, we can also accommodate small pets such as rabbits, cats, and ferrets.

Please note that 100% of the proceeds from our Pictures with Santa benefit our pets and programs!

Ever planned on buying a perfect, purebred pup from a pet shop? Or maybe you felt sorry for that little fluffy kitten you glimpsed in the window. If so, you've got company. Hundreds of thousands of pets are bought and sold from retail establishments every year.