Dozens of animal rescue groups, pet related vendors, manufacturers, and sponsors come together for an “event not to be missed” for pet lovers.

Wanna Help but Can't Make it to the Whisker Walk?

Do you want to help the Shelter but can't make it to the Whisker Walk? You can make an online donation on our Pets and Programs website. You could mail a check to our Shelter made payable to "Animal Shelter Inc - Whisker Walk donation". We will be happy to send you a tax receipt! For donations of $25 or more, we will also send you a Whisker Walk tee shirt—make sure you include your shirt size with your donation!

What's a Whisker Walk?

It is a lot of things, but mostly it is a FREE and fun event for families and their dogs. There is also a dog walk-a-thon fundraiser to benefit our Shelter, as well as other New England-based shelters and rescue groups that participate. Each shelter and rescue group is encouraged to get their adopters and supporters to participate in the event. It is a lot of fun and thousands of people and their dogs join in the fun each year.

The 2009 Whisker Walk brought in almost a 100 animal-related rescue groups, and pet-related vendors, manufacturers, and sponsors for a one of a kind event not to be missed for pet lovers. The 2010 Whisker Walk is sure to be bigger and better!

The event is held at the Lancaster Fairground in Lancaster, MA (Route 117) also known as the Home of the Bolton Fair. There are 50+ acres for pet owners and animal lovers to enjoy. The fairground is easily accessible from all over New England. Come see exhibits, demonstrations, educational programs, special attractions, product giveaways, entertainment, auctions and raffles, food, fun and things for adults and kids to see, do and buy—both human and pet related!

» For more information, visit our website.
» Click here to read about the 2009 event.

Vote for the
America's Top Dog!

Vote now for America's Next Top Dog!
» Take a look at the photos and vote for America's Top Dog!

Contact your state legislators and let them know your opinion!

H. 3703 and H. 3704 (these are identical bills) would give the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) the authority to make regulations regarding all aspects of 501(c)(3) shelters and rescues, "regarding the transfer of ownership of domestic animals, including but not limited to their importation, transportation, housing and medical treatment". This bill would allow a lot more areas to be regulated than the emergency order does -- and has the potential to impact pretty much any aspect of sheltering. These bills were filed by the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Owners (MassFed) and/or some of their members. According to the website, this organization says it represents "dog clubs and responsible dog owners" and seeks to protect the hobby/sport of breeding and exhibiting dogs. Their website can be found at www.massfeddogs.org.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

Contact your own state legislators (you can find out who they are at www.wheredoivotema.com; look for rep and senator in General Court). Let them know your opinion! This bill is very broad and shelters and rescues are targeted, not the many other entities that handle animals – breeders, daycares, groomers, etc. Shelters and rescues are currently more regulated than these other entities and shouldn’t be the sole focus of unlimited regulation. Don’t just say “shelters shouldn't be regulated" but explain what you do, how you help the community, your worries that this bill could change that, and that this bill unfairly singles out shelters and rescues. Speaking professionally and explaining how you carry out your work safely and responsibly, is important!

WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?

Make sure that your legislators know the bill numbers and title (H. 3703 and H. 3704, An Act Relative to the Regulations of Animal Shelters). Let them know your opinion - if you have concerns, if you think it is too broad, if you wonder why only shelters and rescues are dealt with, if you have suggestions to change or amend it, if you agree with the idea and want to amend it, etc. If you oppose it or part of it, say why. For example, just being opposed to it or saying "shelters shouldn't be regulated" will likely not resonate as much as explaining your concerns, explaining what you do, how you help the community, your worries that this bill could change that, and whether you feel this unfairly singles out shelters and rescues. Speaking professionally and explaining how you carry out your work safely and responsibly, is important.

Ultimately, what you say depends on you, of course. As we mentioned above, MAC is a diverse group with varying opinions and focuses, but we do know this bill could impact most of you.
 

Please ask your friends, family, coworkers—everyone you know who cares about animals—to join you in signing the pledge to stop this cycle of cruelty.

Animal Planet airs a special program on Monday, May 17, at 10 p.m. EST/PST exposing the grim connection between puppy mills and pet stores.

"Animal Planet Investigates: Petland" features unseen footage from some of The HSUS's puppy mill investigations and interviews with our puppy mill experts. While revealing the heartbreaking deception behind puppy mill puppies, the program showcases the efforts to crack down on puppy mills and expose the hidden nature of the industry.

Please sign the pledge, urge your friends to join you in signing the pledge, and watch the show!

» Please take the pledge to stop puppy mills!

Consider becoming a Kitty Foster Parent and Family!

Kitten season is in full swing at the Shelter and we are throwing a "Rest-of-the-Summer Baby Shower" to help gather the supplies that we so desperately need. For those who don’t know about kitten season— when we see high volumes of kittens—it is the period between spring and fall.

The average size of a litter is 4-6 kittens, and sadly, one female adult cat can produce up to 18 kittens per season! The numbers are tragically high. Kittens are born in to an already overpopulated world. There simply aren’t enough homes for them all. One cat and her offspring in only seven years can produce 420,000 cats!

Many of the kittens brought to our Shelter are found by good Samaritans under decks and in yards without a mother cat. Though we certainly get our fair share of "offspring" from planned and unplanned litters, PLEASE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SPAY AND NEUTER to help us end this vicious cycle.

Upon coming to the Shelter, most of these kittens need extra special care before they are big enough, old enough, or healthy enough to be spayed/neutered and adopted out. Our Shelter utilizes Foster Homes to care for these kitties needing extra special TLC and our foster families are kind loving people who care for our orphaned kittens (and sometimes moms with kittens), in their homes until they are ready for final medical care and adoption.

Foster Homes

Our Shelter is ALWAYS IN NEED of foster homes and sadly some cats and kittens have to be turned away from our Shelter because we can't accept and house very small, young, and sick kittens. They are immunosuppresed and at risk to become sick, or if they are sick (normally upper respiratory or eye/ear infections), they could potentially spread it to our healthy felines.

Should we have kittens surrendered that aren't big enough or healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, they are isolated, vet checked, vaccinated, weighed and given appropriate medical care and within 24-48 hours are placed in foster homes.

If you and your family (everyone has to be on board!) might be interested in fostering for the Shelter, please contact Melissa at melissa@sterlingshelter.org or call 978-422-8585 ext 114 for more details.

Our foster families are vital and very important (and very special to our staff!!!) to our kitten program and thanks to these loving foster families have saved over 500 felines in on the past couple of years...these are felines that would otherwise have an uncertain fate.

Kitten Shower Items

• Non-clumping cat litter
• Science Diet canned AD food
• Kitten bottles (60 mL size)
• Canned kitten/cat food
• KMR (powdered kitten milk replacer)
• Cat toys
• Soft blankets
• Liquid hand sanitizer (Purell)
• Bleach
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Dish soap
• Medium and large dog crates
• Litter scoopers
• Low-sided litter boxes
• Paper plates and paper towels

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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!