Solomon Pond Mall is conveniently located at the intersection of Routes 495 and 290 in Marlborough, MA.

(508) 303-6255

What is the Evening of Giving? It is a special, private evening of shopping from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for customers who have DONATED $8 per ticket — totally tax-deductible! — to peruse all the shops in the mall for huge discounts JUST for this fundraising event. Almost all the stores are offering discounts for purchases within their stores. Perfect timing for Holiday shopping!

Did you know...

When the term jack-o'-lantern first appeared in print in 1750, it referred to a night watchman or a man carrying a lantern.

 

The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling wants to remind people with companion animals that Halloween can be a really frightening holiday for pets. While adults and children alike enjoy the costumes and candy, these things can actually distress or endanger a companion animal.  Dogs and cats rely on daily routine.  When that routine is disrupted by lots of noise and commotion, like trick-or-treaters ringing the doorbell or lots of strangers in unusual clothes in their house, pets can become frightened or agitated. It’s best to keep pets at a safe distance from the festivities.

To help people keep their pets safe at Halloween, The Shelter recommends taking these precautions:

• Keep pets safely inside, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. This will ensure that pets won’t become frightened or feel threatened at the sight of noisy costumed children. Cats, especially black ones, may be the target of pranksters. In addition, frequently opened doors provide a perfect opportunity for escape, which can go unnoticed during all of the commotion. Be sure all pets are wearing collars with ID tags in case of accidental escape.
  
• Keep candy out of your pet’s reach. Candy can be harmful to pets and chocolate is toxic to cats, dogs, and ferrets.
   
• Keep pets away from decorations. Flames in jack-o-lanterns and candles can quickly singe, burn or set fire to a pet’s fur. Pets can become tangled in hanging decorations like streamers and can choke on some decorations if they chew on them.
   
• Resist the urge to put your furry friend in costume. Most pets dislike the confinement of costumes and masks, and flowing capes can cause injuries if pets get caught on something.
   
• Don’t bring the family dog along for trick-or-treating. Dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the festivities. A lost dog or dog bite will quickly end your Halloween fun.

So please, Keep your pet safe in an enclosed area with a toy and soothing music. Resist the urge to include your pet in your Halloween activities, and everyone can enjoy the holiday.

Want to help our shelter, but don't know how?

Spread the word about Animal Shelter Inc.!

Email us at staff@sterlingshelter.org and we will email you a flyer and/or poster that you can print and post in your break room, church, school, local restaurants, stores malls, or other location.

THANK YOU
for your support!

Our shelter always needs volunteers...and here are just a few of the benefits of volunteering:

• Be part of the solution. You'll join a network of hundreds of thousands of people working to make the world safe and more humane for all living creatures. You'll make the jobs of everyone working for animals a little easier by lending a hand and spreading the message of responsible pet ownership.
   
• Get warm fuzzies. You'll never find a more grateful and accepting comrade than an animal you have comforted.
  Who can't use another loyal support in life?
  
• Keep good company. You'll make lots of new friends—and not just the four-legged kind. Working side by side with people who share similar interests can forge lifelong friendships.
   
• Meet the new you. You'll discover skills you never knew you had, and you may be surprised at what you're capable of achieving.
   
• Gain a new career. You'll learn things that may lead you to the career—or career change—of your dreams. Employers and college admissions officers look favorably on time spent in volunteer service.
   
• Enjoy a wagging tail, a purr and a smile. Didn't someone once say that the best things in life are free?

Print this newsletter and call Good Dogs School of Obedience at 978-422-8574 and receive $10 off your doggie training.

The Shelter handles everything from basic obedience and common problems to separation anxiety, housebreaking, and food and object possession. Our professional trainer will evaluate your individual situation and give it the personal attention it deserves.
Call 978-500-0065.

Adopters always ask our shelter staff, “Is he/she trained?”  Our response is “expect the worst and hope for the best.”  A new dog is a full-time commitment and you should expect and allow for accidents before your new best friend no longer soils or damages anything in your home. Your new pet needs your time and your patience so that he/she will learn what is expected of him/her in order to build a relationship based on mutual respect for one another. This is why training is so important. It helps YOU become a better owner and helps the dog become a better dog. The more time, effort and energy you spend with your dog, the better the outcome. Very similar to raising children! 

Take action for our animal companions!

Help save more animals by applying for your AnimalSafe MasterCard today.

The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling very much appreciates your generous and continuing support for our efforts to save and care for homeless and abused animals. Now, we have a simple and easy new way you can provide more support without any additional cost to you!  The attached files contain an Application for an AnimalSafe MasterCard (Action For Animals and Morris) and information about the program. By applying for and using the AnimalSafe MasterCard, you will automatically earn additional income for The Sterling Animal Shelter. Help our shelter with a Shelter Supporter Credit Card!

The application can be printed with your computer, filled out, and mailed to the bank. It is a PDF file, which can be opened with an Adobe Acrobat Reader (click on the underlined words while you are online and follow the directions).  If you do not have an Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download a reader at no cost to you. If you have a version of Acrobat Reader earlier than Version 5, it may not work and you will have to download an upgrade (at no cost).

Please apply today for an AnimalSafe MasterCard. You will be helping to save so many more animals, and it won't cost you anything extra to do it. If you are using any credit card, you should be using the one that provides income for the Sterling Animal Shelter rather than just profit for a bank.  The Sterling Animal Shelter earns an immediate fee of $10 when you receive your AnimalSafe MasterCard and use it for the first time. We also earn 0.1% on all monthly purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers you make. There is no annual fee for the cards. The interest rate (APR) for the first six months is 5.9%. Thereafter, it is a fixed rate of 14.9%.