leg • a • cy

something (as memories) that comes from a person.

Purchase your legacy brick to help pave the path for pets go home again, one brick at a time. Bricks will be placed around our pond for everyone to enjoy. A legacy brick is truly a gift that keeps giving and will continue to help the pets and programs in our Shelter.

Ordering is easy!

1.	Select the brick size – a brick 4" x 8" for $150, OR an 8" x 8" brick for $300. Purchase more than one and get a discount! If you would like to purchase more than one brick, we are offering a discount.
2.	Decide if you would like to add a clip art (picture) to your brick(s) – clip art is free! Provide the clip art # and description, then decide where you would the clip art placed on the brick: 4" x 8" bricks – LEFT OR RIGHT 8" x 8" bricks – TOP OR BOTTOM
3.	Order your brick(s): Order it online through our secure website. Under the "Choose Your Donation Amount", click on the PATH FOR PAWS - ENGRAVED BRICK button.  OR Call the shelter at 978-422-8585 during business hours and provide our staff with the information you would like engraved on your personal legacy brick, OR Print pages 3 and 4 of our Fundraising Brick Campaign and mail it with a check or credit card, and send it to:     THE ANIMAL SHELTER INC     ATTN: LEGACY BRICK PROGRAM     17 LAURELWOOD RD     STERLING MA 01564 We’re placing orders weekly and will be storing the bricks until Spring 2017 when it is warm enough to add them to the PATH FOR PAWS.

Luxating patella (or trick knee, subluxation of patella, floating patella, or floating kneecap) is a condition in which the patella, or kneecap, dislocates or moves out of its normal location.

Meet Brady!

Brady was rescued from Puerto Rico through our All Sato Rescue program. After he arrived, our doctor noticed he wasn’t walking quite right. The Sterling VCA Animal Hospital took x-rays and discovered that he has a luxating patella on his right knee. Poor Brady needs orthopedic surgery, which will cost $2,000 for x-rays, pre-surgery medical, and post surgery care. We are hoping that all our Shelter friends, adopters, supporters, and donors will consider helping us to start the New Year on a happy, healthy note for little boy.

Brady’s currently being fostered by a loving family whose taking very good care of him. Here is a message from his foster mom:

I have never had such a delightful companion, Leigh. I say “I” only because I am writing….he is TRULY a FAMILY JOY. He absolutely cannot get enough loving, nor can he give enough. Yet, when something needs to get done and he cannot be involved or be in the area, I/we just gently relocate him and explain that it’s only for a little bit…and he waits patiently. When we return for him, he just goes crazy with the tail, kisses, hugs, rollovers, etc. Being a rescue dog, we have insured that he has had one of us at home with him 20 out of 24 hrs. He has never been left alone for more than a two-hour span.

The focus has been on building trust and bonds. He was so afraid, then timid during the initial weeks we’d been fostering him….everything was baby steps. But he is blossoming into a pup who wants to go outside for walks…hops when his knee “sticks”, wants to play hide the reindeer, will eat absolutely wherever we are (on a trail, at relatives, out running errands), and loves to sniff out and chase down chipmunks/bunnies/etc. (the hound in him). He sleeps with one of us every night and I think loves it more than we do….if that’s possible. We love him….can you tell!

We hope the Shelter's supporters will help you raise the money needed so that Brady can get his much needed surgery and he will then fully be able to run around and play like any puppy wants and deserves to do. We will be dedicated to fostering Brady throughout his care and recovery. Thank you. Lori – aka Brady’s foster mom

If you’d like to help US help Brady start his new life and year off with a healthy knee so he can run and play like all puppies deserve to by:

• Donating online through our secure website, enter the amount and under the Special Purpose "I want my donation to be dedicated to", enter Brady's New Knee, or
• Calling the Shelter at 978-422-8585 during business hours, or
• Mailing a donation to:
      ANIMAL SHELTER INC
      ATTN: BRADY KNEE SURGERY
      17 LAURELWOOD RD
      STERLING MA  01564

ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE – our EIN # for TAX PURPOSES is 04-3236868. Donations made:

• Online will automatically generate a receipt for your taxes
• By calling or mailing, receipts will be mail to the address your provide

Additionally, any donations of $100+ can select a Sterling Shelter Supporter Swag item (bumper stickers, window decals, travel mugs, key-chains). Just a small token of our appreciation and way to thank you for helping Brady.

fos • ter

vb (tr)

1. to promote the growth or development of

2. to bring up (a small pet, etc); rear

3. to cherish (hope, etc.) in one's spirit and mind

Sign up to become one of the Shelter's Foster Care Pet Parent. Being a foster pet parent is such a rewarding experience and a wonderful way you can help our Shelter and the pets. Our Shelter is always in great need of foster homes – especially for puppies and dogs. Generally, puppies or dogs need foster homes and just some TLC – some for a week and some for a bit longer. When we can place these “special pets” into foster homes, it helps us collect valuable information from the foster family about their behaviors and personality.

• They may be recovering from a specific surgery, such as an orthopedic surgery like Brady (above) who is waiting for his knee surgery.
• Pets who might just need some time to rest, recover and get some TLC
• Puppies/dogs might need someone to provide some socializing and just lots of love and attention.
• Litter of kittens with or without moms that are to small / to young to be spayed/neutered and adopted until they are older.
• Babies pets who need bottle feeding if there is no mom or mom can’t let them nurse for whatever reason.
• Socializing of our kittens/cats

Either way, our Shelter is always in great need of foster families and are grateful to all our past, present and future foster families!!!! We can’t thank you enough for your TLC and support.

The Foster Family Program was established in January 2006. Each year our Shelter receives hundreds of pets that are not immediately suitable for adoption. Pets that might be in need of medical care / treatment, socialization, behavioral evaluations and training, or may be too young to be spayed/neutered and sheltered for adoption at our facility. Our foster care families each have a niche to provide a life-saving option for pets that would otherwise be left as strays on the street, euthanized for behavior or medical reasons and passed over for potential adoption. Many of our foster families have a “specialty” within the foster program – from feral feline rehabilitation, providing basic medical care and treatments, capability of evaluating and modifying behavioral issues or just a loving, warm, safe environment to allow our juvenile animals to grow in to young dogs/cats.

The number lives saved from our foster program from 2010 to 2014 totals 803 lives!

Interested in fostering?

• Call the Shelter at 978-422-8585 during business hours
• Print and complete the Foster Application, then submit the completed application:
  • Scan and email to staff@sterlingshelter.org, or
  • Fax to 978-422-8574, or
  • Mail to:
        ANIMAL SHELTER INC
        ATTN: FOSTER FAMILY PROGRAM
        17 LAURELWOOD RD
        STERLING MA  01564

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!