HO, HO, HO

+

WOOF, WOOF, WOOF

or

MEOW, MEOW, MEOW

=

Holiday Pictures
with Santa

Santa will be at the Sterling Shelter on Saturday, November 2nd 2019 for our 8th Annual Pet (& People) photos!

Book your appointment now!

Santa is coming back to town and wants photos with your pet(s)! Family members are welcome to pose with their pet(s) in the photos, too. Who can believe the holidays are right around the corner? We can! That’s why we’re already planning for Santa Pet Portraits and Holiday Cards that make great holiday presents and family photos/memories. If you are interested in having PROFESSIONAL photos taken, make sure to set up your appointment TODAY. We are booking up quick. Please note, you did NOT have to adopt your pet from our shelter to participate in our this pet picture opportunity.

When	Saturday - November 2, 2019
Time	10 AM - 5 PM (appointment times are every 10 minutes)
Where	The Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling 17 Laurelwood Road, Sterling, MA 978-422-8585 All dogs must be ON A LEASH (no retractable leashes, please). Cats/small animals must be in a carrier. Please do not bring aggressive pets.
Information	Sniffin' for more information on package pricing or to book your family photo shoot? Contact us.
Pricing	This year we are making it simple. There is a onetime $25 sitting fee due at the time of your appointment. You will have the options to buy any packages/prints/hundreds of options all with the photo/s of your choice.
Details	Our volunteer photographer will set up a website for all photos (Shutterfly or similar) for families to order the exact picture they like best! These sites give you hundreds of options for using your photos from Holiday Cards to blankets, calendars, mugs, and apparel. You can use your photos to print to just about anything you can imagine!

Frequently Asked Questions

• My pet doesn't sit still – can you really photograph him/her?
  
  Photographing animals is a very difficult art. We pride ourselves on our patience and 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 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 (see the table above) including prints and holiday cards. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, ATM payment, and 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?
  
  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, and ferrets. 100% of the proceeds from our Pictures with Santa benefit our pets and programs! .

100% of the proceeds from our pictures with Santa will benefit our pets and programs! Thank you for your support!

While you are at the shelter, stop by the office to check out all the great inexpensive gift ideas fo ryour friends, family and coworkers. There are some great gifts for "Secret Santa" events. We have a variety of items for both pets and people!

For the hard to pick a present for, we also sell GIFT CERTIFICATES, which can be used towards adoption fees, pet supplies, tee shirts, key chains, travel mugs, decals and magnets or in our retail area!

Have you
heard of
wooftrax.com?

Don’t just take your dog for a walk, take your Walk for a Dog!

Go to WoofTrax.com to download the app and support our animal shelter (we are listed as STERLING ANIMAL SHELTER INC) every time you walk your dog. You do NOT even have to have a dog, if you walk/exercise you can STILL participate! In addition, you didn’t have to adopt your dog(s) from our shelter. You can still help our shelter raise money just by walking. Feel free to share this with others who like to get out and walk/exercise.

Have you seen our Amazon wishlist?

Currently, our furry friends are in desperate need of bleach and paper towels. Please check our Amazon wishlist and consider donating an item or two to help us keep our furry friends clean and healthy!

Help us help them.

What are some other ways to suppor the shelter to ensure our furry friends stay warm, happy, healthy and comfortable?

1. Join our recurring giving program where you can choose HOW much and HOW often to donate automatically. What Is Recurring Giving? A recurring gift is when a donor gives repeatedly to an organization, usually at an interval of once per month. The giver chooses how much they contribute and they can suspend or end their donations at any time. Nonprofits in all cause sectors have been fundraising with recurring giving programs for decades. Part of what makes monthly giving so important is that it is predictable. Many organizations operate under constant financial uncertainty. With economic flux and the constant need to apply and reapply for grants, nonprofits often can’t count on the same large disbursements year-over-year. Think of your own personal finances. Like many people, you probably budget based on your monthly income. What if you only received paychecks three or four times each year? And they weren’t even at regular intervals? And you didn’t know how much you would receive? You wouldn’t be able to plan or budget for anything. Recurring giving provides a sort of monthly income to nonprofits like OURS and helps us to sustain and grow our work over time.
   
   
2. Create your own Facebook fundraiser through our Facebook page. Simply create a fundraiser for Sterling Animal Shelter. Share it with your friends, family, co-workers and supporters and then encourage them to help you raise money on Facebook.
   Tip: Check with your company to see if they have any MATCHING DONATION PROGRAMS and double the money you raise!!

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!