Friday Vaccine Clinics

Due to popular demand, the shelter will be offering a low cost affordable vaccine clinic for dogs and cats, starting December 3, 2021. This will be open to the public from (hours published in sign up form) and will run continuously every Friday until further notice.

Availability will be on a first come first serve basis. We will be practicing a Covid friendly process. All participants are asked to arrive at the shelter and remain in their vehicle until a staff member comes to your car to help you.

These clinics will be strictly vaccine and minor testing services (see the website for more details). These clinics are not intended to replace regular veterinarian procedures and check ups. We will not be able to examine or consult on other pet-related medical conditions.

In addition to selected services fees, there will be a $25 admin charge per pet.

Registering for the Vaccine clinic is a 2-step process:

1. Select a date and time in our Calendar App.
2. After submitting the date and time, you will be redirected to enter your pets details.

Happy woof, woof, meow, meow!

I’m going to apologize in advance for the bluntness of this message, but it’s time to get down to some cold hard numbers.  Not enough people are donating to local organizations. We know COVID 19 has hurt everyone, but WE need YOU (OUR supporters/adopters/clinic clients) now more than ever – as do all the other small non-profit organizations. We truly hope, in the spirit of the holidays and Good Will to ALL, that you will consider donating to YOUR favorite local non-profit organization. 

The adoption fees that WE charge (when we have animals), help cover expenses and not much else.  We know that may be hard to believe, but considering that it costs $150 or more PER PET to transport to our location, the amount of medical care we provide for these animals before we adopt them out, it is not long before expenses go well above our adoption fees.

• Donations needed - check out our official Amazon wishlist 

• Support the shelter - check out all the ways you can help the shelter – many are FREE 

The holiday season is upon us, and many pet parents plan to include their furry companions in the festivities. As you gear up for the holidays, it is important to try to keep your pet's eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. Also, please be sure to steer pets clear of the following unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations.

Be Careful with Seasonal Plants and Decorations

• Oh, Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water—which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upset—from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria, and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhea should he imbibe.
  
• Avoid Mistletoe & Holly: Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats if ingested. Opt for just-as-jolly artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.

• Tinsel-less Town: Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching "toy" that's easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It's best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.

• That Holiday Glow: Don't leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the room, put the candle out!

• Wired Up: Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus, while shards of breakable ornaments can damage your pet's mouth and digestive tract.
  

Avoid Holiday Food Dangers

• Skip the Sweets: By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which an enterprising pet will go to chomp on something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food, and be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.

• Leave the Leftovers: Fatty, spicy and no-no human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won't lead to costly medical bills.

• Careful with Cocktails: If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.

• Selecting Special Treats: Looking to stuff your pet's stockings? Stick with chew toys that are basically indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible. Long, stringy things are a feline's dream, but the most risky toys for cats involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines, often necessitating surgery. Surprise kitty with a new ball that's too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer.
  

Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page for more information.

Plan a Pet-Safe Holiday Gathering

• House Rules: If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention and exercise while you're busy tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.

• Put the Meds Away: Make sure all of your medications are locked behind secure doors, and be sure to tell your guests to keep their meds zipped up and packed away, too.

• A Room of Their Own: Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to—complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.

• New Year's Noise: As you count down to the new year, please keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat's intestines, if ingested, perhaps necessitating surgery. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears. And remember that many pets are also scared of fireworks, so be sure to secure them in a safe, escape-proof area as midnight approaches.

Share our holiday safety tips with others! Download this shareable PDF for your friends and family.

Give that purr-fect gift that keeps on giving!!

What kind of dog are you?

Get your starter kit today!

Gifts and
donations.

If you are like most people, you will be stressing over WHAT IN THE WORLD you're going to get your family, friends and co-workers this holiday season. Maybe you would even like to get something for yourself? Let us help! We have LOTS of great ideas!!

1. Purchase a DNA test kit! Did you ever want to know what that MIXED breed is? Well, now all it takes is 2-3 weeks and you will be able to tell people who ask YOU'VE GOT A BAGLE (basset/beagle), HUSKAHERD (husky/shepherd), LABRAHOUND (lab/hound) or some other "designer pooch." You can buy a DNA test kit at the shelter OR order through our secure online site.

2. Is someone on your list looking to add a new family member or does your furry friend need some holiday gifts – you can’t forget your canine and feline family members! We also sell gift certificates that can be used for anything in our retail area or towards an adoption fee. (Please note, we do NOT allow gift adoptions, and adopters must meet our adoption requirements).

3. We sell feline starter kits and canine starter kits that come with everything you will need, and much more! We offer these kits at a lower price than what you would pay in a retail store. PLUS 100% of the sales benefit our shelter pets and programs. Visit our shelter and check out our inexpensive retail items that range from pet beds to Kongs. We have all sorts of fun stuff for pets and people at a much LOWER COST than pet and retail stores! Stock up now on those great stocking stuffers.

4. Show YOUR STERLING SHELTER SUPPORT with t-shirts, travel mugs, or window clings. You can buy these at the shelter OR order through our secure online site.

5. Make a donation in honor/memory of a person/pet. We will mail the honoree an acknowledgement that you donated to the shelter in their honor. Make a direct monetary donation or consider our Recurring Giving Program where a lot of small donations every month, really adds up for our organization. Only .33 cents a day ($10 a month) can help our pets all year long.

Happy Howl-idays!

Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season!

Thank you from ALL our
staff and volunteers!

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!