Photo by Kayla Shults

By Kayla Shults and Elsie Boskamp
News Editor and Contributing Writer

What was once an overgrown plot of land on Warner Road in Huntington is now a sanctuary complete with wagging tails and barking breeds.  Opening just last month, the 1.5 acre dog park is Little Shelter Animal Rescue’s latest endeavor to help socialize their pups and increase adoption rates.

“Not only will the new park enhance the six acres of property at Little Shelter, it will also enhance the lives of the dogs, and for that we couldn’t be happier,” Maryann Chernovsky, volunteer president of Little Shelter, said in a statement.

Officials agree, that for homeless dogs living in kennels and animal shelters throughout Long Island, the opportunity to increase their chances of adoption while exercising and playing in a safe outdoor environment, is worthwhile.

Although local homeless pet populations have improved since the late 1990’s due to increased education efforts throughout the Northeast, animal abandonment and abuse continue to be issues that rescue centers face in getting animals adopted.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (ASPCA), there are about 13,600 independent animal shelters nationwide, and approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter those shelters every year. From that number, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.

“Due to a poor economy, many animals are being turned into shelters in our community or having to go without necessary veterinary care or are simply being abandoned,” David Ceely, executive director of Little Shelter, said.  “Little Shelter’s mission, as a private no-kill shelter, is to bring those animals to our safe haven animal rescue organization and find them carefully screened, loving homes where they can spend the rest of their lives.”

Dog parks, like the one at Little Shelter, are just some of the various methods and programs shelter officials use in finding thousands of rescued, abused or homeless Long Island animals forever homes.  The proper care and treatment of animals, as well as promotions, events and the internet also play a large role in the adoption process.

“Social media has helped our organization tremendously,” Ceely said.  “As an everyday outreach tool it gets every story and our name out there on a daily basis, no matter how large or small the effort.”

And Loretta Rinaldo, president and founder of Forgotten Friends of Long Island, echoed that statement. “Social media is a wonderful way to get animals out and seen,” Rinaldo said. “When you put a pet up on Facebook you’re not only seeing the animal but recognizing the name of the rescue.”

Dozens of Long Island animal rescue centers, including the Hempstead Town Animal Shelter in Hempstead, Last Chance Animal Rescue in Southampton and the Kent Animal Shelter in Calverton, use Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to identify and establish their organization in efforts of finding foster care and securing dog adoptions.

Rescue organizations like Forgotten Friends also rely on pet supply stores like Petsmart in Babylon, N.Y. and Petco in Hicksville, N.Y. to hold events that allow members of the community to see animals that are up for adoption.

“When people are out shopping and they can see or hold the animals, it makes people want to adopt,” Rinaldo said. “They can socialize, or see and kiss the animals that are up for adoption.”

However, finding families and individuals willing to adopt is only the first step.

“All animals are spayed or neutered, microchipped, checked for fleas and parasites, dewormed and given vaccinations,” Diane Mancher, an adoptions coordinator at the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, said.  “They are then evaluated by our behaviorist to determine personality.  Each animal is evaluated individually before they are cleared for adoption depending on medical and behavioral needs.”

The Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons and dozens of shelters and rescue centers across the Island pride themselves on following strict procedures regarding the proper treatment of animals and the correct path to adoption.

“We try to ensure that each animal is given adequate housing and that there is always enough staff to cover the needs of all animals,” Mancher said.

At Little Shelter Animal Rescue, where 98 percent of all animals originate from high-kill shelters, adoption policies include age restrictions, required meet-and-greets and the approval from personal references and landlords of interested individuals and families.

Similarly, Forgotten Friends gets a large majority of their dogs and cats from overwhelmed shelters, including many from New York City and the Town of Hempstead, that do not have enough space for the animals.

Such high standards and in-depth screenings are also in place at the North Shore Animal League of America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue organization and adoption center located in Port Washington, N.Y.

“Our adoption screening process is designed to ensure that each animal is placed with a responsible person, one that’s prepared to make a lifelong commitment,” the North Shore Animal League of America states on their website.  “Our first priority is to consider every animal’s best interests.”

The league has saved more than one million animals through the adoption process.  Many of these animals were matched with families and individuals through the rescue center’s mobile adoption program, their local and global adoption events and their widespread use of social media and online promotions.

As shelters across Long Island and the nation continue to implement new programs aimed at adopting homeless and rescued animals, shelter officials encourage the public to help combat the issues of animal abandonment and abuse.

“People can always help by volunteering at or donating to animal rescue organizations,” Ceely said.  “They can also help by spreading the word about adopting and spaying or neutering.  Never shop for an animal, always adopt – every animal that is purchased or bred takes a home away from an animal waiting in a shelter,” Ceely said.

To help combat this issue, Rinaldo says that people looking to adopt must remember that getting an animal is a lifelong commitment.

“The animals come with feelings. They have hearts and souls and need to know that they are safe. They’re not disposable and can’t be taken for a short amount of time and then returned when it isn’t working out,” Rinaldo said. “These animals have to be a part of the family and be taken care of as a part of the family.”