I recently adopted Clara, now Marge, and it was the most seamless amazing process! I came in, fell in love and she left with me. Every single one of your volunteers and employees were polite, informative and just amazing. Marge is…
We met Sandy and Joanne when they came into the shelter seeking help for their dog Baby Girl who had just given birth to three puppies. They received Baby Girl from another person who didn’t want her any longer, probably…
One of the greatest joys of the holiday season is getting together with family and friends. Visitors may come in from out-of-town or we may even travel ourselves to visit loved ones. Holiday parties, with lots of food and drinks, are…
No time of year is more beautiful than the holidays. Lights, greenery and decorations of all kinds turn our mundane worlds into something magical. The wonder of the season appeals not only to humans but also to our furry friends as…
The holiday season is a festive time with celebrations of all kinds. This is a time of joy and cheer, but nothing can ruin your holiday spirit like a trip to the emergency vet. Whether you are celebrating at home or traveling…
With our fiscal year coming to a close and another one beginning, there is a lot happening and a lot to be excited about. The major annual fundraiser was another success. Our partners at VSAS recently hired a volunteer coordinator.…
Supporting the senior pets we know and love is just another phase in the human-animal relationship. Many people express concerns about how to navigate the aging process with their pet, but just like with aging people, we can approach this…
This is Ouija. He was originally Abner when he adopted me on March 18th, 2017. I’m an avid animal lover and almost as much a Halloween lover. I was going through the mid-20s blues: had just moved to Rochester two…
We adopted Avril, an approximately 1-year-old stray, from Rochester Animal Services in April of 2018 and she completed a missing piece of our family’s puzzle. She’s loving, she’s silly, she’s mouthy and she has the sad face mastered! We can’t…
For people in underserved communities, access to veterinary care is a major challenge. Often, even the lowest cost option available is out of reach. Rochester Animal Services’ Pets for Life (PFL) program is addressing this lack of accessibility by providing…
After seeing "Ghost" on the Rochester Animal Services website looking so handsome in his Christmas hat and scarf, we fell in love. We met with Kim at Petco in Pittsford the next day and our love grew. We took Ghost…
We are excited that Rochester Animal Services has been chosen to be an official Pets for Life (PFL) Mentorship Partner. As I have mentioned in previous newsletters, we commenced door-to-door outreach in September 2016 and have been increasingly focused on…
LOVE is in the air!!!!! There is no better gift than love and giving and receiving that love can come in a myriad of ways. And there is a great need in our community for spreading love. This is our…
By Shireen Haynes Did you know that Rochester Animal Services often have rabbits available for adoption? Rabbits make wonderful pets. As with adopting any animal, it’s best to do your homework first. Rabbits are social and inquisitive creatures. They like…
By Grace Spampinato and Shireen Haynes There are many benefits of reading for children. Reading helps to improve vocabulary and language skills. As children read, they learn words, sentence structure and new ways to use their words in both speaking…
When people hear the word “agility” most of the time a dog in the midst of a time trial comes to mind. Or in my case, a vision of a Mastiff doing the weave pole. (Check out thebark.com.) However, since…
Download the Shelter Animals Count: October - December 2018
The Director’s Cut I recently had a conversation with someone who told me that she could not visit the shelter because it would be too sad and she would want to take all of the dogs home. Over the years,…
Calling all volunteers! VSAS is looking for people who want to share some of their talents to support a mission of helping Rochester’s animals. Are you creative? Well our furry or sometimes not so furry friends could use your skills.…
This is my Bodhi. Summer 2016, Bodhi, (fka Maximus), came to me as a foster, through the rescue I work with. Bodhi has experienced the worst of humanity, (he was used as a bait dog), yet is THE happiest, lovingest…
In 2012 I was happily volunteering for Rochester Animal Services. I specifically chose to work with the dogs because I knew that I didn’t have the time or the lifestyle for a dog, and I didn’t want to be tempted…
Adopt a Senior Pet Month By Shireen Haynes November is “Adopt a Senior Pet Month” and we couldn’t be more excited about it! Our goal is to decrease the stigma attached to adopting a senior animal and let as many…
Making a Difference in Dogs' Lives By Grace Spampinato When you adopt one dog from a shelter, you can really make a difference and help two – your new forever friend and the other dog that get its kennel space.…
Finders is Not Keepers By Shireen Haynes Good news! You were able to contain that stray dog running down the street or the cat that keeps sleeping on your front porch. Now what? Do you think, “Hey, this dog/cat is…
The Director’s Cut Summer 2018 It was a busy spring as usual with increased shelter intakes, planning and execution of our fun-filled annual event The Fast & The Furriest®, and the closeout of another fiscal year. In May, I had…
Hello and welcome to another beautiful season full of outdoor events, travel and adventure! We hope you and all the members of your family (regardless of leg count), find themselves healthy, happy and well! As we find ourselves out and…
Click here to download the Asilomar Animal Statistics for April - June 2018. Click here to download the Shelter Animals Count for April - June 2018.
Victoria, the Cat Who Almost Used Up Her Nine Lives By Shireen Haynes In September 2017, a tiny, flea-infested, four-week-old kitten who was brought in alone found herself in the care of Rochester Animal Services. At that time, Victoria weighed…
The Do’s and Don’ts of Dog Parks By Shireen Haynes As the weather warms up, many people are looking for activities they can enjoy outdoors with their dog. Dog parks are just one option. Official dog parks are sections of…
Hiking with Your Dog Shireen Haynes Summertime is a nice time to be outside and active. Our area offers many fabulous county parks and, within driving distance, some great state parks as well. Hiking is a wonderful activity that you…
"I came to the shelter in January just to look at the dogs. When I saw Sully, he had the sweetest face and I knew I wanted to bring him home. After having the chance to play with Sully in…
"This is Tigger. We went to Rochester Animal Services to adopt a dog, but the one we wanted was already adopted. (I promised my husband we would ONLY look at that one dog.) Our boys asked if we could adopt…
2018 Fast and Furriest® By Shireen Haynes On Saturday, June 2, 2018, Rochester Animal Services (RAS) and Verona Street Animal Society held their annual fundraiser, The Fast & The Furriest®. The 10K and 5K races attracted more than 600 runners.…
The Director’s Cut Spring 2018 Love your dog – get a license. In addition to having your pet spayed or neutered, licensing your dog is the single greatest thing you can do to support animal care and control in our…
Spring 2018 It's every pet owner’s worst fear.... a door is open, a screen is clawed through, the back gate is ajar and your beloved pet isn't anywhere. You search high and low calling their name, shake the favorite treat…
Many thanks to our friends at Harris Beach PLLC, Attorneys at Law for raising over $500 for Verona St. Animal Society. They also held a cutest pet contest and as you can see, Lucy is definitely a winner! Lucy is…
Introducing a New Pet to Your Home By Shireen Haynes As spring and summer approach, many people are inclined to introduce a new pet to their home. The increased daylight hours and warm sunshine put everyone in a nice frame…
New York State Animal Rights Legislation By Andy Gallant and Shireen Haynes There are two pending bills in the New York legislature that would greatly benefit our pet population. The first bill is Assembly bill A-653 which promotes understanding, awareness…
Is Your Backyard Dog-safe? By Lucy Fagan Common Backyard Dangers to Dogs Dogs are a crucial part of American's lives, with 89.7 million registered as pets in the United States in 2017. Dogs are wonderful companions who offer unconditional love…
How to Stop Your Dog’s Excessive Barking By Shireen Haynes After months of long, cold winter, who doesn’t want to be outside soaking up the sun and fresh air? Our canine companions often long to be outdoors as well. With…
Holiday Home Safety Tips for Pets Shireen Haynes No time of the year is more beautiful than the December holidays. Lights, greenery and decorations of all kinds turn our mundane worlds into something magical. The wonder of the season appeals…
Holiday Food Safety Tips for Pets Shireen Haynes December is a festive month with celebrations of all kinds. The upcoming holidays are a time of joy and cheer but nothing can ruin your holiday spirit like a trip to the…
Holiday Visiting and Travel Tips Shireen Haynes One of the greatest joys of the holiday season is getting together with family and friends. Visitors may come in from out-of-town or we may even travel ourselves to go visit loved ones.…
Summer into Fall is beautiful in our area and if you’re spending allot of time outdoors with the many festivals going on, please stop by The Play Yard at Rochester Animal Services. Located next to Brown Square Park, The Play…
In mid-June, Aimee Sadler, founder and CEO of Dogs Playing For Life™, brought her training program to Rochester to provide a 5-day refresher on the core principles, basic guidelines, handling techniques, use of communication tools, safety, and other components of…
By Carla Tanquay - reprinted with permission from Bartolomeo and Perrotto Funeral Home I never expected the death of my dog Nugget to have such a profound effect on me. I remember every detail of that week, from how the…
A dog’s coat serves a purpose based on what the dog was bred to do. Terriers often have smooth coats that allow them to burrow into small holes without getting their fur caught on roots and rocks. Water and mountain…
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has launched a mobile application available for both Apple and Android users. The app is free and provides lots of useful information. With the app, you can access critical…
Happy Spring! With the coming of the new season, many local employees are given the opportunity to designate charities for their United Way donations. We are asking for your donations to support our Seniors for Seniors program through your payroll…
Director’s Cut Last year we updated our mission to clarify our commitment to helping animals and people in the Rochester community. All of the changes that we have made over the past few years have been focused on concentrating our…
As we enter the Spring season, pets are out and about, exposing themselves to more potential illnesses. For pets that are indoor only pets, we bring in other potential hazards on shoes and clothing. When in doubt, bringing pets to…
Dealing with Food Aggression in Your Dog By Cassondra Fama Food aggression results from lack of a trust because your dog thinks you will take his food away. It can be a pretty scary situation to deal with especially if…
Spring Has Sprung Michele H. Martell With the onset of warmer weather, we have even more opportunities to take our furry friends for walks outside. Walks are a wonderful and essential activity for our fur babies – the exercise, bonding…
How many of us after having met a new friend, we were so happy to connect, thrilled even! Well it is the same way with an animal friend. We are so happy to meet them and introduce them into our…
A Labor of Love By Shireen Haynes Cary LaForce moved to the City of Rochester about three years ago. Everywhere she went, they heard nothing but great things about Rochester Animal Services (RAS) and Verona Street Animal Society (VSAS). At…
As spring and summer arrive, you will want to make sure that your pets are well-hydrated. Just like people, pets can become dehydrated quickly in hot weather. Without the ability to sweat, they are at greater risk than humans for…
Rochester Animal Services is proud to celebrate Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week, April 9-15, 2017. Our officers are at the heart of what we do. They provide care and compassion to countless animals each year. The Animal Control Officers are…
