Shireen Haynes

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…