This is a half hour of monitored, interactive fun for dogs and their people. Playgroups give your dog exercise and socialization that is important for a well-adjusted dog. Plus … playgroups are fun for dogs and for people!

Open to ACS adoptees and dogs who have taken or are currently in one of our training classes. Dogs who we don’t already know will be evaluated prior to participation.

Half-hour sessions are $5.00 each when purchased in advance as part of a package of 5, 10, 15, or 20 classes.

Individual sessions can be purchased for $8.00 each.

Please call Kellie at 570-596-2200 x151 or email kroberts@animalcaresanctuary.org for more information or to register.

Reasons to donate your vehicle to
Animal Care Sanctuary:

• We are an IRS-approved 501(C)(3) organization, which allows you to get the most from your donation tax deduction
• We care for over 600 animals daily and your contribution will help with their needs
• We accept nearly all vehicles – cars, trucks, vans, SUV’s, RV’s, boats and motorcycles

(570) 596-2200

Or register online!

We need volunteers to pass out flyers and to respond when there is a sighting because this is far from ACS where our manpower lives and works.

If you see Tootsie, please call 570-596-2200 x151 ASAP!

‘Like’ Tootsie’s facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/HelpUsFindTootsie

Pets, in general, hold a much shorter lifespan than their human owners.  Odds are, we are going to have to say goodbye after gaining an attachment to them…and then have to endure the pain of that loss.  I have cried and grieved over my pets passing away time and time again, but I have eventually found room in my heart to take in another companion afterwards.

So, why do we put ourselves through this hurt?  The answer is quite simple: These animals need us, as we also need them.  Looking back, I cannot imagine living a life that was void of pets.  Animals can give us gifts that human beings sometimes cannot.  Whether it be a soft, furry body to cuddle with, a quiet ear to hear us out, or their love without judgment…Our pets fill that space in our heart that no one else could touch.  In turn, we put our time and energy into our pets’ care to be sure that their needs are met.

Adopting an animal is a rewarding experience, especially with so many shelter animals who are looking for homes.  The Animal Care Sanctuary is a key example of this, with approximately 550 animals in its East Smithfield and Wellsboro offices combined.  As the organization is based around a no-kill philosophy, the animals there will remain at the sanctuary until they find a forever home or until they have reached the end of their natural lifetime.  And, though the Animal Care Sanctuary takes excellent care of its inhabitants, nothing beats a caring, forever home.

I realize now that I was foolish to ever wonder why I “bother” to own pets.  It would be selfish of me to refuse an animal in need in order to guard my own feelings against the future heartbreak of another goodbye.  I could never close off that area of my heart that my past, present, and future pets will forever be entitled to because the time that we have or will spend together makes the experience worthwhile.

Many of you out there have mourned the loss of a pet and can relate to what I have felt, but please do not let this experience prevent you from creating a forever home for another animal.  Make a visit to the Animal Care Sanctuary and take a look at all the faces of those in need.  A piece of your heart may be out there, just waiting for you to find it again.

I have learned people want immediate satisfaction, and demonstrate a variety of rapid fire emotions such as frustration, panic, anger, coping, sadness, reason, and thankfulness…particularly when faced with surrendering a pet here at the sanctuary.  We serve families who are faced with tragedy like death; illness; house fire or flood; a circumstance that rips the pet away from its family. We are a resource for animal cruelty and abandonment victims. It is up to ACS to find these deserving animals their next loving home.

The shelter should be the very last resort for a pet, a family member.  Stories of a seven year old golden retriever who sheds so the man wants to shoot him now, or the ten year old yellow lab who’s become too aged to play, or the miniature schnauzer who’s nails click too loudly on the hardwood floor are just a couple of the thousands of stories we hear on a daily basis. It is hard to accept irrational behavior from pet owners. Some believe their time is too important to be strapped with such a burden as a four-legged friend. Why are they pet owners in the first place? This is the 10,000 dollar question.  We listen to countless stories, ask a lot of questions, and document everything we can about the pet being surrendered to us, or waiting on our list for a spot to open up within our intake protocol for medical and behavioral assessment. You see, being a “sanctuary” means no-kill, which means we run out of roof real fast. We offer suggestions and guidance to do what we can to retain the pet within the household. We have a behaviorist hotline (570)596-2200 x 118 to help with specific problems; but sometimes the reality is , there is a much better home out there from wince they came; just to find it, and find it quickly. That’s where I come in; discovering more ways to gain our beloved animals’ visibility to the public. If your friend or neighbor is entertaining the idea of adding a new member to the family, please urge them to try their local animal shelter first. There are thousands of thrown away animals just craving a new, loving home. All ACS animals undergo excellent medical care to get them in tip top shape for the next chapter in their lives. No animal is placed or adopted without being spayed/neutered, up to date on their shots, and micro chipped.

It was a rewarding year. ACS Wellsboro adopted 147 pets in 2012, and 15 so far this year. Since the inception of our Community Care Clinic-West, we have performed spay/neuter surgery on 272 cats and administered 418 rabies vaccines.  Our low cost spay &/or neuter surgery prices for cats is $40, and we often have specials running depending on the month. Starting March 14^th, we will be offering low cost spay/neuter surgery for dogs, too! (Excluding super giant breeds.) On Valentine’s Day we are offering $5 Rabies vaccines from 2 pm to 5pm. First come, first served. March 23^rd, we are offering a micro chip clinic at Tractor Supply in Mansfield. $25 per chip; cats or dogs. 10 am to 2 pm. And please save the date for Wine & Whiskers, July 20^thfrom 5pm to 8pm…an adult wine tasting, auction bidding, fun way to spend a summer’s eve.  The Callahan Brothers Band will be performing as you taste offerings from both Keuka Lake Vineyards of Hammondsport, NY  and Shade Mountain Winery of Middleburg, PA. Tickets are on sale now $35.00 pp athttp://www.animalcaresanctuary.org.

A sanctuary is just that; a kind, loving, caring place that is a safe haven for the discarded, the stricken, and the unfortunate. Many times the “unfortunate” are actually very fortunate to be safe with us, and loved by us. It is a place where caring people gather to share a passion in giving back to a cause they believe in. It is a place that is typically full, requires a lot of funding, does without, or puts bandages on elderly equipment to get by. It is a place that relies on and receives many, many donations from extraordinarily generous people; animal-loving people who see the big picture for the greater good of all animals; animals, who by no fault of their own, end up here. It is a place where the animals hold all the power, and where they are given a voice. We invite you all to come to Animal Care Sanctuary. Meet all our residents. Look around. Talk to the staff, the volunteers, the visiting school groups, scouting troops, our clinical harpist who plays for our post-op patients, the disabled man who is holding his first kitten, the high school senior completing her outreach project. Learn what goes on here…it is truly eye-opening, and it is my privilege to be part of ACS.

This is a true example of empathy.  Though my human children can tell me when they are cold, lonely, or sick, my animals cannot do the same.  To me, that doesn’t make a difference.  When someone connects with an animal, they are able to read their subtle clues and learn their personality.  That person is able to understand what the animal needs, even though the animal does not speak the human language.

This specialized understanding can work the other way around as well.  Many of us have heard stories of animals rescuing human beings from dangerous situations or diagnosing serious medical conditions.  Animals are often aware of humans’ needs in these areas as well as other aspects of a physical or emotional sense.  Though the human and animal have different “languages,” it is very possible for the two species to communicate.

Empathy for animals is not restricted to an owner-pet, home setting either.  Through my personal experience of volunteering for the Wellsboro Animal Care Sanctuary, I have seen first-hand that empathy is apparent in this situation as well.  Volunteers spend hours doing everything in their power to provide these animals comfort.  They complete maintenance tasks, cleaning, clerical work, etc. out of the generosity of their hearts. In order to accomplish the jobs at hand, the volunteers need to understand the animals in order to realize what it is that they are in need of.

There are also a number of volunteers who spend quality time with the animals.  They play with, walk, or just sit quietly with them.  In these moments, a communicative empathy between the two species clearly exists.  This is time that the animal and human are learning about and appreciating each other as mutual living creatures.

Empathy is a powerful thing.  It can easily overcome the borders of fur and skin, paws and feet, and even purrs and speech.  There are no borders to communication, as long as we open our minds and our hearts…just like the animals have done for us.

Our pets come in countless species, breeds, shapes, sizes, and colors.  Just like humans, no two are alike; each has its own personality.  Pets can offer comfort, companionship, amusement, and love.  Research has shown that pet ownership can actually boost the physical and emotional health of humans in areas such as blood pressure reduction, lowering anxiety/stress, and building happiness.  Pet owners and their animals hold a special bond of the heart that should be celebrated and cherished at this holiday time as well as all other days.

But not all of us humans are pet owners.  There are countless reasons for this decision, including financial difficulty, inadequate space, or not enough time.  Adopting a pet is not a light decision, and all of these factors are good reasons not to.  But, this does not mean that you cannot help an animal in need.  Millions of animals across our country are placed in shelters each year.  Some will be adopted, and some will not.  The unlucky animals still in the shelters could be euthanized or could spend years in that setting.  Some animals live the remainder of their lives without knowing there was an owner out there to love and care for them.

This Valentine’s season, I challenge all of you to recognize the animals–whether they are your own pets, those of a family member or friend, or a shelter animal.  There are so many ways to do this.  You could buy your pet a special toy or take your friend’s dog for a walk.  Most shelters are in need of donations, such as bags of food or litter.  Monetary donations or even volunteer work would be a great help as well.  Whatever you may choose, I promise that your effort will be worth it.  Every little bit counts.  This Valentine’s Day, let’s open our hearts to not only our human friends…but the animals as well.

“Hi,my name is Ebonie & I am currently living at ACS.  I havent’ been here very long, but I really need a forever home.  I am considered a special needs cat because I have seizures that are currently being treated with phenobarbital.  I was found in Mansfield, PA at a bowling alley and was covered in mud.  I am very loving and I want someone to call my own.  I am a declawed female about 10 years old.  I’m not always stable on my feet but I love treats & being held.”

We here at ACS are so excited about the recent increase in adoptions.  Most of the young cats we have are finding their forever homes, but as I watch group after group come and go I see the same trend occurring.  The last little one left is the black one or black and white, sometimes they are the sweetest of the bunch but still no one notices how green their eyes are, or how shiny they are, or they might be the one with the most personality, loving or playful.  If you look at the statistics, all shelters seem to say the same thing.  It is a sad reality that if they get over six months old their chance of ever finding a home goes down to about 15%.  Many times when you ask someone if they would like to see the black kitten, the answers are, “oh I had one like that before” or “Well they just all look the same” or they might say “Oh no I want one with all the pretty colors.”  And while I am very happy for each one that finds a home I think many times there is a great friendship missed because a wonderful match was overlooked.

There are many reasons why people like what they like.  I would just like to share a few interesting facts about the `Black Cat’ in hopes the next time you see a beautiful ebony colored feline friend, you may feel differently.  Did you know they were the first mutation of the many colors and styles we have today?  So if you enjoy all the pretty colors you can thank them for starting the process.   The first cats to be domesticated lived in Egypt and were brown with black stripes (tabby).   Over time, the gene causing the striped pattern changed in some cats, causing them to look pure black; however, in the sunlight, some cats will still show stripes.    Of course from that point through breeding and natural mutations, is how we have arrived at the point we are at now, with many different sizes shapes and colors.

Their troubles began when they started to be seen as unlucky by some.  Most of this comes from old superstitions, or movies that depict them as evil and show them hissing and yowling.  This often leads to the true purr-sonality being overlooked.  We all have seen a cat acting this way but the truth is 90% of the time, this reaction comes from fear or pain.  Both of these emotions make a cat feel vulnerable, so they want you to leave them alone so they will be safe.  Cats are unique in this because they are both prey and predator in the wild so it is instinctive to be cautious when scared or uncertain.  On the other hand if the cat has had good experiences with humans from a young age they may never show that side and will be the biggest clown or the sweetest friend you may ever find.  Many people may judge a person or thing by the name it has been given—if my cat is named Satan, most people will be cautious because they assume there is a reason for that name.  They would have a different reaction if the same cat is named Licorice.  All of these things can be an influence on how you perceive cats in general.

It seems to be what you are familiar with can be the strongest reason why you feel the way you do about black cats or cats in general.  Here are a couple of examples.   France calls them Matagot (the magician cat) and believes if they happen to be in your home the family is blessed with good luck and prosperity.  Asia and the UK consider them lucky too.  Some cultures say to dream of a black cat brings good luck to the dreamer.  Scottish lore says find a black cat on your porch and it brings prosperity to the owner.   And most of us here in America have heard of the superstition that when a black cat crosses your path it means bad luck and if a white one does then good luck is on its way;  Well in the UK all except Yorkshire that is, they believe just the opposite.   In some places it is also believed black cats are an omen of true love.   It is said if a black cat crosses the path of a newly married couple as they leave the church then true love and happiness will follow them all the days of their married life.  So you see depending on what you have heard or where you live, may have tainted your feeling about the beautiful black cat.  I hope this helps you realize it really doesn’t matter what the color is, because there are as many personalities in our feline friends as in our human friends, it’s all about finding the one for you.    If you are not already a fan, maybe you will think of them differently the next time you have a chance to be around The Black Cat.