Adoption Fees Waived For ‘Dog Of The Week’
/By Andrew Wroblewski
awroblewski@longislandergroup.com
Susie,” a pit bull mix who’s estimated to be 10-11 years old, has lived at the Huntington Animal Shelter or nearly five years. Susie is the first dog to be spotlighted in the town’s new dog of the week program, which will waive adoption fees for one lucky dog each week. Photo by Town of Huntington
Prepare your Facebook feeds. Canines at the Huntington Animal Shelter are barking up the social media tree, and they’ll be up for free adoption.
The Huntington Town Board has approved a “dog of the week” program that will spotlight a different pup living at the shelter each week. The $103.50 fee to adopt that dog will be waived.
Shelter Director Jerry Mosca said he’s hopeful the program will help to find homes for some of the shelter’s longstanding residents, including “Susie,” a pit bull mix who’s estimated to be 10-11 years old.
Mosca said Susie is a “great dog” who loves to be around people, but she’s lived at the shelter for nearly five years. He said she would need to be the only dog living in her new home. Susie will be featured in a new post to the shelter’s Facebook page each day until Feb. 1. After that, it’s a different dog’s turn.
“If it works one time, it was worth every bit of it,” Mosca said.
Currently, Mosca said there 18 dogs living at the shelter, located at 106 Deposit Road in East Northport.
Adopted dogs will be up to date on shots, spayed/neutered, micro-chipped and licensed. “We basically send them home with food, toys and whatever they need,” Mosca said.
He added that the shelter and its volunteer program, League of Animal Protection, is “willing to help out with anything these dogs need above and beyond that,” such as training or medical issues.
The idea for the program came after the shelter launched its Facebook page last December.
“The Facebook page has gotten us so much more traffic here at the shelter,” Mosca said.
So, he thought, “Wow, if we’re really starting to reach this many people, why not offer a dog of the week with free adoption fees?”
In an emailed statement, Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone applauded the shelter for finding “new initiatives to help dogs in the town’s care find new forever homes.”
Petrone added that the program will “help highlight the work that goes on at the shelter and the group of terrific, adoptable dogs they work with.”
