Little Shelter Celebrates 90 Years

By David Weber

info@longislandergroup.com

Huntington-based Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center has been helping four-legged friends connect with new owners for the past 90 years. On Sunday, shelter officials and local politicians celebrated the milestone.

Anna Hunninghouse first opened the doors of the animal haven in 1927, two years before the Great Depression. Her goal was simple: give dogs and cats a second chance at life.

Nearly a century after opening, the 6-acre, 33 Warner Road retreat continues to expand on its promise of no animal left behind with the help of community volunteers, who hail from across Long Island.

Over 400 cats and 50 dogs currently call Little Shelter home. Seventeen additional animals are also being rehabilitated upstate at the 110-acre Little Shelter Animal Sanctuary.

David Ceely, Little Shelter director, said he will never forget how his career of saving animals began almost 15 years ago.

“Of course I will always remember the first dog I adopted from Little Shelter, a toothless senior Pomeranian, when I was a volunteer,” Ceely said. “I was very lucky to see these miracles happen every day.”

Attendees were offered tours of the grounds adorned with memorabilia and photographs from the shelter’s past, and also indulged in a buffet of light refreshments.

Three Little Shelter volunteers were honored for their contributions: Dr. Frank Liguori, who also works at Babylon Animal Hospital; Laura Petrocelli, who works at Couture Concepts NY; and Kathleen Eastwood, 85, who has volunteered at Little Shelter for over 25 years.

Suffolk County and Town of Huntington officials presented Little Shelter with proclamations for its years of service.

Maryann Chernovsky, Little Shelter president, said the facility has accomplished amazing feats over the last 90 years thanks to its numerous supporters.

“I’m very proud to be a part of such an amazing place and we have big plans for the future to expand our reach in rescue and in our community give back programs,” Chernovsky said in a press release.

One such program, Passage to Freedom, crossed international borders this year by taking in rescue transports from Baku, Thailand and Korea. Select dogs are trained to assist in seven other initiatives for veterans, disabled individuals, senior citizens, and school students.

Chernovsky added, “Little Shelter is a family, and when you are here for some time, you can feel it.”