volunteers for animals

The winsome feline in the photo at left is named "Feather" and she is a delicate soul in need of a quiet home.

This noisy, discombobulating world is wearisome; a warm lap and her purring in it could help soothe frayed nerves. She's a little shy at first, but newfound sincere friends can be that way initially. Understandable.

Her coat is described as pastel tortoise in color. Already spayed.

At right below is golden-eyed, amiable "Buddy," a real kick-back kinda guy. Solid gray, solid pal. Neutered and easy going. He is definately a people person. 

Secondly, two events coming up will help out the Volunteers for Animals and those they care for.

The first one is on Cinco de Mayo -- it's a Guest Bartending Fundraiser at the North Pole Restaurant & Party House, located at 243 S. Swan St. in Batavia. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 5.

Then, on the weekend of June 2-3 there will be a Scrap Metal Drive in the shelter parking lot at 3841 W. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia. It runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

Volunteers will be accepting metal of any kind: railings, doors, garbage cans, file cabinets, bicycle frames, gutters, pipes, poles, fencing, window frames, lawn furniture, tools, shelving, washing machines, dryers, stoves, wheelbarrows, wagons, etc.

They CANNOT take propane tanks, A/C units, or refrigerators. Scrap service provided by Ed Arnold EAS Scrap Processors of Corfu.

Also, there is an unending, ongoing drive to turn your empties -- pop/beer/water cans and bottles -- into cash to help needy animals.

Bring your empties to the shelter and the Volunteers for Animals will return them for you OR you can take them in to one of three local recycling centers and tell them they are for Volunteers for Animals and they'll put the money "in the kitty" for the animals at the shelter.

Participating recycling centers are:

• Eastown Beverages in Eastown Plaza on East Main Street, Batavia
• ARC Recycling Center at 3785 W. Main St., Batavia
• Le Roy Redemption Center, 8 1/2 Lake St. (Route 19), Le Roy

There's also a Wish List of items needed for the shelter. You could either donate items directly at the shelter, or donate the funds to buy them.

Shelter Wish List

Kitten Food; preferred brand is Purina Kitten Chow

Canned Dog Food

Dry Cat and Dog Food (NO "Beneful" brand dog food, please)

Paper Towels

Small Washable Throw Rugs

Small Fleece Blankets or Throws (NO sheets, pillows, mattress pads or large comforters)

Non-clumping Cat Litter

Newspapers for the Cat Cages

Cat Litter Boxes (NO small boxes)

Dog Collars and Leashes

Kong Toys and Peanut Butter (NO rawhide please) and Large Nylabones

Plain Yogurt

Cat Toys of Any Kind

Rubbing Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide

Forever U.S. Postage Stamps

Reams of Letter-size Copy Paper

Gently Used Doghouses

Gift Cards for Walmart, Tractor Supply Store, or Petco

Dog Treats (NO rawhide)

PLEASE NO FOOD OR TREATS FROM CHINA -- TOO RISKY!

From the Volunteers for Animals:

"Downward Dog for a Cause" is a donation-based yoga class that will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 23, to benefit the Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. It will take place at Blue Pearl Yoga, located on the third floor of the Masonic Temple Building at the corner of Main and Center streets in Downtown Batavia.

Come and join us for a playful Vinyasa flow class, open to all levels of experience.

All donations are welcome -- even pet supplies!

If you do not own a yoga mat, extra mats are available to borrow at the class. Parking available in the muncipal lot off Center and School streets.

Broomhilda (inset photo, right) is a big kitten that’s had a hard time adjusting to her world, yet she has a lot to offer someone that can give her a special home.

Although Broomhilda likes other cats, another cat may likely hinder her bonding with her new humans. She would not do well in a home with dogs or children.

Broomhilda is not like other shy cats because when she gets to know her humans, she will not want to be put down. She just loves to be held and cuddled. She makes little biscuits with her paws and is quite content to stay in your arms for hours. (In other words, she would like you to pet her until your arm falls off.)

In fact, it's getting difficult to get her back into her cage at the shelter when her visitors have to leave. We think Broomhilda is telling us she's ready to leave that cage and find her furever-cuddler. Come in and meet her!

The Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter would like to find forever homes for three special felines. Here are their stories as written and provided by the volunteers.

Luckily, fate had another plan for Jake. Eventually, Jake went into foster to see exactly what kind of kitty he was, and it turns out he’s a pretty awesome cat.

Although not his favorite activity, Jake doesn’t mind being picked up or carried around. He is OK with a nail trim, but we didn’t notice him scratching on anything at all.

Jake is a low-flying cat -- you’re not going to find him up on your worktop or table. And he just loves a good all-over brushing, especially with his zoom-groom brush. He will purr for hours while you brush him to a high-gloss finish.

Jake lives for certain kitty treats. Once you find the right one, he can be trained to come running with the crinkle of a bag. Jake is likely to hide in his new surroundings at first, but after a week or two, he will be comfortable enough to stop hiding, especially if he has a comfy cat bed to lie on instead. After several weeks in foster, Jake was seeking out people in another room for petting and brushing. If we didn’t notice him, he would meow to say “I’m ready, where’s the brush!?!” Jake even hopped up on the bed at night for a little scratch. He certainly earned his foster mom’s seal of approval.

The generous vets at State Street Animal Hospital provided Jake with the dental work he needed in order to live in comfort, so he is all set medically. Jake’s not a young cat, but he wasn’t ready to be swept under the rug yet either -- he’s got several great years left in him.

All he wants is a warm, quiet house - a place where he can relax, and just enjoy being your pet. Jake was very tolerant of all the cats in his foster home, but he will adjust much faster if he is not in a busy home with other cats, dogs, or boisterous children.

Come in and meet him. We’ve got the zoom-groom brush waiting! It’s Jake’s turn to go on vacation now, and he’s hoping to stay there forever and never come back, too!

She has been with us a long time and really needs a home of her own.

Maddie needs a cat-savvy human that will understand her catitude!

She would do best in a home with no children or other animals.

A very nice volunteer has paid half of Maddie's adoption fee, so she is only $30.

And though it was somewhat healed, the break was so bad that even if he’d been brought in right after it happened he’d never be able to walk on it. Amputation was the only option. He was vaccinated, treated for fleas, worms, and ear mites, given a surgery date, and kept comfortable in the infirmary at the shelter.

After his amputation and neutering, Dusty went to a foster home for some T.L.C. and recovery. He was an ideal patient! He took his pain medicine easily, without complaint. He was up and walking right away.

It took him just a few days to adjust to the new weight and balance of his body. He quickly learned to hop up on and off the furniture. Keeping his balance in the litter pan was a little bit trickier but he never missed the pan or had an accident anywhere. Combing, petting and a good diet are starting to bring his coat back to a soft lustrous tan and black tabby.

Throughout all of this Dusty has been more than a perfect gentleman. Always cheerful, he is outgoing and likes people. He approaches both men and women who come into his room. He loves to be stroked and combed, and get gentle belly rubs. He is never rough with his paws.

He loves to sit on a lap, or beside a person on a couch. His favorite game is to lay on his side and play with a toy dangled on a string. And bird watching at the window would never be turned down!

Dusty would be a perfect partner for an elderly person, or couple, who want a quiet, steady companion. Perhaps a shut-in or a person with a disability would benefit from his calm confidence and "can do" attitude. Or perhaps it will be love at first sight with someone unexpected! He is an exceptional cat!

Genesee County Animal Shelter

3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia

Hours: Sun., Mon., Tues., Fri. 1-3 p.m.

Wednesday 1-3 and 7-9 p.m.

Closed Thursdays

Saturday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m

Volunteers for Animals will benefit from your participation in Photos with Santa at PETCO in Batavia.

The nonprofit organization that helps homeless animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter will get 100-percent of the proceeds from the event, which will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2 and 16.

PETCO is located in Town Plaza at Batavia on Veterans Memorial Drive.

This is a "fully digital experience" and your photo will be emailed to you and ready to share within minutes.

Cost is $9.95 -- a donation that will help local pets find homes this holiday season.

Join the Volunteers for Animals and Santa this Saturday or on Dec. 16 at PETCO and help our furry friends.

The trails have not always been happy for "Cowboy," and now, the roads he's traveled have brought him back to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and into the care of Volunteers for Animals.

A couple of years ago, Cowboy was found abandoned in a field with a herd of cows. That's how he got his name. He had health issues, including a broken jaw that required his muzzle to be wired shut.

The volunteers nursed him back to health, but while he was still living at the shelter, a couple allegedly stole him. Cowboy was found with them after the duo allegedly robbed a store in Le Roy and then were involved in an accident on Keeney Road.

Cowboy was returned to the animal shelter. Eventually, he was adopted. His new owner seemed to be doing great with him. She was seen out regularly walking him and Cowboy seemed to be in great shape -- except for maybe wolfing down a few too many calories -- on home visits.

"It was a great adoption," said volunteer Gina Lippa, who was keeping tabs on Cowboy. "I actually went and did home visits for a while. Great adoption. The owner, well there were two owners, but the primary owner was doing wonderfully with him and multiple volunteers had seen her walking around town with him. When I did home visits his coat was clearing right up. She was doing great with him."

After about two months, Lippa lost contact with the owner.

Last week, by coincidence, Lippa found a picture of Cowboy on the adoption page of Fairport-based Lollipop Farm's website.

Arrangements were made to return Cowboy to Batavia and he arrived here at the shelter this afternoon.

It's not clear how Cowboy wound up at Lollypop. The adoptee owner was originally from New York City, so Lippa speculates that she returned to NYC, giving Cowboy to a new owner. At some point, Cowboy was delivered to Lollypop with all of his paperwork intact from the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

Lippa said he's available for adoption. He's a sweet and gentle boy and shows no signs of food aggression or other aggression, but he's not at all fond of cats. He gets along with other dogs.

Stan's Harley-Davidson hosted its annual Hogs for Paws rally today, with proceeds benefiting Volunteers for Animals.

Photos by Alecia Kaus/Video News Service.

The Volunteers for Animals have outdone themselves with their latest campaign to find home for a gazillion cats that have rained down of late at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

They are offering "Certified Pre-Owned Cats." And what a deal. "$60 down, 0% financing, and NO payments."*

The missive continues...

"All makes & models -- Standard 4-Paw Drive -- Eco-friendly lap warmer -- 100,000 purr warranty -- Made in New York -- Quality tested, fully inspected"

Get yours today, then start counting the purrs. Don't want to get shortchanged.

What are you waiting for? You can't beat a deal with a 100,000 purr warranty. (We're guessing that's a ballpark figure.)

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main Street Road, Town of Batavia.

Hours are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesday 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Thursdays.

*There is a $35 refundable deposit for cats that are unspayed or unneutered, upon proof of sterilization surgery.

Hogs for Paws, the annual fundraising event for the Genesee County Animal Shelter, is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12 at Stan's Harley-Davidson, located at 4425 W. Saile Drive, Batavia. 

Attendees are asked to please bring an item on the shelter's Wish List or make a monetary donation. All monetary donations will go toward the spaying and neutering of shelter animals prior to adoption.

Wish LIst items include:

• Canned and dry cat and dog food
• Small blankets and beds
• Bleach
• Laundry detergent
• Paper towels
• Non-clumping (plain, old-fashioned) cat litter

The event at Stan's will features vendors, a T-shirt sale, 50/50 raffle, the opportunity to buy pet ID tags, microchipping and much more!

Stan's is sponsoring the event along with Volunteers for Animals.

Questions? Contact Ashley at (585) 343-9598.

Volunteers from Volunteers for Animals were at the Animal Shelter today collecting donated scrap metal as a fundraiser for the shelter and the support provided by Volunteers for Animals.

Items are now being accepted at the Genesee County Animal Shelter for the Volunteers for Animals' big annual garage sale next month to benefit homeless pets.

NO CLOTHES OR TVs will be accepted! 

Drop off items at the shelter, located at 3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, during its hours of operation:

• Monday -- 1 to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday -- 1 to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday -- 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m.
• Thursday -- CLOSED
• Friday -- 1 to 3 p.m.
• Saturday -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday 1 to 3 p.m.

The garage sale will take place at The Storage Mall, located at 3566 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 15-17.

All proceeds go to aid shelter animals.

Press release:

Come out and support the animals of the Genesee County Animal Shelter. Volunteers for Animals are collecting scrap metal to raise money for the animals one weekend only -- on Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shelter parking lot, 3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Metal of any almost kind will be accepted this first weekend in June only: railings, doors, garbage cans, file cabinets, bicycle frames, gutters, pipes, poles, fencing, window frames, lawn furniture, tools, shelving, washing machines, dryers, stoves, wheel barrows, wagons, etc.

But they CANNOT take propane tanks, A/C units, or refrigerators!

Scrap service provided by Ed Arnold EAS Scrap Processors, of Corfu.

All proceeds benefit local shelter animals.

From Volunteers for Animals:

We all know that it is important to have ID tags on our pets but how many of us don't have them? Be honest. VFA is committed to helping families get lost and missing pets back home.

Since 2006, we have offered low-cost microchipping and continue to encourage it. But we all know that ID tags on our pets will help get them even faster, many times by passing the Shelter altogether.

To help encourage getting our pets properly tagged, VFA recently purchased an engraving machine. Now you can stop by the Genesee County Animal Shelter during regular adoption hours to have a personalized ID tag engraved while you wait. All we are asking is for is a donation for the tag and to go home and get the tag on your pet.

We are also encouraging you to put collars and ID tags on your cats, including indoor cats. No one plans for our cats and dogs to escape the house or yard, so please plan ahead!

FOUND: A neutured, declawed senior cat "in not that great shape" that is 99.5-percent black -- he sports a few white hairs on his belly. No collar or microchip.

"He's an old guy; his eyes are watery. He's in pretty rough shape," says Wendy, who is spreading the news of the "Old Tom" in hopes that maybe he somehow got out of his home and his owner is looking for him.

Old Tom was found at a stranger's residence on South Main Street near River Street in Batavia on Friday and was taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter. A volunteer promises to send us a photo of him tomorrow to post with this announcement.

If his family is not found, maybe a senior would like another senior to bond with and will adopt him, n'est-ce pas? 

If you can help, please call 343-6410.

UPDATE Monday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m.: So, it turns out, this is "Fatty," and Fatty is 17 years old, has always been an indoor/outdoor cat, and belongs to Mark Fanara. Mark will go to the shelter tomorrow at 1 p.m. to reunite with Fatty.

New items are still being accepted for the auctions at the 13th annual Fur Ball to benefit the Volunteers for Animals Spay /Neuter program at the Genesee County Animal Shelter.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia. You can drop new auction items off this week during shelter adoption hours.

Adoption hours are:

Monday and Tuesday -- 1 to 3 p.m.

Wednesday -- 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

CLOSED THURSDAYS.

Friday -- 1 to 3 p.m.

Saturday -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday -- 1 to 3 p.m.

The Fur Ball begins at 6 p.m. at the Days Inn in Batavia on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Days Inn is located at 202 Oak St.

The Fur Ball will feature food, fun, surprises, stupendous desserts and auctions!

Cost is $25 for adults; children 12 and under are $15; tables of 10 are $250. Limited to 200 attendees.

The 13th annual Fur Ball to benefit the Volunteers for Animals' Spay/Neuter Program at the Genesee County Animal Shelter will be held starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Days Inn in Batavia. The hotel is located at 200 Oak St. in the City of Batavia.

Tickets are $25. Children 12 and under, $15. Tables of 10 are $250.

Only 200 tickets will be sold.

Fur Ball features food, fun, auctions and surprises.

New items are being accepted for the auction. You can drop them off at the shelter during adoption hours.

The shelter is located at 3841 W. Main Street Road, Town of Batavia.

Adoption Hours:

Sun, Mon, Tues, Fri  --  1 - 3 p.m.
Wednesday  -- 1 - 3  & 7 - 9 p.m.
Saturday  --  11a.m. - 1 p.m.

Email Volunteers for Animals at:   info@vol4animals.org
Phone:  585-343-6410 (phone)

Lily has been granted clemency, at least for now.

Public Defender Jerry Ader, attorney David Fitch, representing the city, and City Court Judge Durin Rogers held meetings over the past two days and came to an agreement that will spare Lily her life, potentially, while the conviction of Duty Caswell for harboring a vicious dog will stand.

As part of the agreement, Ader withdraws his motion challenging Caswell's conviction and will file a new motion to vacate the sentence. That should happen in about two weeks.

In the meantime, Fitch must find a dog behavioral specialist who can certify that Lily is redeemable.

Rogers issued an order in May to have Lily put down as a vicious dog because of an incident on Hutchins Place on March 7 where she bit a 13-year-old boy.

She didn't help her case when she bit the Sheriff's K-9 deputy.

But folks at the Animal Shelter believe Lily is worth saving and rallied to her cause. They secured space for her with the Kramer Foundation, which specializes in rehabilitating dogs declared vicious and slated for euthanasia. 

Previous: Lily's fate hangs in the balance as City Court judge set to hear appeal tomorrow

Rocky got to visit Hogs for Paws today, the annual fundraiser hosted by Stan's Harley Davidson for Volunteers for Animals.

The volunteers were thrilled to see Rocky again and he was thrilled to see them. Then he got microchipped, which he took like a champ.

There were lots of dogs and people there, which was also thrilling for Rocky.

Cassie

Dibs

Photos and information from Volunteers for Animals:

The Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter are in need of nice barn homes for a couple of kitties.

"Cassie" is a beautiful calico that is sweet and friendly on her own terms, but like all of us, she has her moments. She came to us with a litter of kittens and was quite scared. She has really come around but would probably do best with some independent time on her own.

"Dibs" is a beautiful orange and white long-haired guy that was rescued by some very nice people.

He came in quite skinny, dirty and sick. He is doing much better, but again, is use to the outdoors and would be happier in that setting.

Both Cassie and Dibs are tested, vaccinated and spayed/neutered. There is NO adoption fee for either kitty.

If you can give either of these kitties a nice home, please:

• Stop in at the shelter, located at 3841 W. Main St. Road, Town of Batavia, during adoption hours (Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Friday -- 1 to 3 p.m.; Wednesday -- 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.; Saturday -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed Thursday.);
• Or email us at info@vol4animals.org

Thanks.