SPRING 2012
A Publication of the Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center
Four Years in a Row
Record number of animals are given
a second chance in a new home. For
the fourth year in a row, the Animal
Rescue League (ARL) has met its goal
of finding fur-ever homes for more
than 5,000 adoptable animals.
Overall, 6,185 pets found a loving
home in 2011. Just as the holiday
season was upon us, the Animal
Rescue League met its goal of finding
homes for 5,000 adoptable animals in 2011. On November 25,
2011, Emil Radinick and Sara
Schneider gave homes to the
Animal Rescue League’s 5,000th
and 5,001st homeless pet of the year
respectively.
Emil adopted Fox, a 4 year-old
American Pit Bull Terrier Mix. Fox
was not happy to find himself caged
up in the shelter. Originally brought
to the ARL as a stray, the four year
old Pit mix was noticeably suffering. Fox would plant himself at the
front of his kennel and drool while
awaiting his walks. He would drool
so much that his hair began to fall
out. He had become so stressed out
that he was having tremors. One day
a customer asked if Fox had rabies or
another medical condition that would
cause him to act this way!
The staff and volunteers knew
that Fox was very different outside
of the kennel, even for just walks.
The drooling and shaking left and
he turned into a new dog. He really
enjoyed the attention, loved his
walks and especially playing in the
run. He was a lovable, fun guy.
!
0
5 0
0
Unfortunately, our customers were
not seeing this side of Fox. The first
impression he gave off was not a
good one, and he was passed over
many times.
As time passed, Fox needed
help to reduce his stress. When our
Adoptions Department staff heard
about a new doggie day care facility opening in Lawrenceville, they
felt they may have found a solution
for Fox. The owners of Urban Dog
Day Care and Day Spa agreed to
come and check Fox out to see if they
would be able to help him. After
meeting him and speaking with the
adoptions counselors, they agreed to
help Fox. The plan was for him to
spend some time at Urban Dog where
he would be able to play with other
dogs, stretch his legs and exercise his
social skills. No one knew that this
would be where Fox would find his
new best friend, Emil.
Help us come to their rescue.
“We first took Fox in to Urban
Dog because we heard he was not
doing well with life in a shelter. I
realized quickly he was an amazing
dog and grew quite attached to him. I
started taking him home with me and
taking him on errands and we became
best friends,” said Emil. “He
now lives on a farm where he
is very happy, goes to work
with me at Urban Dog and
acts like he owns the place!
I just could not imagine life
without Fox. Thanks to the
ARL for letting us take him in
and give him a chance! Fox is
grateful as well.”
Fox became a “Foster Failure”
but an adoption success. The Animal
Rescue League Staff and Volunteers
came together because they could see
that despite his scared and stressed out(Continued on page 14)
IN THIS ISSUE
Four Years in a Row............................................... 1
Become a Member!............................................. 2
Message from
Executive Director Dan Rossi............................... 3
Opossum Family Gets a Second Chance.......... 4
How You Can Help................................................ 4
Animals’ Winter Adaptations .............................. 5
Gardening with Wildlife........................................ 5
“Picture This” 12th Annual Paw Prints............... 6-7
Just Ask Jill.............................................................. 8
Baby Animals Are Coming, Are You Prepared?.... 8
Just Ask Janice...................................................... 9
Meet Some of Our Staff and Volunteers...... 10-11
Baby Shower........................................................ 12
Upcoming Events................................................ 13
Fourth Graders Show Their Generosity.............. 15
Save Money, Get Cashback, and
Help Us Help the Animals.................... Back Cover
www.animalrescue.org
1
2 12 Membership
2012 BENEFITS
For as little as $35, receive our quarterly
newsletter and become a member of our team.
In addition, all memberships include:
l 10% discount on Veterinary services for you
and your immediate family members
l $10 discount on adoptions
l FREE one hour consultation with an animal
behavior specialist
l One FREE grooming appointment at the
Rosedale Grooming Salon
l A discount on regularly priced items at the
Penn Hills Lawn and Garden Center, Wild Birds
Unlimited and Elmer’s Aquarium
l Up to a 10% discount on most services at
Waldron Electric Heating & Cooling
(call 800-349-9555 for details)
l A FREE tour of the Menagerie Area, home to
our educational animals (by appointment)
l A FREE tour of the nurseries and
aviaries where you will have the
opportunity to view Wildlife
Rehabilitation in action!
l 10% off a
Birthday Party
at the Wildlife
Center
Please send me information
about:
2012 LEVELS
Please stand with the Animal Rescue League
Shelter and Wildlife Center as we rescue and care
for homeless pets and injured wildlife by mailing
your 2012 Membership donation today. Or, you can join
online at www.animalrescue.org.
Every Membership dollar you send is used to help as many
animals as possible. Here are some examples of how your
support will be used:
l
35 Associate Membership $
will feed a baby bird for one week
l
$75 Supporter Membership will neuter a dog or cat
l
150 Patron Membership $
will cover food and medical care for a baby raccoon
l
250 Benefactor Membership $
will guarantee emergency treatment and ongoing care for a
severely injured animal
l
500 President’s Circle Membership $
will cover the care for an animal at our shelter or wildlife
center for two weeks
l
1,000 Golden Circle Membership $
will support all of the above, and more!
l
Other - Every gift helps the animals
donate by credit card…
Please provide the information below.
How I Can Volunteer
Gift amount $
How I Can Be a Foster Friend
Please charge my gift to:
Card #
Including the Animal Rescue League Shelter
and Wildlife Center in My Will
Name (as it appears on card):
I have:
Cat(s)
Dog(s) Other
The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania is a nonprofit
organization and receives no federal, state or local government operating
support or United Way funding. Your contribution is
tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.
Please return this reply slip in the enclosed
envelope with your check payable to the
Animal Rescue League of W. PA.
2
Signature:EXP. DATE
Home Phone:
Work Phone:
Email:
ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE TO THE LIMIT OF THE LAW. OFFICIAL
REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY CALLING TOLL FREE WITHIN
PENNSYLVANIA, 1-800-732-0999. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT.
www.animalrescue.org
Message from
Executive Director
Dan Rossi
2011 proved to be a very busy
year for the Animal Rescue League
Shelter & Wildlife Center. We
made great strides on our facility
improvement projects and held
great fundraising events. But the
highlight was the record number of
6,185 animals placed into loving
homes. This is a 15% increase over
last year’s releases. Our Wildlife
Center also had a 10% increase,
with over 2,200 native Pennsylvania
wildlife animals treated. These
numbers were wonderful, but when
I walk around the shelter, I still see
beautiful cats, dogs, bunnies, and
small mammals that have gone too
long without a caring family to
adopt them. We will continue to
work to find them and all the new
animals we will see in 2012 loving
homes as well.
We expect 2012 to be another
busy year for adoptions and clinic
services, and we will continue our
efforts to reduce pet overpopulation through our low-cost Spay and
Neuter program. In January, we are
already starting to see kittens showing up on our doorstep. Dog surrenders have also not slowed down
this winter. This may be because of
the warm winter or the continued
economic hardships families are feeling. For whatever reason, we need
your help as adopters, donors and
volunteers.
The ARL has already started
working on some new, exciting
events to help raise funds to
underwrite adoptions and our clinic
services. We are also embarking
on a new rebranding campaign
that includes our new logo, colors
2011 Board of Directors
Joseph Burgunder
President
Beverlynn Elliott
Past President
Joseph Vater
1st Vice President
Don Green
2nd Vice President
Robin J. Bernstein
3rd Vice President
and tag line – “Help us come to
their rescue.”
Also look for some exciting
programs from our new Humane
Education and Community
Outreach Coordinator. Her role
will be to help educate the public
about treating companion animals,
native Pennsylvania wildlife and
the environment with respect and
compassion.
I look forward to continuing
to work alongside our dedicated
and caring Board of Directors,
Staff, and Volunteers, who all share
a common vision of helping homeless, neglected and abused animals.
The demand for the programs and
services of The Animal Rescue
League Shelter and Wildlife Center
has never been greater, as there are
more animals than ever before that
need our help.
I am truly grateful to you our
donors, supporters, volunteers,
and staff for your continued support and the vital roles you play in
helping us rescue so many animals
every year.
Warm Regards,
Dan Rossi
Executive Director
Help us come to their rescue.
Tom Litwiler
Secretary
Carey Miklos
Treasurer
Dr. James Beebe, DVM
Paul E. Block
Lisa Bonacci
Julie Coletti, Esq.
Heather Hurley
Kevin Murcko
John Oliverio, SPHR
James Louis Rosenberg
Louisa Rudolph
Lisa Sturiale
Susan Warner Gitomer
Sally Wiggin
Matthew J. Wholey
Marla Zerrer
Advisory Board
Jennie K. Scaife
Honorary Chair
Michael Bailey, DVM
Bev Beebe
Robi Bendorf
Linda Binstock Ph.D. J.D.
Rebecca Burdick
Dave Crawley
Robin Fernandez
Penny Foster
Marv Jacobson
Anabell Kinney, ESQ
Nathalie Lemieux
Robert Murray, AIA
Rhoda Shear Neft, ESQ
Todd Reidbord
Randy Rhoades, ESQ
Beth Ruff
Joseph Stelmack, CPA
Jane Voros
3
Opossum Family
Gets a Second
Chance in the Wild
There is no better feeling than
releasing wildlife back into nature.
It is the drive behind what keeps the
staff and volunteers coming back to
the Wildlife Center. And there is no
better story than that of successful
rehabilitation and release! This past
August, a litter of infant opossums
were brought to the Wildlife Center
after their mother was found dead
on the side of the road. Opossums
are North America’s only marsupial. Females can have up to two
litters a year. Gestation is only 13
days long. When the babies are
born, they are only the size of a
raisin. They then have to crawl and
find their way into the mother’s
pouch, called a masupium, where
they will nurse for about two to
three months.
Luckily, when this Good
Samaritan found the dead opossum, he knew to check the pouch
for babies. When they were brought
to the center we kept them warm
How You Can Help
Each spring taxes our resources,
both monetary and human. The
Center is on the verge of our busiest time of year. Squirrel babies are
being born now! Many people call
in the spring to offer help. Here are
four ways you can help to ease the
load.
lV
olunteer
your time. It’s a great
way to help directly with the rehabilitation and release of wild animals. Interested people who are 16
years of age and older can contact
the Center for more information
4
and fed them special formula that
we make just for opossums to
mimic the mother’s milk. We have
to be sure to give them the proper
nutrition that they need to grow
healthy and strong. If they are not
cared for properly, they can acquire
metabolic bone disease that stunts
and weakens their skeletal system.
This can be painful and irreversible. However, with proper nutrition, they grew and thrived. When it
was time to wean them, we started
offering them a solid diet that is also
developed specifically for opossums.
This would be the time in the wild
when the baby opossums would
emerge from the marsupium. They
then ride along on the mother’s
or plan to attend the Volunteer
Information Session on April 7th
at 10:00 A.M.
lL
earn
while you help. The
Center offers internships to local
college students who are seeking
hands-on animal care experience. The Center is an approved
work-study facility. Contact Emily
Leghart at eleghart@animalrescue.
org for more information.
back for another month or two.
At the center, we moved them to
an outdoor enclosure to get them
habituated to the outside world to
prepare them for release.
After two months outside,
the opossums were healthy, strong,
and ready for release. We are
always careful about picking good
locations for release sites for the
rehabilitated animals. We want
to be sure that the animals have
ample food sources, a water source,
and shelter. We are also wary of
the weather. We want to give the
animals enough time to acclimate
to their new environment before
it gets cold or rains. With a break
in the weather, we knew it was
time. We released the opossums
close to the stream that will serve
as their water source. Right away
they started to explore and forage,
catching worms, and drinking from
the stream! The sense of reward
and accomplishment that comes
from seeing these animals back in
nature is indescribable. Knowing
that we played a role in the survival
of these amazing creatures is truly
remarkable.
lC
harge
it. Monetary donations
help to keep our doors open throughout the year. Animals don’t have
health insurance to cover their care!
Any donation that you make to the
Center is tax deductible. We accept
cash, checks, Visa & MasterCard
and grocery store gift cards.
lG
rocery
shop for the animals.
Our wish list is lengthy. Visit the
website for details. www.animalrescue.org/donation-wishlist
www.animalrescue.org
Animals’ Winter
Adaptations
The winter months in Pittsburgh have
a storied history of massive snowfalls
and cold temperatures. Heavy coats,
boots, scarves, gloves, and hats all
come out of the closet at this time of
year to help people stay warm and
toasty. The animals we share our city
with stay comfy a little bit differently.
Wintertime can be difficult for our
wildlife neighbors; cold temperatures,
heavy snow, and less food make it a
tough season. Luckily, many of the
animals you’ll see in your yard this
winter have developed some interesting ways to beat the cold.
White-tailed deer, one of
the most common animals in
Southwestern Pennsylvania, are
extremely adept at staying warm in
the winter. Rather than tossing on
a heavy jacket, these deer shed their
light tan summer coats for heavier,
grayish-brown ones. Each of the thick
hairs that make up the winter coat
are hollow; the hollow hairs act as
insulators, trapping body heat close
to the deer’s body to help it keep
warm.
Some animals use their tails
as “scarves” or
“blankets” to keep
warm in winter.
Squirrels use their
fluffy tails as blankets – they wrap
their tails around
their bodies in winter to protect
themselves from snow and wind.
Some squirrels also nest together to
share body heat.
Foxes also use this “blanket”
method. Foxes have very thick, long
tails that they wrap around their bodies to keep warm. Their dense winter
coat begins to grow mid-summer and
is present from October to February.
The hairs in this heavier coat are
thicker, fuller, and longer, acting like a
“parka” to help keep the fox warm.
Heavy fur in the pads of their feet act
as “boots”, protecting their sensitive
pads from ice and snow.
Mink also grow a heavy fur
coat for winter. Just like the fox,
the winter coat of a mink is full and
dense. The mink also employs the
same insulation strategy as the whitetailed deer, holding heat close to its
body and creating its own personal
“space heater.”
Native Pennsylvania wildlife
have developed many different ways
to stay warm in winter, from furry
“coats” and “boots” to “blankets”
and “scarves.” Even though the
winter winds may be blowing, these
clever critters will be toasty and snug.
Gardening with
Wildlife
Animals munching on your shrubs?
Rabbits harvesting your garden?
There are humane ways to have
your garden flourish, while coexisting with your wild neighbors.
Fencing is the easiest and most cost
effective way to keep the animals
from destroying your gardens.
Humane products containing pepper can be purchased and put onto
the plants. If you enjoy visits from
animals, try to provide other foods
to distract from your garden. Bales
of hay, cracked corn, grains, and
bird seed all work well. Make sure
to set up a feeding station away
from the area you are trying to
protect. For very stubborn animals,
ammonia soaked rags can be put
around the perimeter of your garden. Most animals are very irritated
by the smell and will vacate the
area. The rags must be resoaked
every few days to retain the smell.
With a little patience and research,
you can find a number of ways to
enjoy your harvest, and enjoy the
animals!
You can see adoptable pets at Comcast On Demand!
In your On Demand menu, select
Get Local - Pet Adoptions - Pet Adoptions Animal Rescue League
Help us come to their rescue.
5
“Picture This” 12th
Annual Paw Prints
“Picture This,” presented by Ginny
Merchant, was held on October
22, 2011 at Heinz Field in the West
Hall. This remarkable event was
made possible by the diligent efforts
of Chairs Jane and Jerry Voros,
tireless work from our committee
members, and the generosity of our
sponsors and supporters.
Over 400 guests were greeted
by some of our adoptable dogs and
cats, and our shelter cat Max and
given the chance to see some of
our educational wildlife up close,
including our education porcupine
Irwin. Some even took advantage of
getting their photo taken with our
adoptable animals.
A special VIP reception began at
6:00pm. VIP attendees were entertained by strolling Magician Steve
Haberman and the first chance to try
a “Spay Breeze” the evening’s signature drink. Following the VIP recep-
6
tion, Chairs Jane and Jerry Voros
welcomed the attendees to an entertaining evening with live music by
Off Limits, scrumptious cuisine and
auctions of various items provided by
our many generous sponsors.
Former Miss Pennsylvania
Teen Elena LaQuatra assisted Emcee
Sally Wiggin with the live auction.
Items in the auctions included autographed sports memorabilia from the
Pittsburgh Penguins, such as a Mario
Lemieux alumni game jersey, some
fabulous golf vacations and jewelry including a sterling silver ARL
logo necklace. One lucky bidder
walked away with autographed Ben
Roethlisberger game worn shoes.
“Picture This” provided
themed opportunities for the guests.
Besides having your picture taken
with one of our adoptable animals,
you could have a caricature drawn,
and photos taken of you and your
friends. The evening’s colorful cen-
www.animalrescue.org
terpieces included a picture frame
to take home. Guests were treated
to the first viewing of a commercial done by YSC Advertising. The
commercial gives the viewer a look
at seeing daily challenges through
the eyes of animals and an insight
at how the Animal Rescue League
Shelter and Wildlife Center helps
animals with these challenges and
beyond.
Many thanks to Chairs Jane
and Jerry Voros, and so many
other people who contributed to
make this evening happen, including the ARL Board of Directors,
Host Committee, Event Planning
Committee and Volunteers. Special
thanks to our Champion sponsor Ginny Merchant and the many
other sponsors and supporters who
helped make the 12th Annual Paw
Prints Gala a success.
Special thanks to all the animal
lovers in attendance, over $150,000
were raised to help the animals of
the Animal Rescue League Shelter
Sponsors
Champion Sponsor
Ginny Merchant
Companion Sponsors
BNY Mellon
The Donald L. Green
Charitable Trust
Advocate Sponsors
and Wildlife Center. This support
of our largest fundraiser is a critical
component in helping us come to
their rescue.
Friends of the
Animal Rescue League
Aivilas Natural Pet Food
Beaver Animal Clinic
Bone Appetite Barkery
Darla Poole Brescia
Gary and Betty Clark
Dolores Elliott
Eternity Pet Memorial
Rick and Linda Joy
Elizabeth Lange
Oak Tree Investment Advisors
John and Pat Olson
James Rosenberg and Claire Pinyot
Scott Advertising Specialists
Smiley’s Pet Pad
Joanne Starr
Talerico’s Bar & Grill
VCA Northview Animal Hospital
Help us come to their rescue.
Steven and Beverlynn Elliott
Fifth Third Private Bank
Tom, Gail and Fuzzy Litwiler
Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, LLC
Louisa and James Rudolph
Sanford-Brown Institute
UPMC Cancer Centers
YELP
Guardian Sponsors
Bryn Mawr Trust Company
Leo M. Castagnari
Enscoe Long Insurance
Group, LLC
McGuireWoods LLP
Barbara, Herb and Chava Shear
synergIT
Citizens Bank
TRANE
Susan Warner, Architect
and Mark Gitomer
LoyaL Sponsor
Robin Joan Bernstein
Deloitte Services LP
Mt. Lebanon Office Supply
Donna and Kevin Murcko
ThePetangoStore.com
Sandy Phillips
J.L.H. Simonds
Marla and John Zerrer
Tote Bag Sponsor
The Streets of Cranberry
Photo Booth Sponsor
VCA Northview Animal Hospital
7
just ask
jill
Q
A
I found a baby
squirrel… what do
I do?
Step 1: Is the squirrel
bleeding, very cold,
limping, a victim of an
animal attack, or
unconscious? If so, call the center
immediately for instructions.
Step 2: If the answers to the above
questions are NO: see below.
A: Search for a nest. Squirrel nests
are located on the high branches of
trees. They look like a large “knot” of
branches and leaves. If you think that
you have found the nest, place the
mother does not return in 4-6 hours,
baby in a box at the base of the tree.
call the Center for instructions.
Monitor the area from a distance.
B: I f the tree has been cut down, call
The mother should return and carry
the Center for instructions.
the baby back up to the nest. If the
Baby Animals
Are Coming,
Are You Prepared?
to our website, and be ready in case
a baby animal needs your help. Our
website has a wealth of information
about what to do in many wildlife
situations. Simply click on the link
With spring right around the corfor wildlife help, and answers are at
ner, what do you to prepare? Most
your fingertips!
people remove their porch furniture
Good information can be the
from storage, plant their annukey in the rescue of an animal. Often
als and make plans to enjoy the
times, animals that
warm weather. One of the most
people think are in need
important things
of rescue, are actually
that all animal
ue
g
a
e
L
e
u
okay. Always consult
c
lovers should do
imal Res ildlife Center our website, or give
n
A
is become familand W
Shelter
us a call is you are
iar with your local
wildlife rehabilitator.
not sure what to do.
Keep our number by
org Together, we can
.
e
u
c
s
e
the phone, save a link
r
save a life!
animal
300
412-345-7
8
www.
Step 3: If you find a single baby
squirrel alone and it is running up
to people, please call the Center for
instructions.
Wildlife
Dilemma?
Just Ask Jill!
Email your questions to
jargall@animalrescue.org,
submit your questions on
animalrescueleague.tumblr.com/ask
or call 412-793-6900. Your
question will be answered by
email or phone and it may be
featured in a future edition of
Animal Tracks.
www.animalrescue.org
just ask
janice
Q
ow do I stop
H
Puppy Mills?
Have you ever heard of Puppy Mills?
I want to find a way to stop them
because the people who work there
make the mother dog keep having
puppies and puppies, then the puppies
become very sick.
It’s UNFAIR! It just
makes me so angry
and upset. Those poor
puppies. I just don’t understand why
anyone would do such a thing. I am
12 years old and, the thing is, I don’t
know how to stop puppy mills. I can’t
believe they’re even legal!
PUPPY
MILLS
A
I agree, puppy mills are
unfair, and create a great
deal of heartache for both
dogs and people alike!
Like most polarizing issues, the solutions are not always as clear cut as
they may seem. As long as there is
a demand for “designer” breeds and
other specialty dogs, there will be a
market for puppy mills. While I work
in a shelter, I don’t necessarily vilify
all dog breeders. If you want a dog,
you need to do your due diligence to
make sure that you find the right dog
for your situation. For some people,
that means going to a breeder, but a
surprising number of shelter dogs are
actually pure-bred dogs. Just because
a dog comes from a shelter doesn’t
mean that it was abused or is a misfit. Many of the dogs at the Animal
Rescue League are victims of circumstance. The number of surrenders due
to home foreclosure or an inability to
provide basic care for pets is on the
rise. In these cases, the owners are entrusting their pets to our care because
they want the best for their pet. Many
of our animals are simply no longer
wanted.
There are many opportunities for
kids to get involved to help homeless
animals. In most cases you must be 18
to volunteer at a shelter if you wish
to have direct contact with the animals. (At the ARL you can volunteer
with an adult guardian once you turn
13.) There are many other ways that
even very young animal lovers can get
involved. You can raise money to help
support animal shelters. A classmate
of my 8 year-old son has been making
cards and selling lemonade all summer long, as well as collecting items
that can be used in the shelter (sees
our wish list for some ideas). She has
shown a level of altruism that far
surpasses most of her peers, and it all
started because she loves animals.
At even a basic level, you can
make sure that you provide the best
possible care you can for your own
pets. While for some people this
means designer clothes and specialty
beds, all your pets really need is good
quality food, fresh water, a person
to take them to the vet and for daily
walks and the care and compassion
that creates and sustains the humananimal bond.
Since you can’t vote until you are
18, if there are animal-related issues
Help us come to their rescue.
that are important to you, make sure
that you educate yourself (the internet is
great for sharing that kind of information!) so you can in turn educate adults
who you see every day, like your teachers, parents, coaches, etc. In Pennsylvania, laws have recently changed that
have placed puppy mills into the spotlight. Happily, the “Puppy Mill Bill” has
laid a foundation for making conditions
for puppies in these situations better.
Thank you for your passion for
animals! We couldn’t continue to
come to the rescue of thousands of
native wildlife and pets without the
continuous support of people just like
you!
Doggie
Dilemma?
Kitty Crisis?
Just Ask Janice!
Email your questions to
behavior@animalrescue.org,
submit your questions on
animalrescueleague.tumblr.com/ask
or call the ARL Behavior Hotline
at 412-661-6452 x 272. Your
question will be answered by
email or phone and it may be
featured in a future edition of
Animal Tracks.
9
Meet Some of Our
Staff and Volunteers
We thought you would like to meet
some of the volunteers and staff who
help us care for the animals that enter
our shelter and wildlife center.
Meet Emily
1.What you do at the Animal Rescue
League Shelter and Wildlife Center –
I am a Wildlife Rehabilitation
Assistant. I do everything from
cleaning enclosures, and diet
preparation to patient examinations
and administering medical care.
children to give the mothers some
free time to apply for jobs.
3. My first job – I delivered newspapers for the North Hills News Record.
I was eleven.
4. Favorite movie – The Goonies
5. Last book I read – I’m in the middle
of the Terry Pratchett Discworld
Series. I’m on Sorcery.
6. Favorite food – Steamed artichokes
8. Favorite animal – This is too difficult!
I love soooooo many! Maybe a
sloth, or bat, or platypus… I like the
strange ones and the ones that
break the rules.
9.Dream vacation – I go on it every
year with a ton of my family and
friends to Sunset Beach, NC. For
me it’s the people that really make
the vacation. But I wouldn’t turn
down a trip to Italy!
10. Three things on my bucket list –
• I would like to learn how to do a
backhand spring.
2.The first place I volunteered – I
volunteered at a homeless shelter
for women and children. A group
of us would go to the shelter and
play games and activities with the
Meet Sandy
7. Three things always found in my
refrigerator – Soy sauce, ketchup,
sriracha sauce.
3. My first job – … was as part of a
crew that cleaned schools during summer break. There’s nothing quite like scraping gum off the
underside of desks in the heat of
summer.
1. What you do at the Animal Rescue
League Shelter and Wildlife Center –
I am an Animal Care Volunteer
at the Wildlife Center. Our duties
include cleaning cages, doing
dishes and laundry, diet preparation,
assisting staff with meds and treatments, interacting with the educational animals for their enrichment,
and attending fundraisers
and educational activities with
an animal. I’m also a volunteer
supervisor/trainer and serve as
secretary of our volunteer
organization.
7. Three things always found in my
refrigerator – … are cheese, fruit,
and yogurt.
2. The first place I volunteered –
… was as a member of a service
club in high school.
8. Favorite animal – … is my dog, a
labrador retriever adopted from the
Shelter.
• I would like to start an amazing
family.
• I would like to see the Northern
Lights.
9.Dream vacation – … is to go somewhere (anywhere) without having
to dial into a meeting for work.
10. Three things on my bucket list – …
are to go hang gliding, to learn to
swim, and to visit Iceland.
4. Favorite movie – … is “The Usual
Suspects”.
5. Last book I read – … was To Kill a
Mockingbird (again). I never get
tired of it.
6. Favorite food – … is anything made
with chocolate.
To donate go to
http://kuranda.com/
donate/4388/
10
www.animalrescue.org
Meet Erica
1.What you do
at the Animal
Rescue League
Shelter and
Wildlife Center –
I am the assistant medical
manager here
at the ARL and
have been going on three years.
2. The first place I volunteered – My
first job as a veterinarian technician,
I worked at a private clinic named
River Valley Veterinary.
3. My first job – My very first job ever
was when I was working for my parents at their pizza shop called Big
Time Pizza and Wings.
4.Favorite movie – This is a tough
one but I would think that my all
time favorite movie ever would be
Aliens (Because girls can kick
butt too!)
5. Last book I read – It was called
Ms. Peregrines Home for Peculiar
Children. It is an early adult book
and most of my favorite books
come from that section of writing
because of the messages they can
send to kids and adults alike.
6. Favorite food – Another tough one!
I would have to say a nice juicy filet
sautéed in some wine sauce! I love
my meat!
7. Three things always found in my
refrigerator – About 5-7 different
types of cheese! Love cheese! Half
and Half for my coffee! And...frozen
pizza for when you just don’t wanna
do clean up and dishes!
the closest to a dream vacation as I
10. Things on my bucket list – Would
can describe. Possibly starting in Italy
be to open my own shelter up
(since my family is there) going to
where pit bulls would be my main
France and Germany and Switzerland
priority (almost like a rescue),
and such and making my way back
retire in Belize (yay!) and...sky dive
to the home land with the family.
for sure!!
Meet Judy
1. What you do at the Animal Rescue
League Shelter and Wildlife Center I am a dog coach and I help at
some of the Events.
2. The first place I volunteered –
Salvation Army
10. Things on my bucket list – not really
sure. I just want to live a long and
healthy life so I can enjoy time with
my family. I hope to have grandchildren someday and plan to be a
big part of their lives.
3. My first job – Pizza Shop
4. Favorite movie – Dances With Wolves
5. Last book I read – really do not like
to read
6. Favorite food – seafood and anything Italian
7. Three things always found in my
refrigerator – milk, cheese, butter
8. Favorite animal – definitely dogs
9. Dream vacation - any beach, I love
to sit and listen to the waves all day
Meet Lynn
1. What you do at the Animal Rescue
League Shelter and Wildlife Center –
I foster dogs, particularly those
who are “behaviorally-challenged,”
and help to find them a forever
home.
8.Favorite animal – My favorite animal
would have to a dog and more
accurately PIT BULLS!! Close second
would be an elephant!
2. The first place I volunteered –
My first dog, an American Bulldog mix
named Lucky, was a certified Therapy
Dog and we
visited the
residents of an
assisted living
facility.
9.Dream vacation – WOW! I have
travelled to quite a few places, I
would say that Greece is a biggie
on my list as well as Egypt. So a tour
around Europe would probably be
3.My first job –
Typist at the
Mt. Lebanon
Parking
Authority
Help us come to their rescue.
4. Favorite movie – When Harry
Met Sally. I love the scene where
Harry runs through the streets of
New York to find Sally on New
Year’s Eve.
5. Last book I read – Alton Brown’s
“Good Eats 3: The Later Years”
6. Favorite food – Any kind of
seafood
7. Three things always found in my
refrigerator – Romaine lettuce,
cheese, eggs
8. Favorite animal – Dogs, and at the
zoo I love to watch the sea lions
9. Dream vacation – A trip to Disney
with my niece and nephews
10. Things on my bucket list – I don’t
have a bucket list…I prefer to take
life as it comes.
11
So many ways to find
the Animal Rescue
League of Western PA…
6620 Hamilton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-661-6452
• Contains the majority of
adoptable dogs, cats, bunnies, small
rodents (x215)
• Open 7 days a week
• Veterinary Clinic (x223 or x211)
• Lost & Found Services (x216)
Baby Shower
2012
When:Saturday, March 31, 2012
Noon – 4pm
Where:600 Verona Road
Verona, PA 15147
Winter is here and the Center is looking forward to some
down time! In addition to caring for Pennsylvania’s
winter resident animals in need, we plan to paint, clean,
and organize the building. Winter is the time that we
catch up on our educational reading, attend conferences
and have special volunteer training sessions, so that we
are refreshed and knowledgeable for the next batch of
spring babies.
Rosedale Boarding Kennels
6000 Verona Road
Verona, PA 15147
412-793-1135
• Grooming Salon
• Boarding Kennels
(Open to Public)
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
The beginning of spring will bring the annual Baby
Shower, our seasonal fundraiser to benefit Mother
Nature’s babies. Planning has already begun for this
event! Activities such as tours, games, raffles and
education programs will appeal to everyone!
6000 Verona Road
Verona, PA 15147
412-793-6900
• Brownie and Girl Scout Badge Programs
• Internships
• Education Programs
• One-Day Camps and Tours
Don’t forget to look at our website for more information
and to see the Babies “Wish List.” This list includes gift
ideas that our babies will need in the coming months.
Petco Stores
(Robinson, Waterworks, South Hills,
McKnight Road, Waterfront)
Please mark your calendars for Saturday, March 31,
2012, so that you don’t miss out on the fun!
• Hours Vary by Store
• ARL Cats and Kittens only
Liquid Laundry Detergent
Canned Mixed Fruit
Unscented Dawn
Liquid Dish Soap
Dry Kitten Food
Paper Towels
Kitty Litter
Toilet Paper
Bleach
Garbage Bags
(30 and 55 gallon)
Baby Food Mixed Veggies
Exact
• ARL Cats and Kittens only
Baby Food Garden Veggies
Pedialyte
ARL Internet Information
Canned Cream Corn
Wild Bird Seed
Freeze Dried Mealworms
Rabbit Food
Knox Blox
Rolled Oats
Canned Carrots
Poultry Feed
Canned Peaches
Gift Cards to Home Depot,
Lowes, Jo-Ann Fabrics,
Michael’s Crafts, WalMart
and Giant Eagle
Petland (East Liberty)
• ARL Cats and Kittens only
Animal Nature (Regent Square)
• ARL Cats and Kittens only
• Intake/Surrender Services (x215)
The Platinum Pooch (Verona)
http://www.animalrescue.org
http://twitter.com/AnimalRescueLg
http://twitter.com/arlwildlife
http://opendoorshelters.org
Facebook: Animal Rescue League
Facebook: ARL Wildlife Center
12
Don’t forget the
animals this
spring! Below
are some items
that are on
their list:
Canned Pears
Canned Peas
Latex Gloves
www.animalrescue.org
UPC MING EVENTS
Only
Hug-A-Bun
Please feel free to join us at the Animal Rescue League
for our “Hug-A-Bun Sundays.”
We let out all the shelter rabbits in the multipurpose room. This is a wonderful time for those
who may be thinking about adopting a house
rabbit. The rabbits are set up in large exercise
pens so that they can run around and stretch as well
as be socialized with other rabbit volunteers, previous adopters, fosters,
and those who may be looking to adopt.
JOIN US from 1-3 pm on any of these dates!
January 22, 2012 February 26, 2012
March 18, 2012
April 15, 2012
May 13, 2012
June 24, 2012
B*tches
Ball
d
lp u
s celebrate worl
Noon – 5pm
• Adoptable Animals
• Raffles
• Goody Bags
Carrie’s Off Mane
3910 Main St Ste 3
Munhall, PA 15120
(412) 461-7370
Fashion Show and Luncheon
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Drink
Specials
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
6 - 9 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm)
• Spay Breeze Light Up Glass*
• First Drink
• Appetizers
• DJ
• Giveaways
Sunday, March 25, 2012
in Pittsburgh’s
Grand Hall at the Priory
1600 Smallman Street
ay
yD
a
p
S
Tickets $30 ($40 at the door) includes:
Haircuts
Help Animals
A Mutter’s Day
Cruze Bar
He
10
$
Silent
Auction
Order tickets online at
animalrescue.org/events
*While supplies last.
Help us come to their rescue.
50/50
Drawing
Doors open at
11:30 a.m.
for shopping
Lunch is at 12:30 p.m.
Lunch choices:
Salad with your choice of seared tuna or
portabella mushrooms
Fashion Shows
• Canine fashions featuring ARL Alumni Dogs
• Women’s fashions by Carabella
Sponsored by Kenny Ross Automotive and Littles Shoes
Co-Chairs: Grandmutters Debbie Sigal and Ilene Ross
Purchase tickets at www.animalrescue.org/events
13
Four Years in a Row
(Continued from page 1)
ward appearance, Fox was a great guy
who really deserved a great chance.
Because of Fox, the ARL was able to
develop a wonderful relationship with
Urban Dog. Urban
Dog now has a new foster dog for the
ARL, Shiloh, and many of the other
dogs are able to spend time
using the daycare or spa
facilities. Most importantly,
Fox is happy, loved and no
longer has to feel any stress!!
Sara adopted Willy, a 5 year-old
longhair adult cat. Willy was found
as a stray, but her finder was unable
to keep her. She had tried a “No Kill”
shelter, but was turned away due to
the shelter being full. As an open-door
shelter, the Animal Rescue League
never turns away any animal in need.
Willy’s beautiful long fur had taken
a bit of a beating while she was on
the streets, so she had to be groomed
and got a hair cut. Willy is very sweet,
loving cat. She can barely contain her
excitement when someone is paying
attention to her, and she purrs up a
storm when scratched behind her ears.
She’s friendly and affectionate, and
loves having her belly rubbed. Like
many former strays, Willy is a little
befuddled by toys.
“Every time I visited the shelter,
I said hello to Willy, and my opinion
never changed from the first time
I met her: sweet, loving, excited to
have attention, purrs readily when
scratched. Friendly and affectionate.
Just the sweetest cat! Even though
she was stuck in a cage for weeks, it
didn’t really dampen her spirits. She
stayed friendly and loving and just
adorable.” stated volunteer Tanya
Veverka.
Sara was shopping with friends
when she came across the ARL at
an event. She stopped to see two
!
0
5 1
0
14
kittens at play and
at first was thinking of
adopting them. Getting encouragement from her friends, but still feeling hesitant, she decided to talk to
volunteer Patti Romono. Realizing
the amount of work two kittens
would be, she decided to go to the
shelter and look at some of the adult
cats. As it turned out, Patti was talking to the staff about this girl who
would be in to look at adult cats.
To her surprise, Sara and her friends
were already in one of the meet and
greet rooms with Willy. “Willy was
love at first sight,” commented Sara.
She and her friends were so excited;
they came back to the event to tell
everyone she adopted Willy.
Many bow wows and meows
of thanks to the community for
its steadfast support in helping the
Animal Rescue League meet
its Drive for Five goal again!
With 2011 as the program’s
fourth year, the Drive for
Five campaign has been
extremely successful,
providing not only many
animals with a home, but
also heightening the awareness
and support for the shelter. Reaching
such a milestone four years in a row
is amazing. However, pets in need
of a home enter our shelter each and
every day. As an open-door shelter,
we turn no animal in need away. We
are “Beyond No Kill.” Community
animals must go somewhere.
Selective entry shelters who gain
public support by billing themselves
as “No Kill” do not take in every
animal. This sometimes makes us the
last resort for an animal that has the
most need to have a second chance.
By opening our doors to all animals,
we are still able to offer quality
adoptable animals, resulting in more
adoptions annually from our shelter
as compared to “No Kill” selective
shelters. Sometimes an animal just
needs to be rehabilitated before they
can be adopted. Others are given the
best care until a difficult decision has
to be made. Adoptable animals can
be viewed 24 hours a day at www.
animalrescue.org. The Animal Rescue
League, located at 6620 Hamilton
Avenue in Pittsburgh’s East End, is
open seven days a week for adoptions. Supporters who cannot offer
forever homes to the animals can
provide temporary foster care, give
in-kind or monetary donations, volunteer at the shelter or help with offsite events. With our shelter’s sparse
resources, the success of the “Drive
for Five” program would not be
possible without the tireless efforts of
the Animal Rescue League’s Board,
staff, volunteers and donors. In 2008,
5,150 animals became someone’s pet.
The trend continued in 2009 with
5,228 homeless animals being
placed. 2010 was a banner year
placing 5,249 animals in a
home. Thus far, 2011 proved
to be our most successful
year by placing 6,185 homeless animals. In January 2012, we
began the fifth annual “Drive for
Five.” We hope you can help us have
another successful year. You need to
just look into the eyes of a homeless
pet and you’ll understand why we
want to find each and every one of
them a loving home.
www.animalrescue.org
Fourth Graders Show Their Generosity
Save the Date
2012 Animal Rescue League
Golf Outing
Monday,
June 11, 2012
Westmoreland Country Club
7100 Mellon Road, Export, PA 15632
Instead of a gift exchange grab bag during their Christmas party, Ms. Saks,
Ms. Kolarosky and Mrs. Ucciardo’s fourth grade classes at Chartiers Valley
Intermediate School generously donated $366.23 to help the animals at the
Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center. On behalf of all the animals,
we thank you for your generosity!
Visit www.animalrescue.org
for more information.
FREE registration when you run with our team
Paws Over Pittsburgh!
PITTSBURGH MARATHON 2012
3!
Helping Animals is as easy as 1-2-
Step 1
Register at www.animalrescue.org/node/272
If you prefer not to run/walk
in the marathon, you can
still support the Animal
Rescue League by simply
selecting a runner/walker
to support at:
www.active.com/donate/
pawsoverpittsburgh
Step 2
Set up your fundraising page
Become A Fundraiser at
www.active.com/donate/pawsoverpittsburgh
Step 3
Run or Walk on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Help us come to their rescue.
15
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PITTSBURGH, PA
PERMIT NO. 1510
Save Money,
Get Cashback,
and Help Us
Help the Animals
Simply Shop for Your
Household Items Online
1. Go to
www.shop.com/animalrescue
2. Sign-in or simply search for what
you are looking for in the search
window.
3. It’s EASY!, It saves you MONEY!
It gives you CASHBACK! It
HELPS US!
4. Also, tell your friends, family or
others and they can help too, while
you can also get more cashback
(.5% more.) Give them your email
address to use when asked for the
email of the person who referred
them.
5. SHOP at www.shop.com/
animalrescue. Get in-store prices
including sale prices, get 2 to 35%
cashback, and get additional cashback for referrals.
6. There are 3500 stores, including:
Apple, Cabelas, Macy’s, Walmart,
KMart, Target, Overstock, Radio
Shack, Southwest, Dell, Tiger
Direct, Old Navy, Dick’s, Office
Depot, Office Max, OmahaSteaks,
H&R Block, Hammacker
Schlemmer, Hanes, Toys R Us,
PetCo, PetSmart, patagonia,
Payless Shoes, PetHealth,
PetMoutain, Pet Source, PetCareRx
and more
7. Questions, call (412) 889-6652
www.animalrescue.org