volunteers for animals

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.

Information provided by Volunteers for Animals:

Volunteers For Animals will be offering a microchip clinic during Hogs for Paws at Stan's Harley Davidson from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13th. The motorcycle dealership is located at 4425 W. Saile Drive in the Town of Batavia.

Cost of microchipping is $30 per animal, which includes the injection, a collar ID tag and national registration. Accepted payment is either cash or checks (made out to Volunteers For Animals), sorry no credit cards. No preregistration necessary.

Each dog or cat must be accompanied by someone who can control it. Cats MUST be in carriers. You will need an email address for registration purposes. Free registration is done through FoundAnimals.org

What is a microchip?
The microchip is a tiny computer chip which has an identification number programmed into it and is encapsulated within a biocompatible material. The whole device is small enough to fit inside a hypodermic needle and can be simply injected under the skin of our pets, where it will stay for the life of the animal.

This provides a permanent, positive identification which cannot be lost, altered or intentionally removed - a safe, simple and inexpensive way to protect your pet against loss or theft. The computer memory in the microchip contains a unique number -- no two animals will ever have the same number. A radio signal is used to read this number through the skin of your pet. It is routine for animal shelters and veterinarian offices to scan pets for microchips.

Real stories about local pets...

Molly was taken to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and that is when they found she was microchipped.

They called the owner and gave her the incredible news that her dog who had ran away two years ago was at the Shelter. It was quite a reunion which never would have happened had Molly not been microchipped.

Microchips talk for animals when collars and tags go missing.

She had been on her own throughout the winter. She had a BB lodged in her side and patches of fur missing, most likely from a car engine fan.

She was posted for adoption on our website and within days her family spotted her on the website. They came into the Shelter and sure enough it was her. They lived a block away on Tracy Avenue.

Chevy had bolted from the house in the fall. They were lucky in many ways: the nice person on Summit took her to the vet for her care and brought her to the Shelter and they spotted her on the website.

Had Chevy been microchipped, the folks at the shelter could have found her family more quickly without risk of her being adopted by someone else. Even house cats need to be microchipped!

There will be a big honkin' garage sale at Rick's Storage to benefit the critters at the Genesee County Animal Shelter from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 16-18. All proceeds will go toward the homeless animals. Rick's Storage is located at 3566 W. Main Street Road in the Town of Batavia.

Donations are still being gratefully accepted at the shelter. Drop off good used stuff at the shelter, located at 3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia. NO CLOTHES OR TVs.

Go on, clean that garage, get rid of the old china you never use, toss those doodads and whatnots, be gone with the plastic flowers and rusty tools. Out with it, already! Let someone else take pleasure in your treasure. Recycle your finds. You'll be glad you did and so will the cats and dogs in need.

Press release:

Come out and support the animals of the Genesee County Animal Shelter by donating scrap metal.

Volunteers for Animals are collecting scrap metal to raise money for the animals from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th in the parking lot at the shelter, located at 3841 W. Main Street Road, Batavia.

Metal of any kind will be accepted: 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.

We CANNOT take propane tanks, air-conditioning units, or refrigerators.

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

UPDATE 12:58 p.m., June 1: Due to the overwhelming response from donors wishing to have their scrap metal items picked up, the Volunteers for Animals are going to be extra busy doing just that between now and the weekend. So people are encouraged to find a way to bring their own scrap metal donations to the site, if arrangements have not already been made.