&letterheadAnimal help badly needed

TO THE EDITOR: The Adirondack Humane Society needs your help! Since opening our shelter in 1998 we have placed over 2,700 animals into caring homes and spayed or neutered over 3,300. The latter alone negated the possible births of thousands of unwanted offspring and thus needless and heartless euthanasias.

We are a no-Kill shelter.

It takes money to accomplish the above, and luckily we have an active board that does much to bring in needed cash and a populace that has been generous. But due to the vast number of people who do not spay or neuter their pet, it is not enough. Our AHS expenditures for the fiscal year ending this past June 30 were $166,037; however our income was only $155,230. Simple math indicates we spent $10,807 more than we received. Animal medical care alone for the year totaled $32,546.

In July, the first month of AHS's new fiscal year, we spent $7,240 more than we received. What was our biggest expense? July's animal medical care cost was $7,449, most of this necessitated by the many cats and newborn kittens, dropped off at our door, many in the middle of the night.

These animals are all spayed or neutered, and all incoming dog exams include updating inoculations and preventive measures for distemper, kennel cough, parvo, rabies, Lyme disease, deworming, heartworm (treated if positive), etc., all cats are tested for feline leukemia, immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and upper respiratory infections. We also render necessary medical care to include setting broken bones, treating diabetes etc. and as indicated above, every animal is spayed or neutered.

I know it's not the best of times but if you can help, any amount would be deeply appreciated. Also if you own a business and agree to put one of our six inch tall dog or cat banks on your counter, which we would empty monthly, that would be a help. Call me if you are interested. (561-8533)

Nick Masters

Plattsburgh

Adirondack Humane Society

&letterheadBOP memorable

TO THE EDITOR: The Battle of Plattsburgh Commemoration gets more popular every year. This year, 171 re-enactors and workers were served dinner at the Kent DeLord House Museum encampment. Many hands make light work.

Thanks are due these merchants for contributing the food: Price Chopper, WalMart, Hannaford, Lashway's Meat, Stone's Smoke House, Conroy's Organics, Cumberland Bay Market, Homestead Restaurant, Broadview Deli, Anthony's, Butcher Block, Liquor and Wine Warehouse, and Island Machine.

Those working and contributing to the dinner include: Marty Bachmann, Pat Loughan, Marvin and Bonnie Benton, John Huru, Dave and Margaret Tallman, Laurie and Thaddeus Booth-Trudo, Glenda Rowe, John and Louise Tanner, Jean Waugh, Jim Bennett, Nancy LaPlante, Deb Kimock, Deanne Price, and Dick Ward.

Those organizing and enabling this project include: John Kreuger, Christal and Craig Russell, Sharon Bainbridge, and Don Craig.