Choosing to own a pet is a lot like falling in love. The commitment comes with a flood of endorphins to usher in a joyful, life altering experience. Forethought on what you’re seeking in the relationship may better the chances of making it a lasting and fulfilling one.

When Abby Berenbak, Development Manager, consults the public on the questions one should

ponder, she starts with the basics: What type of pet best suits your lifestyle– a fish, a cat, a dog or a guinea pig? The next question follows: Short or long hair? Then: How active are you when you’re not at work? And: How do your vacation plans fit in with your pet’s needs? How much does your job demand you to be away from home? Consider how much time you want to devote to a family member that will be solely dependent on you. Also, what are you looking for in a pet – companionship or

protection, for example?

Shelter pets cost significantly less than those purchased from a breeder and include shots, microchipping, spaying or neutering and temperament testing.

If you’re set on a dog or a cat, here are some questions to ask yourself before visiting the shelter and falling for an irresistible fuzzy face: Some varieties of cats are more

The Newsletter of Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter Summer 2015 www.njshelter.org

Mt. P l e a s a n t A n i m a l S h e l t e ranimal crackersSo You Think You’re Ready for a Dog or Cat Written by Paula Ristuccia

active than others. Do you want a lap cat or a playful one? Kitten or puppy? Does the idea of a dog that would enthusiastically run by your side or jump through agility hoops to burn off energy entice you? Would you like a dog that needs a job, or do you prefer a lovable couch potato? Perhaps a house broken pet that’s mellowed a few years past adolescence suits the bill.

“There’s nothing wrong in any of those choices,” Abby says. “It’s just about what fits your lifestyle.”

If you work 8-10 hours a day you might not want a high energy dog, she explains. But if you work that much and can manage doggie day car or a dog walker, and on weekends you go running or enjoy a long hike, you may consider a semi-active or active dog. With cats, energy levels also vary. Your children may want a playful kitty or would be content with one who curls beside them while they play video games.

Perhaps you’re the kind of person who likes a trial run. The opportunity to foster a pet helps to convince family members, or even a landlord, that owning a pet is the right move. Being a foster offers practice and responsibility while it allows the family to get to know a pet’s personality. If it works out for the best, Mt. Pleasant can finalize an adoption!

On your visit to the shelter, take time to ask counselors questions on temperament. They usually know the pets well and can suggest which ones present a good match. Experts recommend to keep an open mind. You may be

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Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter’s Board of DirectorsKelly Lustig PresidentMelissa Duffner First Vice President Lynn Bailey Second Vice PresidentHenry Ristuccia TreasurerJoan Beeson SecretaryHarvey Bazaar Robert Burn Mary Jane Lenox Risa M. Greenstein Suzanne Roman Daniel Schwartz, MD

MPAS StaffSuzanne Roman Executive DirectorStephen Echevarria General ManagerKathy Gallagher‒Leck Assistant ManagerAnn DeSombre Assistant Manager Abby Berenbak Development ManagerChristine Conte Part Time Volunteer AssistantMarcy Poquette Development AdministratorKim Catalano Full Time ReceptionistMaureen Prince Part Time ReceptionistAlexandra Favetta Lead Veterinary TechnicianMichael Sandillo Assistant Veterinary TechnicianMark Coviello Assistant Veterinary Technician

Adoption Counselors/ Animal CaregiversTracy Wood Shannon Bulger Misty Chan Megan Losardo Jackie SimmonsKiana Chan

Night‒Shift CaregiversMichael Clarey Abbie Gramatica Kim Jensen

TrainerMarsha Egeth

Letter From the DirectorDear Friends,

Countless pairs of innocent little eyes have opened for the first time in the past few months. These beautiful animals entered the world full of promise, yet they faced immediate adversity. That is, until they arrived at the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. With your generous support, we rescue babies on a daily basis and give them a safe haven. Here they grow and thrive. Then we find them loving families.

Then there are the mamas. When there are lots of babies, the older animals take that much longer to get adopted. It’s a domino effect. Long after the babies have been adopted, the moms linger behind waiting for someone to fall in love with them.

At Mt. Pleasant, with your continued support, animals have all the time they need to find their next home. We have no time or space limits here. Every adoptable animal gets a home.

Our lifesaving work hinges on the generosity of community members like you. At this extremely busy time of year, our resources are pushed to their limits and sometimes beyond.

You can help us spay and neuter every animal that comes through our doors, making a small but powerful dent in the pet overpopulation problem plaguing us every day. This simple surgery is the key to ending the cycle of overpopulation, but it takes resources from kind people like you to help us provide spay neuter surgery for the nearly 1,200 animals who are neutered here each year.

I am so grateful that Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter is among the organizations that you hold dear. Your support means the world to the animals who have nowhere else to turn.

Suzanne RomanSuzanne Roman, Executive Director

Letter From the President Dear Friends of Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter,

Happiness is getting word that one of our dogs or cats is leaving the shelter with a wonderful forever family. Tears of joy come when one of our pets who has waited a long time is finally adopted. Finally Darla found a home after months of hard work by staff member Shannon and volunteer Anne and her husband Peter. Our Team MPAS spends extra time hugging, loving, tummy-rubbing, walking, taking pets for car rides and overnights just to have them super ready when that special adoption family comes to meet them.

This extra attention is given to all of our pets waiting with us until their magical moment comes. MPAS angels support our Road to Happiness trips, medical needs, fostering experiences, training, walking and gifting of beds and toys. Then our special adoption counselors help match cats and dogs to the perfect family for both parties. That is why MPAS is special. We spend extra time getting each fur baby ready for you. In this newsletter we are suggesting some hints so that you are prepared for the joy that will come your way when you bring your new four-legged family member home with you. We are your support to make the transition from shelter to home seamless.

You can be a part of the MPAS happiness experience to make our miracles happen. You can consider being a volunteer, a foster, come to an event, help at an event, bring us pet food or supplies, talk to us about your estate plan or come in to see how you can be more involved. Your happiness will expand as your participation grows.

The weather is good. Come out and see us at the shelter or at an event. Come join us at our most fun family event Mutts Mania on September 20, 2015.

Thank you for your continued support of MPAS. Woofs and meows from Jax’s friends at MPAS.

Kelly LustigPresident, MPAS Board of Directors

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So You Think You’re Ready for a Dog or Cat

Continued from page 1

focused on a particular breed, size or age, but the right choice for you may look different than what you expect. If other pets live in the home, of course, you will want to evaluate their chemistry.

Expenses may prove to be one of the biggest considerations. Medical

care, dental cleaning – especially for small dogs – food, toys, licensing and training add up throughout the year. The goal is to aim for realistic expectations.

Even with the best intentions, humans can’t always predict the future. Changes arise such as a new job, a move or becoming a caregiver. When the unexpected situation upsets the balance and circumstances prevent you from keeping a pet, adoption offers an advantage – Mt. Pleasant gives support if a pet needs to be returned or requires special attention. Our staff and trainer will seek solutions to keep the pet in the home. An additional benefit of adopting vs. buying – the shelter’s return policy aims to rehome a cat or dog when life disrupts the best-laid plans.

Becoming a pet owner implies a long-term commitment. Forming any new partnership requires some insight and planning. Set yourself up for success.

“Being a foster offers practice and

responsibility..”

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wish list OUR GREATEST NEEDS

NN Clorox Nonscented Disinfecting Bleach

NN Paper TowelsNN Royal Canin Baby Cat weaning kibble dry and canned

NN Royal Canin Medium Puppy Dry

NN Forever Postage StampsNN Clay Cat Litter (non‒clumping type)

NN Canned cat and kitten foodNN Supermarket Gift CardsNN Gift Cards for Petsmart and Target

NN Gift Cards for Home Depot

PET SUPPLIESNN Martingale collars for dogsNN New litter pans without hoods

NN Bumper style flat cat bedsNN KMR‒kitten milk replacement

NN New kitten nursing bottlesNN Cat toysNN 6 ft. leashesNN Doggie poop pick-up bags

GENERAL PURPOSENN TissuesNN Toilet paperNN Puppy Wee Wee padsNN Liquid Laundry DetergentNN 50-gallon black trash bagsNN Decorative ribbon and plastic wrap to use for events

WE ALWAYS NEED VOLUNTEERS!

NN Volunteers as foster familiesNN Volunteers to walk dogsNN Volunteers to help with fundraisers and events

NN Volunteers to plan and execute supply collection drives

NN Volunteers to do clerical tasks

To donate supplies online, simplygo to www.yougivegoods.com/MPAS.

We are grateful for our volunteers and foster parents every day, but one night a year (that is all our volunteers will allow and they even complain we are doing “too much” that night) we like to take a night out to celebrate all of the amazing work they do for our homeless dogs and cats. This year, that night was May 6th, and in space donated by the Madison Elks and with food deliciously prepared by Pizza Oven Mama Mia, we feted these fabulous folks in style!

Many of you have met our volunteers, like Rich Seguine, who help show off our adoptable pets to the public at countless events throughout the community or seen our dog walkers, like David Chang, who help get our pooches out for walks and love on a daily basis. Perhaps you have visited our catteries and chatted with some of our cat socializers, like Miriam Cannavale, who bless our cats daily with their kind and loving nature.

But for every wonderful volunteer representing us to the public, we have an equally great volunteer working behind the scenes to help ensure everything that needs to be done for our homeless pets is accomplished. If you have adopted from us within the last few years, that wonderful adoption packet you received was put together by our talented and committed volunteer Jackie Yanez. If you have liked or commented on something on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, chances are Dana Haase generated and posted that wonderful content. Every ink, toner, or cell phone has been transported by Mary Ellen Schultzer to Joan Bowling who works feverishly in her garage to ensure this recycling program pays big bucks to our dogs and cats.

Along with all of the volunteers that come in and out of our Shelter for these activities, we also have an amazing network of foster parents who take our puppies and kittens home, caring for them night and day to ensure they are happy, healthy, and ready for adoption.

These passionate and committed people listed here are just a few of the many that walk our dogs, love our cats, clean our shelter, and make our events and donation programs a success for all our homeless pets. And there is always room for more. Anyone interested in learning more about volunteering and/or fostering, can contact us at abby@njshelter.org or 973-386-0034.

An Evening of Thanks-Written by Abby Berenbak

How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice. Hi, I’m Stephen Echevarria and let me tell you a little bit about myself. First of all, my name is actually Esteban. Feel free to call me Stephen, Steve, Esteban, or Batman. Now that we have the introduction out of the way, I can tell you the tale of how I ended up here at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter.

I graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Accounting. During this time, I was the lead singer of a hardcore band working at a salon/spa. Sounds like a bad sitcom right? Well, to answer your question, yes, I did try to make one. Nobody liked it.

While playing hockey (oh yeah, I also play hockey), an opposing player decided he would break my leg in two places and dislocate my ankle for me. I know, very thoughtful of him. This left me off of my feet for three months with nothing but my cats Buchanan, Mountain Dew, and my thoughts. It was time to move on with my career.

All healed up and ready to take on the accounting world, I sent my resume everywhere. The only problem is that being able to scream in five different pitches is not something accounting firms are looking for. There were a few interviews, but no takers.

Discouraged, I had a long talk with a friend who told me, “You know, your love and connection with animals is remarkable. Find a shelter nearby, donate your time and clear your head.” With that, I found Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, volunteered, and the rest is history.

Three years later, I am forever grateful for everything that Mt. Pleasant has given me and taught me. I have learned so much in this short amount of time working with such wonderful and loving people. I have adopted five beautiful souls from here (RIP Zoey and Delphine). I have truly found my place.

Thank you to my family, our board members, our fabulous volunteers, and my wonderful coworkers for all the support throughout my journey. Together, we will bring Mt. Pleasant to its full potential, saving thousands of lives along the way!

SERVICES/PROGRAMS• Kennel Enrichment• Shelter Partnering• Community Partnering• Pet Concierge and Kitty

Companion pet matching services

• Home to Home Adoption Microchipping

ADOPTION CENTER HOURSTuesday & Thursday 12‒7Monday, Wednesday & Friday 12‒4Saturday & Sunday 12‒5

Closed all major holidays.

MISSION STATEMENTMt. Pleasant Animal Shelter is a non‒profit animal welfare organization that is 100% privately funded. Our mission is threefold:

• To provide exceptional care for homeless animals

• To promote spaying/neutering, microchipping and humane education

• To place homeless cats and dogs in permanent, loving homes

PRIVACY POLICYMt. Pleasant appreciates your support. Each gift – no matter the size – makes a difference in the lives of our homeless animals. In accordance with our donor privacy policy, donor names will no longer be published in our newsletters. Mt. Pleasant does not sell, share, or release donor information under any circumstances and will not publish information without prior consent.

Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter 194 Route 10 West • East Hanover, NJ 07936 • Phone: 973‒386‒0590 • Web: www.njshelter.org

At Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, no animal is ever euthanized for lack of space.

“Like” us on Facebook. Mt. Pleasant

Animal Shelter

Follow us on Twitter.@mpasanimals

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Meet our new General Manager

Reagan

We adopted Reagan (“Alex”) from Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter a month ago today, and we couldn’t be happier! Reagan has fit right in with our family, and he has found a constant companion in our one year old lab, Gracie. They love to play (and nap) together!

— Leslie A.

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happy tailsHarrington

We are delighted to have added Harrington to our family! We renamed him- he is now Sir Purrington. A very fitting name for such a regal cat! — Ayesha I.

Kelsey and Satchmo (formerly Daisy and Kai)

Here’s a photo of the dogs on their first play date. They are both happy and healthy. Thanks to everyone at the shelter for their care and help with facilitating the adoptions. We love them!

— Ellen K. and family

Hunter

Just wanted to give a BIG thank you to Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter for allowing us to meet our little Hunter!!! We are so happy with our fur baby and can’t get enough of him!

— The Pardo Family

Jasmine

Here is queen of the castle, Jasmine. She’s settled in nicely, and I am enjoying her very much. — Pat K.

Ema and Ozzy

Loving them to pieces — Carolyn J.