Lee County Holds Special Events to Kick-Off Grand-Re-Opening of Pet Shelter April 18, 2011

 

Following a year of new construction and renovations, Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS) will celebrate the shelter’s Grand Re-Opening by offering half off the regular adoption fee during the entire month of May!  Special May events will kick-off with a “Ribbon Chewing Ceremony” May 18^th at 11:00 am with Lee County Commissioners marking the official opening of the agency’s new Spay and Neuter, Lost and Found Pets, and Adoption Centers.  Continuing the festivities, the shelter also will host a May Madness Pet Adoption Day on May 21^stwhen all pets may be adopted for only $25!  Guided shelter tours of the new facility will be offered both days.

LCDAS invites the public to visit all the pets available for adoption and consider adding a new member to their family.  “Despite the economy, people are still adding new pets to their family yet the shelter has experienced a 20% decline in adoptions since January,” reports Donna Ward, LCDAS Director.   “We’d like everyone to see the wonderful pets we have here at the shelter before purchasing a new dog or cat from a pet store, she adds.”  

May’s reduced adoption fees will still include the complete package of services consisting of sterilization, age appropriate vaccinations, county license, microchip ID, worming, flea treatment, a heartworm test for dogs, feline aids and leukemia test for cats, 10 Day Health Guarantee, and a bag of Hill’s Science Diet dog or cat food.  The adoption package is valued at over $500!

View the variety of pets waiting to be adopted at www.LeeLostPets.comor head to the shelter at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers next to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office off Six Mile Cypress Parkway.  Adoption hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. 

For more information about pets for adoption go to www.LeeLostPets.comor call (239) 533-7387 (LEE-PETS).  The website updates hourly so current information is always available.  If you are inquiring about a pet you have seen online, please have the animal ID number ready for faster assistance.

HOME 4 THE HOLIDAYS November 30, 2010

 

Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS) will join more than 3,500 pet shelters and adoption centers across the U.S, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico during Home 4 the Holidays 2010, a national event organized to raise awareness of the joys of owning shelter-adopted pets.  Organizers hope to match more than 1.5 million dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens with loving, adoptive families.  LCDAS will launch its local campaign on December 1^st and by December 31^st hopes to place 300 pets from its facility into life-long homes.  

In the past some shelters have actually gone so far as to discourage families from adopting pets during the holidays. This did not stop them from getting new pets. It just took away the adoption option and forced them to support the puppy mill industry. As always, the shelter works to match the needs of the pets with the desires of the families.  

The adoption fee for all pets includes spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, flea treatment, worming, heartworm test for dogs six months or older, feline aids and leukemia test for cats, a Lee County license for pets three months or older, training DVD, Behavior Hotline, Microchip Pet ID, Hill’s Science Diet pet food, and 10-day Health Guarantee.  The total adoption package is valued at more than $500.  

Each week during December adopters also will be entered for a prize drawing.  With all that is offered with each adoption there is no better time to add a new companion to your family.  

Adoption hours at Lee County Domestic Animal Services are 11:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday through Saturday.  For more information call 533-7387 (LEE-PETS).  Pictures of pets available for adoption can be viewed online at www.LeeLostPets.com.  The website updates hourly.  

More information about the Animal Care Trust Fund (ACTF) is also available at www.LeeLostPets.com.  Please remember the ACTF for tax-deductible year-end giving.  This fund assisted over 1,200 pets during 2009 requiring veterinary care for illness or injury.  Donations can be made online or mailed to:  

Animal Care Trust Fund  

c/o Lee County Domestic Animal Services  

5600 Banner Drive  

Fort Myers, FL  33912  

ADOPT A SHELTER DOG-ENRICH YOUR LIFE September 24, 2010

 

Adopting a Shelter Dog will not only save the life of the special dog you take home, but it will also enrich your life!  Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month is observed nationally during the month of October to bring awareness of the many dogs waiting desperately in shelters to find a life-long loving home.  Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS) will celebrate by offering adopters $25 off the regular adoption fee which means they can adopt a dog for $50 or a puppy for $70.  The adoption package includes spay or neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip ID, and many other veterinary services.

Dogs save lives, protect people, are used to fight crime, and become service dogs for the handicapped, yet shelters are full of so many unwanted dogs.  LCDAS takes in approximately 5,000 dogs each year.  People may not realize that abandoned, unwanted and neglected dogs and puppies can make wonderful companions and family pets.  “These dogs have the potential to enrich people’s lives in so many ways,” says Donna Ward, Animal Services Director.  “Our goal is to match each dog with a person or family for the benefit of both,” she adds.

The health benefits of pet ownership have been long established. Statistics show dog owners on average have lower blood pressure, fewer bouts of depressions and often exercise more. Children who have dogs generally learn at a young age the responsibility and the life-long commitment that comes with owning a pet. Dogs also encourage people to exercise, enhance family and social relationships, promote laughter and act as a nonjudgmental audience and sounding board.

During Adopt-A-Dog Month, potential adopters may visit Lee County Domestic Animal Services located off Six Mile Cypress Pkwy next to the Sheriff’s Office to meet potential companions and discover the many benefits of having a dog: happiness, companionship, improved physical and emotional health, and unconditional love.

For more information about Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month, call 239-533-7387 (LEE-PETS) or visit www.LeeLostPets.com.  Also visit the website to view a current list of pets for adoption and lost pets.  The website updates hourly!

FALL FOR A FELINE September 24, 2010

From now until the end of October is the best time to fall for a new feline friend!  Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS) is waiving the adoption fee on all felines six months and over.  In addition to the free adoption, every Friday weekly feline adopters will be entered into a drawing for prizes for their new friend.  The adoption package includes spaying or neutering, age appropriate vaccinations, and much more.  The entire adoption package is valued at over $500.

So could there be a new feline in your family’s future?  There are still more than a hundred shelter cats waiting for a new friend or family at LCDAS.  Consider the facts—felines come with a variety of personalities to suit any person, family, or home.  Many are frisky and funny; some are mellow lap cats; and others are highly intellectual.  The adopter can choose the one that suits them best. 

For those who just can’t adopt a feline this fall there are additional ways to help.  Fostering is one of the shelters’ foremost needs as it gives young kittens a temporary home until they are old enough for adoption and gives adult cats a place to recuperate from illness or injury.  Anyone wishing to be a foster parent can download an application at http://www.LeeLostPets.com or call 533-7387 (LEE-PETS) for more information. 

Another option for those who can’t adopt a feline or foster, is to donate food to the LCDAS Community Pet Pantry.  The Pet Pantry helps pet owners in financial need by providing food so pets may stay in their current loving homes rather than being surrendered to shelters simply because their owners cannot afford to feed them.  Cat food is the Pet Pantry’s greatest need at this time.

More information about the Pet Pantry, pet adoptions, and fostering pets is available online at 533-7387 (LEE-PETS) and at http://www.LeeLostPets.com .  The photos and information about pets on the website is updated hourly.

GCHS PAINT PARTY August 18, 2010

 

 

 The Gulf Coast Humane Society (GCHS) is proud to host a “Paint Party” on Friday, August 20^th from noon to 5:00pm, featuring 25 incoming freshmen students from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). With the volunteer help from the students, along with a generous donation of paint and supplies from Sherwin-Williams, a 24-dog-run kennel which has long been closed and in need of repair is being renovated and will soon reopen. The Paint Party is a highlight of the overall refurbishment of the kennel, which also includes new air conditioning units, new doors, kennel gates and more.

            “Getting this kennel back on line means more unwanted and abandoned dogs can be saved and adopted into forever homes,” says GCHS Executive Director David Stroud. “Twenty-four more dog runs can make possible 150-200 additional adoptions each year. This could not have happened without the charitable donation from our corporate partner Sherwin-Williams, and most especially from the compassionate giving by every individual Kennel Club member who adopted a dog run with their generous gift. And we are grateful and honored to have our cherished community partner – Florida Gulf Coast University – to help make this project a reality to help save the lives of more animals in southwest Florida.”

           Established in 1947, the Gulf Coast Humane Society provides humane care for surrendered animals in Southwest Florida by offering safe refuge, quality medical care, and facilitating adoption into a loving, forever home. The Gulf Coast Humane Society is a private 501(c)(3) not-for-profit animal welfare organization that receives no federal, state, or county funding and no funding from the Humane Society of the United States, and relies solely on donations, grants, bequests and fundraising events to further its mission of caring for the unwanted, neglected and abandoned animals of southwest Florida. The GCHS shelter takes in more than 1,200 animals each year in need of compassionate care. GCHS does not euthanize any animal for lack of space or length of time that they are in the shelter.

The Gulf Coast Humane Society adoption center is located at 2010 Arcadia Street, just off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fort Myers. For more information, call (239) 332-0364 or visit www.gulfcoasthumanesociety.org.

‘SAVE OUR SOMEDAY’ BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE CALUSA NATURE CENTER July 20, 2010

 

A200 will headline Save Our Someday, a fund-raising concert augmented by family fun and environmental education at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs on Sunday, August 1^st , to benefit the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium and their current efforts to care for birds affected by the Gulf oil catastrophe.
Local donations have sponsored the event and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, which is building several new aviaries to house and care for birds injured and/or displaced by the Gulf Oil Disaster.

 ”We took immediate action and now we are preparing for whatever this disaster hands our community. Everyone says the oil won’t reach our shores, but what they don’t understand is that it will still affect our area.”  Jennifer Cleary, Executive Director of the Center said, “The community support we are receiving speaks volumes about Lee county residents’ concerns.”
“The idea for this event simply came from noticing that people were feeling very helpless about the situation in the Gulf,” said Save Our Someday organizer Angel Sanchez. “This is a really great way to make an impact on a local level.  All of the bands, vendors, sponsors and organizations are all local.  That is very important to me.” 

The name of the event was inspired by the Rob Thomas song ‘Someday’.  Event organizers were able to reach Thomas, thru his manager, and have been given license to use the song as the official anthem for the event and in any radio/TV ads pertaining to the event.  “He has been incredibly generous, lending us a hand however he can,” says Sanchez.  “It is humbling to have so many wonderful people support this event.”
A200 will play at 6 p.m. Also scheduled to play: The Downbeat Brigade, The CTO High Voltage Band, Strange Arrangement, Banana Logic and DVS.  The bands offer a variety of music, “Something for everyone!” states Sanchez.  “And the best part is all of these incredible bands have donated their time for this cause….WOW!”
A Family Fun Area by Xtreeme Family Fun will feature a bounce house, slide and games and face painting will be provided by The Art League of Bonita Springs. There is an entire section of the park designated for environmental and educational booths.   Other organizations that will be on hand:  Ostego Bay Foundation, Red Cross, Sierra Club and CROW.  Some local food vendors that will be on-hand: Stevie Tomato’s, Russell’s Clam Bake, Jumbo Lump Joe’s, Royal Scoop Ice Cream and more to come.

A silent auction will consist of artwork donated by local artists and 5 raffles will consist of gift packages loaded with donations from local businesses.  Some of the event sponsors include: TIB Bank, Tech-Tronics, Beasley Broadcasting, Veolia Environmental Services and Lightning Radio.

Admission to the 1-7 p.m. event $5. Advance tickets will go on sale July 26^th at Infinity Spa & Salon in Fort Myers and TIB Bank in Bonita Springs.
SOS is seeking volunteers for the event.
“Anyone that wants to be involved or help out is MORE than welcome.  It is shaping up to be a really fantastic event!” Sanchez said.
For more information, contact Sanchez at saveoursomeday@yahoo.com or thru the event website www.saveoursomeday.com.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER July 12, 2010

Angelina’s Debuts “Dog Days of Summer”
to Benefit Lee County Domestic Animal Services
Dining Program to Help Fund Pet Food Pantry

Dining at Angelina’s Ristorante on Wednesdays during the “Dog Days of Summer” will benefit the Lee County Domestic Animal Services’ Community Pet Pantry Network. LCDAS recently launched its first quarterly food drive to keep the pet food pantry stocked. The pantry provides food to qualifying pet owners in an effort to prevent the surrender of pets to shelters because their owners cannot afford to feed them.

Angelina’s Ristorante has responded to the need by donating 5% of sales on Wednesdays from July 14 – August 25. Traditionally the “Dog Days of Summer” are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the northern hemisphere, they usually fall between early July and early September. The actual dates vary greatly from region to region, depending on latitude and climate. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, was somehow responsible for the hot weather.

“No business in Southwest Florida is immune to the effects of this slow economy, the summer ‘off-season’, and the additional burden of a decline in tourist traffic owing to the BP oil spill,” explained general manager Ken Knief.  “Angelina’s is encouraging the support of locally owned businesses with this effort, as well as lending a helping hand to a vitally important service in Lee County. By taking advantage of the restaurant’s other summer specials such as the $28 four course Prix Fix dinner or our half-price wine specials, our guests can help themselves while they’re helping their community.”

For information on these and other specials visit www.angelinasofbonitasprings.com. Angelina’s Ristorante is located at 24041 Tamiami Trail, approximately one mile south of Coconut Point and is open from 5-10 p.m.

THE SHELTER FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND CHILDREN July 7, 2010

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children

For Immediate Release

Help Fill Shelter’s Pantry Shelves   ·         Baby food ·         Frozen vegetables ·         Frozen meat ·         Canned fruits & vegetables ·         Canned meats & fish ·         Fresh fruits & vegetables ·         Condiments ·         Pasta & sauce ·         Rice & beans ·         Cooking Oil ·         Milk ·         Juices – fresh, canned, frozen ·         Coffee & tea ·         Sugar ·         Chicken noodle & other soups ·         Cereal   To Host a Donation Drive to benefit The Shelter, please call 239.775.3862, ext. 235, or email to rgrabau@naplesshelter.org   Goods can be dropped at The Shelter’s two resale stores: -Options Thrift Shoppe, located at 968 Second Avenue North, Naples, open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.   -Another Option Thrift Shoppe, located at 5248 Golden Gate Parkway in Naples, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Naples, FL – 7/7/10 – The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Collier County’s certified domestic violence center, is seeking donations of food items to meet the needs of adult and child victims and survivors of domestic violence.   “While traffic may have eased and events ceased until fall,”  explains The Shelter’s Executive Director Linda Oberhaus,” the need for our services continues. In fact, we have between 50-55 adults and children, as well as their pets, residing in our emergency shelter on any given night of the week.”   To help meet the needs of those in-residence, The Shelter is seeking donations of: ·         Crackers ·         Mac & cheese ·         Peanut butter & jelly   To Prevent. To Protect. To Prevail. The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.   For more information on The Shelter, please call 239.775.3862, or visit www.naplesshelter.org

LEE COUNTY OFFERS FREE ADOPTIONS FOR ALL ADULT DOGS UNTIL APRIL 30TH April 12, 2010

 

Despite a special promotion offering discounts on all pet adoptions during the month of April, Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS) still has too many adult dogs!  So to find homes for as many dogs as possible, LCDAS will offer free adoptions for all dogs one year old or older through April 30th.  With a wide variety of dogs on hand, adopters will find everything from a Shih Tzu to a Shepherd when selecting the perfect family pet.

Anyone adopting a puppy (under one year of age), cat or kitten will receive a discount from $20 to $75 off the regular adoption fee for the remainder of the month.  “We want to eliminate any reason someone would have to acquire a pet anywhere but at a shelter,” says Donna Ward, LCDAS Director. 

With that goal in mind, all pets still will come with $500 worth of veterinary services which include spay or neuter surgery, age appropriate vaccinations, rabies and county license (for pets 3 months and older), heartworm test (for dogs 6 months and older), feline aids and leukemia test (for cats), flea treatment, worming, microchip ID, 10 day health guarantee, and a bag of Science Diet pet food.

For more information about pets for adoption, call 239-533-7387 (LEE-PETS) or visit www.LeeLostPets.com to view current photos of pets available.  The website updates automatically every hour.  Lee County Domestic Animal Services is located at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, off Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., next to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

STAMP SHOWCASE April 6, 2010

 

Adopt A Shelter Pet Stamp Provides Incentive for Special Event

            A special “Shelter Pet Adopt-a-thon” is being held on Saturday, May 1, at Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers.  The event, co-sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service and Lee County Domestic Animal Services, is being held in conjunction with the Postal Service’s issuance of its  Animal Rescue:  Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps, which feature 10 sheltered pets—five cats and five dogs.  The public is invited to attend the free event where all adoptions will be 50% off the regular adoption fees.

            The sheet of 20 44-cent stamps (sold for $8.80) is part of the Postal Service’s long-term commitment to raising awareness of important social issues.  300 million stamps (15 million sheets) have been printed.  These stamps raise awareness of the importance of adopting companion animals from shelters to prevent the senseless euthanizing of millions of animals every year.

 The stamps were unveiled on March 17 by Postmaster General Jack Potter on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.  On April 30, Postmaster General Potter and Ellen DeGeneres will dedicate the stamps at 2:00 p.m. in a ceremony at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Hollywood, CA.  DeGeneres’ company, Halo, will provide 1 million meals for shelter pets in the United States.  Although the stamps go on sale officially on April 30, they may be pre-ordered online now at STAMPSTOTHE RESCUE.COM through April 30.

The “Shelter Pet Adopt-a-thon” will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with pet adoptions continuing until 3:30 p.m.  The event will feature a variety of activities:  an essay contest for children, a children’s craft, and face painting.  All pets adopted on May 1 will be eligible to win a sheet of photo stamps (official U.S. postage) with either the pet’s image or a family photo with the new pet.  A certificate of adoption, complete with a first day of sale postmark of the stamp, will also be provided.  The pet adoption stamps will be on sale.  Those attending are encouraged to bring in nonperishable pet food and supplies for the Animal Services Community Pet Pantry; these will be distributed to owners who would need to surrender their pets to shelters due to their inability to provide food and care.  The Animal Shelter is currently providing food for more than 800 pets directly and also helping low-income neighborhoods supply pet food for their residents’ pets.

The essay contest is open to children 6-12 years of age; they may select their theme from two topics:  “What my pet means to me” or “Why I want to adopt a pet.”  Children 6-8 have a 200-word limit and those 9-12 may write up to 500 words.  Handwritten entries are preferred and must be mailed to Consumer Advisory Council, USPS, 79 Mid Cape Terr Ste 8, Cape Coral, FL  33991, no later than Friday, April 23.  Be sure to include the child’s name, address, phone number and age.  Entries judged as finalists in each age category will be voted on by those attending the May 1 event; the winners will be announced at 2:00 p.m. and prizes will be awarded.

            Customers have 90 days from the official first day of issuance date to obtain first day of sale postmarks on new stamps and stationery items.  Collectors may request a local first day of sale postmark by mail only.  There is no charge for servicing of first day of sale postmarks up to 50 covers.  Mail-in customers must supply a self-addressed envelope with sufficient return postage applied to return the serviced covers.

            To obtain the first day of sale postmark, mail stationery items bearing Animal Rescue:  Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps to:  Customer Relations USPS, 79 Mid Cape Terr Ste 8, Cape Coral, FL  33991.  Please specify which city you are requesting a postmark for—Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, or Sanibel.  All orders must be postmarked by July 30, 2010.