Last Hope is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of stray, abandoned and death-due pound animals

Dear fellow volunteers, supporters and friends—

It is hard to believe that we are once again submerged in the frenzy of yet another holiday season. Before you know it, we will be in 2010 and planning for the spring and summer. It’s been a tough year for the animals and the calls for assistance have been overwhelming. We truly try to help as many dogs and cats as we can and spend countless hours addressing their immediate problems. It is important that we look beyond these crisis situations and develop programs that target the underlying problem for each crisis. This is the reason why we developed a spay-neuter program for feral cats and the Long Island Pit Bull Conference and pit bull ambassador program at our Dog Adoption Center.

Plans are already underway with a very generous donation from our friends at PET PEEVES to assist the pet owners on Long Island that are facing hard times due to unemployment, disability and other hardship with some necessary FREE preventative care for their cats and dogs. These will include free rabies vaccines, heartworm testing and a limited number of free spay-neuters for dogs and cats. Details will be available after January 1, 2010.

At this time of reflection, I want to thank each and every one of you for the time you give to our organization and to all who support us financially. Without you, we would not be able to help Long Island’s neediest animals.

I also want to encourage every one who can to open your home and heart up to a needy animal—not the young one that every one wants, but the one that is languishing on the street or in a shelter. Recently, an old beagle that was picked up as a stray at Pilgrim State Hospital, was brought to my attention. Everyone who knows my love for beagles would know it was not hard for me to decide to bring her home to my pet menagerie. Poor Holly is probably about 12 years old and has cancer. She is with me until she starts to decline—right now, she is enjoying a snowy afternoon sleeping in a dog bed with her new friends. Isn’t that what rescue is all about?

I wish you all a happy, safe and peaceful Holiday Season. Please join me and adopt the dog or cat that needs a home the most. You will not regret it.

Sincerely,

Linda Stuurman
President
December 23, 2009