LAST HOPE: AN EXPANDED MISSION

Over the past twenty-six years Last Hope has been committed to helping the stray, abandoned, and death due pound animals on Long Island. Thousands of dogs and cats have found loving homes through our organization.

Two years ago it became increasingly clear that we needed to raise additional funds to cover the extraordinary costs associated with the numbers of cats and dogs that had special needs who were entering our programs. Many of the municipal shelters, be it Babylon, Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Islip, or Brookhaven, were calling and asking Last Hope to consider dogs and cats that had no chance of being adopted unless Last Hope intervened and provided the medical attention that they so needed. On many an occasion, the shelter brought the animal to us on a Sat. or Sun.,or in the evening, so that we could start the process of seeking specialized vet care.

It was July of 2006 that five of us in Last Hope formed the committee that would become the backbone of the special needs auctions. Our inspiration was Sophia, a beagle, whom I was fostering at the time. Sophia, unfortunately, died in Sept. of 2006, but her legacy lived on in our auctions.

All of the original committee members either had adopted, fostered, or were fostering special needs cats and dogs. We hoped that by our example we would encourage others to consider a special needs animal when they were ready to adopt. We have held eight fundraising events highlighting our needy animals and raised over $23,000 for their care. This money has enabled us to help over 18 dogs and 15 cats with special needs in the last two years.

Hope, Kelly, Annie, Butch, Gracie, Henry, Rocky, Humphrey, Snoopy, Harriett, Domino, Ruby, (dogs) and Gin, Fizz, Frankie D., Vanna, Jeff, Lola, Milo, Amber, Torta, (cats) are just some of the special animals that we have highlighted in our auctions. Most have been adopted into loving homes, some are still waiting patiently for their turn.

We will continue to do all that is necessary to give a "leg up" to those dogs and cats that life has given special challenges.

Maureen Griffin
Auction Coordinator

SOPHIA, Our Inspiration