RESCUE A SHELTER ANIMAL CAMPAIGN 2024

Announcing the 2024 Photo Contest Winner

Our pet photo contest has concluded, and we would like to thank all the pet parents and animal lovers who entered this year’s contest. It was overwhelming to see the love you have for your pets! We would also like to thank the thousands of voters who showed their love in a BIG way! 

The winner of this year’s pet photo contest is Watson! Watson’s human, Michael Avery, shares the story of Watson’s difficult beginnings as a stray who found a loving home and an amazing life. 

Watson’s Rough Start - day one and day two photos

Watson was picked up by Animal Control wandering in a suburb of Rochester during the winter of January 2022. He was filthy, overgrown, and underweight, likely from being alone in the cold for so long. Watson was unclaimed, and if it weren't for the GRASP rescue group (Greece Residents Assisting Stray Animals), he would have been euthanized. Sadly, in that area, animals unclaimed after the standard holding time are routinely euthanized. GRASP was founded almost 30 years ago as a bridge between abandoned, unclaimed animals and finding their loving forever homes.

Watson’s life is now filled with joy and love!

Today, Watson is living his best life! He is the receptionist at Michael Avery & Co. Hair Studio, and his customers rallied the votes for him. Watson also pays it forward by being the best foster brother to new dogs rescued by GRASP as they spend time in the laps of clients in the salon! Watson is granting the $1,000 donation to GRASP. He is also the recipient of a $100 Chewy gift card, which he is generously forwarding to GRASP so they can save more little lives.

GRASP has rescued nearly 500 dogs and cats this year, 3,000 since 2018, and countless thousands more since their founding in 1996. To learn more about the work they do or how you can help, visit https://www.graspinc.org/. Scroll down to find just some of the many shelter and rescue groups that need support. This list is posted year-round, so if you know of a rescue that is missing from the list, please message us at marketing@williammattar.com. There are far too many for us to keep track of, so we depend on animal lovers like you to help.

We would like to thank Michael for sharing Watson’s story. We know there are so many other animals who have similar starts but are lucky enough to find happy endings.

We would also like to congratulate Pepper, our second-place pet. She’s an adorable little superhero who no doubt brings her family so much happiness. Pepper’s human, Kari Delmonte, will receive a $50 Chewy gift card to pick out new toys and treats for her.

With the countless number of animals still without homes, we hope the William Mattar Rescue a Shelter Animal program will help encourage more of our neighbors to rescue, foster, volunteer, or donate as they can to help make a difference. So many volunteers make it their mission to help animals and are always in need of more support to make their mission even more successful. Every little bit adds up to make a big difference!

Thank you to all who participated in this year's Animal Photo contest!

Pets provide us with companionship and emotional support, which may reduce stress levels and feelings of loneliness. Pets stand by our sides during times of need, often posing the question, who rescued who? Families with pets can see their children thrive when interacting with them from care, feeding, and training to quiet play and cuddle time.

As cooler weather moves in, William Mattar Rescue a Shelter Animal campaign highlights the importance of rescuing an animal in need from local shelters and rescues. All animals deserve a safe, warm, and loving home. Despite the hard work of shelters and rescues everywhere, millions of dogs and cats are estimated to enter America’s shelters each year. Please consider rescuing or fostering an animal, donating, fostering, or volunteering at a local shelter or rescue. Every little bit helps.

HELPING IS MORE THAN JUST ADOPTION

It’s no secret that innocent animals end up as strays or abandoned, and even though there are countless shelters and rescue groups, many reach capacity due to limited space and needing more volunteers, and fosters.  Many animals that end up in shelters are usually there through no fault of their own typically because their human has a problem, such as an illness, divorce, or a move. Many shelter animals are already house-trained and are used to living with families, children, and other animals.

Rescuing a shelter animal gives them a second chance, and you may also save it from being euthanized in an overcrowded kill shelter. Most rescue groups do not have brick-and-mortar facilities and rely on foster homes for shelter and care. This can make it difficult to place animals in forever homes.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, each year, “more than one million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States, simply because too many pets come into shelters and rescues and too few people consider adoption when looking for a pet.” Most animal shelters do their best to take in unwanted pets and rehome them. Still, the costs associated with medical care, food, and shelter add up, making it extremely challenging for everyone involved to keep up the good work.

By taking home a new pet, you also make room at the shelter for another animal with nowhere else to go. This is especially important for senior pets, as they typically get a bad reputation because of the stigma associated with their age and potential growing medical needs. Senior pets may have an extended stay at shelters, but it does not necessarily mean they are not loving and loyal companions. With the long lives many animals can live, a senior animal may still give several years of love and companionship, while enjoying the loving home they truly deserve.

To all who love animals and want to help, we list many rescue groups and animal shelters below. If you can’t rescue an animal or become a foster, there are many other ways to help that can make a big difference. They always need donations and volunteers to help the animals in their care while awaiting adoption. Food and supplies are always welcomed and greatly needed. Monetary donations are desperately needed as many stuggle to gather funds to maintain or make needed improvements to their buildings, and medical costs often strain their budgets.

SHELTER ANIMAL RESOURCES

William Mattar Law Offices offers many helpful resources to help you find a shelter near you. When you are ready to open your heart to a furry friend and give an animal a forever home, we sincerely encourage you to visit a local shelter or rescue group. We have links to over 100 shelters and rescue groups in the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton, Elmira, and Utica areas. If you know of a rescue group or shelter in New York State that you do not see listed below, please email marketing@williammattar.com with the organization’s name and website link, and we will be glad to update our list.

In addition to rescue efforts, the shelters listed below welcome donations, supplies, and volunteers. Please visit their respective websites for more information.

At the bottom of this page, we’ve also included important links to resources and aid for animals and pet owners. If you do not need their services, please consider donations to help support their tireless missions of helping the smallest members of our community. A donation in the name of a beloved pet is a wonderful way to honor their memory.

SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS:

Buffalo & Western New York Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Rochester Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Syracuse Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Albany and 518 Area Code Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

St. Lawrence County

Capital District NY List of Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Binghamton Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Elmira Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Utica Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Other Agencies and Pet Resources

MORE THAN JUST DOGS AND CATS

The humane work conducted by animal shelters and rescue groups extends well beyond traditional dog and cat pet options. More and more shelters and rescues have opened their doors to other animals, including guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, horses, and livestock. If you are interested in opening up your home to a rescue animal but are looking for something a little bit different, a great resource to start with is The Pet Shelter Project.

THE BENEFITS OF RESCUING AN ANIMAL ARE ENDLESS

If you or your family want to bring another little smile into your lives or maybe find your next best friend, we encourage you to visit your local animal shelter or rescue.

When you adopt a pet, the cost of a spay/neuter, first vaccinations, and even microchipping may be included in the adoption fee. This may help save you some upfront costs when adding a new furry friend to your home. The animal you select may also be housebroken, which saves on training.

If you buy a dog from a pet store, online seller, or flea market, they may be a dog from a puppy mill. When you support a puppy or kitten mill you are supporting factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs and cats. Animals raised in puppy or kitten mills are housed in poor conditions with improper medical care, which may cause numerous medical or behavioral issues as a result. Mills confine the moms of these animals to cages to be bred over and over, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a family.

Puppy and kitten mills will continue to operate until they lose support. By rescuing a pet from an animal shelter, you will have peace of mind knowing that puppy and kitten mills will not be profiting.

ASPCA Facts: https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics

  • Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year
  • Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year
  • Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pets through word of mouth
  • Approximately 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society
  • About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners