While Happy Tails works toward building its shelter, this web page is helping to find homes for animals who are lost, unwanted, homeless, or abused. We are also setting up an e-mail network of individuals who are willing to foster animals while they await their "forever" homes. If you are willing to become part of our foster network, PLEASE contact us with this request.
ADOPT A PET. Or help one get adopted. It gets an animal out of the cold, puts food in his belly and in turn, feeds our souls, as well.
If you can't find a pet from our list, look in other local shelters, or maybe, even, in your own back yard. There are too many homeless animals, and they need our help. Click the button below to see our list of adoptable pets.
Any pets found, adopted through, or listed on our web site are the sole responsibility of the adopting parties. Happy Tails No-Kill Animal Shelter, Inc., listing animals as a member of PetFinder, accepts no responsibility for any liability or for any injury or damages to any person or property caused by any listed animal, as well as any cause of action, claims, suits or demands whatsoever that may arise as a result of such injury or damage.
In the Spring of 2003, a dedicated group of animal lovers met to discuss the possibility of building and running a no-kill animal shelter in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. By the end of that year, we were incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and are currently a member of the Central Bradford Chamber of Commerce and Towanda Business Association.
Our Mission.....
Our mission is to educate pet owners and the general public, teach humane principles and responsible pet ownership to promote harmonious relationships and to end all animal cruelty. With our no-kill philosophy we will provide a safe haven for abused and homeless pets in the geographical region that offers these animals options for a better life.
Our Goals.....
Build an animal shelter that will provide a clean comfortable, safe, and healthy environment for each animal.
Provide public educational programs to promote harmonious relationships between companion animals and their humans, and to end cruelty.
Strive to return stray animals to their homes, and to aggressively seek suitable homes for homeless animals through adoption, fostering, and collaboration with service organizations.
Build a strong spay/neuter program within the community and offer help to those in need of emergency medical care.
Fund the organization by soliciting memberships, grants, and donations to support our programs and the operation of the shelter.
Encourage community support for the shelter.
Come Visit the Site...
In November 2003, we purchased an idyllic, six-acre plot of land on Rt. 6, about 3.2 miles west of Rt. 220 (between Towanda and Troy, PA). We are trying to raise funds to build a state-of-the-art shelter which will reflect our philosophy of respect and dignity for all animals, and provide a warm, caring environment for them while they await their new homes. The building will be designed to be friendly to people, animals, and the environment. Look for our bright yellow sign, purchased with a generous donation from Paula Bainbridge of Athens, PA. If you would like to be a part of this exciting work your tax-deductible contribution can be made to the address below.
Moose's Fund is a special reserve, public-supported, medical fund, earmarked to cover costs typically incurred in an emergency medical situation where there is an animal in immediate need, and the guardian is unable to purchase the required emergency services. The funds can be used to cover such costs as: emergency vet calls, x-rays, surgery, medications, rehabilitation expenses, and other necessary medical treatments.
Key points:
Applications for Moose's Fund money must be initiated by your veterinarian. If you feel your situation is eligible for help from Moose's Fund, ask your veterinarian to contact Happy Tails for approval. Please do not call Happy Tails directly.
Funds are awarded only in special cases where there is a medical emergency or other catastrophic veterinary expense, and an inability to pay can be demonstrated. It is not meant to cover routine vet bills.
Moose's Fund money is funded by the public and is held separately from Happy Tails animal shelter funds. Donation information follows.
Board members, Ken Willet and Don Woodard, have been working in Trap-Neuter-Release/Rescue, in Owego, since the early 1990s. In 2009, they recognized a significant increase in homeless cats and kittens in Owego, and began a community-based project to get it under control. In 2010, Happy Tails created a fund for their efforts, offering community members a way to make tax-deductible donations for this local project.
To date, Owego's Trap-Neuter-Return/Rescue group has vetted over 325 cats since its inception (2009), 160 cats in 2012, so far. We offer our T-N-R/R services outside Owego, as needed, and as funds allow. We've lost track the number of cats, dogs, exotic and farm animals we've placed, without having vetting costs. Feral cats are fixed, with ears notched, and returned to their outside homes. Sweet ones are placed, whenever we can - directly, or fostered and then placed, as soon as possible. Minimally, for the few friendly, homeless cats we must return to the outdoors, we try to arrange a caregiver, to ensure they get food and possibly shelter, on the worst days, until we can place them. We have close to a 100% placement of these friendly strays. The number of Owego supporters and volunteers continues to grow annually. The number of cats fixed and placed each month also continues to increase.
The Bradford & Sullivan County Happy Tails Rescue program officially started in March of 2010 and that year we rescued four dogs, 14 cats and 37 kittens. All were strays located in the area of Bradford and Sullivan counties.
This year we have been joined by several supporting agencies to help keep our rescue work alive.
Animal Care Sanctuary has opened a community clinic that has worked with our rescue to provide affordable vet care.
Billy's Pets of Wysox has begun showcasing some of our rescues to help place them into good homes. Since their grand opening in June, we have been able to place a multitude of homeless kittens into good homes. All cats and kittens available for adoption are healthy, up-to-date on their shots and some are already neutered or spayed. We invite you to visit the shop to meet and perhaps, adopt our rescued strays. You can also "help us help them" by donating at the counter. Billy's Pets is located at the intersection of Rtes 6 and 187 in Wysox, PA. They are open Monday through Friday, 10 to 6; Saturday, 10 to 5; Sunday, 10 to 3.
You -- When you contact us because you have found a stray, we try to team with you, pooling both our resources and yours to meet the stray's needs and ultimately place him in a good home. This form of rescue is an innovative, networking style of rescue through which, we can help you help him.
Throughout 2011, Happy Tails rescue has been very busy assisting the community in rescuing a slew of kittens, cats and dogs. Because resources are limited, we have targeted homeless dogs and cats that have no other option, short of being sent to shelters, which are usually full to capacity.
The public is invited to support Happy Tails Rescue by donating, and getting involved with fundraising, fostering and transporting. If you are interested in joining us in any capacity, please contact us at 570-265-2623 or email us at happytails68@gmail.com and we'll be happy to include you in our cause.
Board member Chloe Lantzy got a book published on stories about eleven of the cats she has saved! Great job, Chloe! The book is called Cat Eyes and you can order it here through Amazon. A portion of the sales will go to Happy Tails.
FOUR years worth of donated holiday-related items - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, autumn- and winter-themed. You name it. Some brand-new items donated by The Country Decor shop in Owego. THIS SALE IS NOT TO BE MISSED.
If you'd like to donate anything, please contact the project coordinator for pick-up or drop-off details. Thank you.
Ongoing Community Fundraisers
Moose's Fund: Look for the Happy Tails Moose's Fund donation jars, still available at local vendors' establishments throughout the area.
Owego Rescue: The BEST bags of organic catnip ($3 donation) are being offered at the following locations:
The Country Decor Shop, 39 Lake Street, Owego, NY
East of the Sun, West of the Moon, 206 Front Street, Owego, NY
Hair Designs, 36 Lake Street, Owego, NY
Kitty Corner Antiques, 217 Main Street, Owego, NY
By Mail: Include $2 shipping fee, and send to: Happy Tails Rescue / PO Box 564 / Owego, NY 13827
Owego Rescue: On-going CAN / BOTTLE drive. Cleaned cans and bottles can be dropped off at 41 Paige St., Owego. (Corner of Main and Paige Streets, diagonally, from Williams & Mint Optometrists).
Owego Rescue: All-natural, handmade DOG SOAP. Created by Nancy Eckstrom of Three Maries Herb Farm in Tioga County, 100% of the money made goes to our local Rescue Fund. They are large, 4.5 oz bars, sold through BLACK CAT GALLERY, 190 Front Street, Owego. $5. each.
AND if your animals are already spayed and neutered...
Offer to help your friends and neighbors who can't afford to spay or neuter theirs.
Give the gift that PREVENTS MORE "giving". Local vets and shelters offer low-cost spaying and neutering, as well as GIFT CERTIFICATES! It's an appreciated, perfect gift, and a great way to prevent the continuation of suffering. To find a local low-cost spay/neuter participant, plug in your zip code here.
Teach your kids and grandkids how important it is to be responsible pet owners.
About 85% of pets that are given up for adoption have behavioral issues that are fixable. These "problems" are how your friend is trying to communicate with you. Before giving him up to a shelter, or worse, releasing him to fend for himself, consider these sites: [FurKeeps] or [First Home Forever Home]..
Sadly, in this country, every 60 seconds we kill 350 perfectly-healthy, beautiful, homeless animals.
If you would like to volunteer for Happy Tails we would be delighted to hear of any services you could offer. Please call our main office at 570.265.2623, or email us at: happytails68@gmail.com
Where we could use the help: raising funds, writing grants, clearing land, construction, landscaping.
