Lewis County Humane Society

Pet of the Week

Our Pet of the Week ...
Everyone!

This week we are asking for help removing all of the dogs from the shelter. After September first the board will be taking over control of the shelter. At that point the shelter will no longer be a no-kill shelter by all standards. Dogs will be sent away to be euthanized. Any dogs remaining here after September first will be sent to a kill shelter downstate to be taken care of. PLEASE SAVE THESE DOGS!! We have found homes for all of our cats and all but the small handful of dogs we have listed here. Please, Please, Please help save the lives of our remaining dogs.

In June our board announced Cliff's retirement. When Cliff told them he was not retiring, he was given a letter of termination. Cliff, Ingrid and their family will be leaving Lewis County at the end of August, 2009. The shelter will no longer have a colony room for the cats and will cease being a no-kill shelter after September 1st. We are asking our animal lovers to find rooms in their hearts and homes for the animals currently in the shelter before they are euthanized soon after our departure.

Website News

Many of you have been hearing that we are having a new website designed. This is not the case. The website you are hearing of is merely an attempt by our board to run Cliff and Ingrid out of the shelter. Our board is having a power struggle with Cliff and have been harassing Cliff and Ingrid for over 6 years, with this escalating since their marriage. More can be read about this on our website. Our OFFICIAL site will remain www.lewishumane.org.

Our board has informed us that Whispering Pines Boarding Kennel will cease operation after July 31st, 2009. We have opted to honor reservations already made but are no-longer taking in boarders to help pay for the stray population.

About Us

The shelter was built in 1988 when Cliff Cook decided that he needed a no-kill facility to house stray dogs which he picked up as Dog Control Officer for 15 of the towns in Lewis County, therefore he had the shelter built behind his home in Watson. In 1996 Cliff and the late Jim Hanno re-formed the Lewis County Humane Society. Since that time the building has had much work done to it and several expansions added. We began taking in stray cats and built a beautiful Cattery in which to house them. Cliff donated the shelter to the Humane Society under the agreement that the animals would always have a place to live. Cliff’s home was purchased from him by the Humane Society with the understanding that future shelter Executive Directors would live in it after his retirement. Cliff Cook, Ingrid Honey and their family currently manage the shelter on a volunteer basis. At this time the shelter houses strays from 16 of the 17 towns in Lewis County as well as from the Boonville area.

Wish List

  We appreciate donations of supplies. Following is a list of items we most need: For the shelter: Dry and Canned Dog Food, Large Bath Towels, Blankets (non-electric, no comforters or clothing please), Frontline or Advantage, Dishwashing Detergent (Dawn works best), Laundry Detergent (Dry or Liquid), Bleach, Regular Window Cleaner, Orange-based Cleaner, Paper Towels. For the Cats: Cat Litter, Dry and Canned Cat Food, Cat Treats and Toys Bath Towels and Soft Blankets, for bedding, Pillows, Frontline or Advantage, Cat-sized Pet Scale, Non-Ammonia Window Cleaner for Cattery, Dianne Cannon (who lost her son Matt in Iraq) has asked for folks to donate baby blankets in honor of a loved one. For the Office: Copy Paper, White Unlined Index Cards, Lined White Index Cards, Yellow Unlined Index Cards. We are always in need of financial assistance for the upkeep of the shelter as well as utilities. We are a 501(C)(3) organization which will make all of your donations tax deductible. All of the money received from Donations, Grants, Memberships and Boarding go directly toward the care and feeding of the animals. There is no administrative cost as all those working here are volunteers, including Cliff and Ingrid. If sending a monetary donation please be sure to have Cliff's name on the envelope in order to ensure the money goes toward the shelter, otherwise the money goes to the private PO Box of one of our board members.

Adopting a friend

 Once you have chosen a forever friend, the adoption procedure is simple. There is a small adoption fee, and donations are appreciated. The state has implemented their Spay/Neuter program so there is a deposit for this. This deposit is refunded to you after your dog or cat has been spayed or neutered.For Dogs the charge for adoption is $60.00. This charge includes the spay/neuter deposit of $35.00, The rabies shot charge of $10.00 and the state license charge of $10.50, plus $4.50 adoption fee.For Cats the charge varies. If the cat is unaltered the charge is merely the state deposit of $35.00, plus $5.00 adoption fee, if the cat has been spayed or neutered then we ask for $45.00 to help defray our cost for the altering and the shots given to the cat.

Who We Are

 We are a family who, along with a small group of other kind hearted folks, volunteer our time to operate a no-kill shelter. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to the care of stray dogs and cats. The shelter can accommodate up to 32 dogs at one time and contains facilities for housing 37 cats. The kennel is fully insulated, maintaining 55-70 degrees in the winter and 70 degrees in the summer. Animals are individually walked daily and are provided with clean cages. Music plays continually to help maintain a comfortable environment for the animals.

Come Visit Us!

 The shelter is located in the Town of Watson outside of Glenfield, New York. We are just 60 miles north of Utica and 30 miles south of Watertown. We are in the Black River Valley and in the Foothills of the Adirondacks. Coming from Utica, head north on Route 12. 4.4 miles north of the overpass in Lyons Falls turn right onto the Burdicks Crossing Road (marked Greig/Brantingham). At the "T" at the end of this road turn left onto the Pine Grove Road. We will be 5.3 miles from this intersection, on the right. Look for the signs. Coming from Watertown, take Route 12 south to Lowville. Turn right at the first light in Lowville. At the next light turn left onto River Street. At the foot of the hill there will be a four-way stop intersection. From this intersection we are 6.3 miles straight out. Look for the signs on the left. From Carthage, take Route 26 south to Lowville. At the fourth light turn left onto River Street. Follow the directions from Watertown. From Route 81, take exit 42 to Route 177. Follow Route 177 down to West Lowville and turn right onto Route 12 and follow the directions from Watertown. We look forward to helping you find a forever friend.

Lewis County Humane Society

6388 Pine Grove Road
Glenfield, New York 13343
Phone: (315)376-8349

Email: dcocook@frontiernet.net