You have read of the sorry record of municipal animal shelters. It has been estimated that some 8 – 10 million animals enter the United States shelters annually. Unfortunately it is also estimated that 4 million of these dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are annually euthanized. That’s 11,000 lives ended daily.
But since 1944 there is an exceptional alternative — the North Shore Animal League America, a not-for-profit, 501(c) (3) charitable corporation, located in Port Washington, has saved more than 1 million precious and innocent dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. North Shore is a pioneer in the no-kill movement, adoptions and in promoting education programs to reduce animal cruelty. For example, in 2010, in cooperation with Yale University they developed a Mutt-i-grees Curriculum that teaches the next generation of children crucial social and emotional skills. Hopefully these efforts may also lead to fewer or perhaps even no school shootings. An emotional attachment to animals may then lead to compassion for humans as well.
I am grateful to North Shore, my wife Wendy and my daughter Carole, for adopting two fine dogs, Brobee and Hugo. Brobee’s prior owners went through a divorce, went to work and left him in a cage for 12 hours a day during the first year of his life. Brobee loves human contact and to be petted. He is a combination Labrador and Hound. There is a dog on television that looks like him. Brobee runs like the wind. He loves the ocean. He’s about 70 lbs. He is black with a white chest.
Hugo came to us a year later. He is a combination Shar Pei and Great Dane. He is brown with a big head. He may also be Hollywood bound. He’s about 80 lbs and a year old. He has a bit of an eye problem for which he will soon undergo some surgery. They do have health insurance. It costs about $70 per month for two dogs. Hugo’s eye surgery will be out of pocket for my daughter — about $2,000. For her, the love that she gives to that dog and what all of us receive in return is well worth it.
Thank you North Shore, Carole and Wendy for making our home a happier place with Brobee and Hugo. Check out North Shore today! You’ll love it! I promise.
Thomas Liotti
