The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is partially funded by The SASF Thrift Shop located on 30 Jagger Lane in Southampton. 100% of the proceeds go towards operation costs, spaying, neutering, feeding and housing animals at 102 Old Riverhead Rd. West in Hampton Bays, Southampton. Besides the SASF Thrift Store, monetary donations, sponsorships, events and other forms of donations support the foundation.
During a recent visit, there were 126 cats, 78 dogs and 4 bunnies. The shelter was very clean and there were numerous volunteers. The SASF is currently seeking sponsors for an outdoor dog run where visitors can spend time with animals on a park bench or on the new astroturf. Kate McEnee, explained that “animals have completely different attitudes when they are out of their cages. It also helps when there is a human friendly environment where children and animals can play”. Kate, as Director of Adoptions, feels that the outdoor covered area will speed up the process. Nice clean outdoor play areas = happy puppies = happy humans = forever homes.
The shelter which was voted the best shelter by Dan’s papers in 2016 was town operated until 2010. At that time, the town was no longer able to allocate funds towards its operation and a group of concerned citizens band together to form the foundation which aims to help homeless animals from the 22 towns in Suffolk County and beyond today.
At the SASF each animal will have to undergo treatment via micro-chipping, inoculations, neutering, spaying and for other health related issues. SASF is also known for removing animals from “Kill Shelters” where the animals have days or hours to live and securing adult dogs from the abuse that they may endure at puppy mills.
Since 2010 there has been an increase in adoptions due to bulking up their services including a veterinary clinic and in-house dog training services. There is a mobile veterinary clinic which helps low income pet owners in the state of New York. This helps keep the population to a minimum and helps those pet owners provide the proper treatments that their animals may not normally be able to receive. Sadly, some pet owners abandon their animals for many reasons.
Recently, a woman stopped on the road as she saw a furry something not moving in front of her. She pulled over and discovered it was a cat. It was so matted that it could no longer move properly and it looked like it was covered with small rats. Several pounds of matted fur were removed, mites, ticks and fleas before they were able to see the beautiful cat now named Scarlett. Scarlett thankfully has received national attention via animal-media outlets and has found her forever home. Scarlett at fifteen was very lucky to be adopted after perhaps being abandoned.
Also helping animals to find forever homes are the new Executive Director Jerry Rosenthal and board member Jill Rappaport. Jerry and his wife, Cionna, relocated from Little Silver, New Jersey with their dog and four cats where he headed up The Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“I believe that an animal welfare organization serves a vital role in its community” Jerry Rosenthal.
Jill Rappaport, an award-winning animal advocate, journalist and best-selling author is mostly known for her Today Show segment Bow to Wow. Now she highlights animals on NBC and ABC.
“I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of the wonderful Southampton Animal Shelter! It is my home and dream to raise greater awareness of the pure joy rescuing a pet brings to everyone who has opened up their heart and home to one of these fur angels” Jill Rappaport
Besides donations, volunteers and the thrift store, The Southampton Animal Shelter is funded by events.The Southampton Animal Shelter’s Unconditional Love Benefit is one of the most attended events of the summer, mainly as it takes place in July, has become well known and is star studded. It has been hosted at the beautiful Southampton home of Chuck Scarborough and his wife Ellen Ward Scarborough and Jean Shafiroff amongst others.
Notables: Chuck Scarborough, Ellen Ward Scarborough, Jill Rappaport, Beth Stern, Georgina Bloomberg and Jean Shafiroff
Wish List: Dog beds, dog leashes, kong toys, cat beds, litter boxes, cat scratching posts and used towels and blankets. Sponsorship for benches, a tent, plantings and astroturf for the new dog and puppy playground.
Save the date:
May 20th Paws in the Park
May 28th A Taste of Wine
July 15th- Unconditional Love Gala
Phone: (631) 728-7387
Addresss: 102 Old Riverhead Rd. W, Hampton Bays, NY 11946.
adoptions@sasf.org or info@sasf.org
