Potsdam Humane Society

Pictured above are garden club members (L to R) Donna Jewett, Elisabeth Eno, Jackie Miller, Adele Pugliese of the Potsdam and Clarkson Garden Clubs at their recent plant sale held May 4, 2013.

Once again the proceeds of the Clarkson and Potsdam Garden Clubs plant sale have been donated to the Potsdam Humane Society for the care of the North Country’s needy animals.

As usual, this year’s sale included a large variety of perennials that are indigenous to the North Country. People were able to buy plants at a reasonable price, and take advantage of the mild early May weather by getting the new treasures safely planted in a new home. Everyone at PHS salutes the efforts of those who donated plants and took the time to make this sale a huge success. Over $1000 was raised for operations at the animal shelter at 17 Madrid Avenue. Over the last decade, the gardeners have given the shelter over $10,000 from the proceeds of the sales.

For this huge effort, everyone at PHS, whether two or four-legged, gives a mighty big “Thank You” to the Clarkson and Potsdam Garden Clubs. We could not provide the animal services we do without you! In recognition of the groups, dog kennel number 9 has been named in the groups’ honor. Private donations make up a major part of the funding for the Potsdam Humane Society, and they are always in need of funds. Anyone wishing to help the animals may do so by “checking” us out on their website, potsdamhumanesociety.org for a direct pay option or mail donations to PHS, 17 Madrid Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676.

During the month of December, elementary students at Edwards-Knox School participated in a “Random Acts of Kindness” challenge. They were asked to do a random act of kindness for someone without expecting anything in return. As part of the challenge, the elementary counselor, Mrs. Deleel and art teacher, Mrs. Impey, challenged the students to a penny war to benefit the Potsdam Humane Society. Over the course of four weeks, students raised $704 for PHS! Students also brought in donations of pet treats and cleaning supplies for the shelter and a class of 3rd grade students created wire sculptures of cats and dogs to hang in the shelter. The 1st grade class, pictured here, brought in the most change during the challenge, $171! Congratulations students at EK! You should be proud of what you did together!

Zeta Nu Fraternity made a donation of $50 for selling Boonie cards (discount cards for local businesses).  The photo below shows William Slapar, Zeta Nu Fraternity, with the donation check and Jack Flash, one of the Potsdam Humane Society's adoptable dogs.

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The Potsdam and Massena Humane Societies recently spayed or neutered their 10,033rd animal to be placed for adoption. It is the policy of both humane societies to “fix” their adoptable animals prior to going to their forever loving homes.

Dr. Edward Gordon, a locally “retired” veterinarian started the program in 1999 at the Potsdam shelter by offering to spay and neuter the animals there. Adoption costs were raised slightly, but the assurance that the animals would not be able to reproduce was a critical factor in improved shelter animal care. For some reason, these animals were not wanted, and more kittens and puppies would just add to the homeless pet problem that is rampant nation-wide.

A few years later, the Massena Humane Society came on board and transported their adoptable animals to Potsdam for surgery, adding to the numbers of spayed and neutered animals. Now Massena has a surgery facility as well, and Dr. Gordon travels to Massena to perform the surgery there as well.