a Reason, a Season

a LifetimeAdopted!

January 2013

About...Second Chance for Animals

is a registered 501(c)3 charity

in the State of New Jersey.

We currently provide support

to the Franklin Township Animal

Shelter (FTAS) by assisting at

the shelter, manning adoption

days at the shelter and offsite

locations, transporting animals

to veterinary appointments and

providing financial support.

We are particularly proud that

through our support not only do

we regularly provide supplies

such as food and litter to FTAS;

we pay for every animal to be

spayed or neutered and

micro-chipped prior to adoption.

We also provide pet food to

the Franklin Food Bank to help

needy families keep their pets

in a loving home and not

surrendered to a shelter.

© CandidCreatures Photography

Lady

What it’s like to love a senior dog...page 5

What it’s like to love a senior dog...page 5

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Features Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

You’re Invited! – Our General Member Meeting! . . . 2

Silly Pet Picture Contest! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Shout-Out for Help! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Adopt a Senior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Her New Name is Askja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2013 SCFA Franklin Township Calendar For Sale . . . 9

Super 50/50 Raffle! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Animal Crackers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Cookbook Fundraiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

7th Annual Tricky Tray! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

A Night of Comedy at The Stress Factory . . . . . . . . . . 16

To Our NEW Volunteers!

Marie Bendl

Jennifer Christiano

Lindsey Czarnecki

Kara Hamerstone

Melinda Keiser

Suzanne Letinski

Inga Rasmussen

Jane Wolff

Lea Cawley

Erica Devlin

Tanya Johnson

Cheryl Kuntz

Jennifer McCarthy

Shannon McCarthy

Leigh Raskin

Alessandra Spyrou

Frank Badics

Erin Brennan

Donna Brush

Cassie Kingsbury

Molly Lewis

Lisa Serinese

Come One!Come All!

Come hear a recap of all the great things WE accomplished in 2012, and the exciting things planned for 2013.

• Hear from members just like you as to why they are involved, and how they found their place to assist our wonderful animals.

• Hear about our upcoming events including The Stress Factory Comedy Night, our Annual Dog Walk & Community Day, Tricky Tray, Open Mic Night, and others.

• See how YOUR hard work has helped so many great pets.

• Renew what is important FOR YOU with your involvement.

• Come have FUN with animal NUTS just like you.

For more information, or if you have questions or suggestions. email Tom Young at tom@palmieriassociates.com

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SCFA General Member Meeting / 2013 Kick-off! Tuesday, February 5th at the 7:00 at the Senior Center

(505 DeMott Lane, behind the library & shelter).

Silly Pet PictureContest!

See the next page for details!

Winner to be revealed at the General Member Meeting,

Tuesday February 5th!

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© CandidCreatures Photography

Silly Pet PictureContest!

Then the Time Has Come to Get Even! In conjunction with our upcoming Member Meeting / 2013 Kick-off on Tuesday, February 5th, we are holding a “Silly Pet Picture” Contest.

Please email your funny photos to tom@palmieriassociates.com. We will be showing the funny photos at the meeting, so be there for some good laughs.

Plus prizes will be given for those photos that stand out (on all four legs) above the rest.

If you need help in scanning photos or anything else, please let Tom know.

Have you caught your pet in an awkward moment or expression? Do you have that

“laugh out loud” picture of your pet?

Winner revealed at Our Member Meeting Kick-Off!

Tuesday February 5th!7:00pm at the Senior Center!

Got Mews? If you’d like to share something exciting, fun or informative... ...please do! Please share your experience along with any photos you may have of your little bundle(s) of joy!

Send Articles to: Tracy atTracy@candidcreatures.com

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Shout Out for Help!It’s Who You Know...The SCFA Fundraising Committee has received some great ideas for future fundraising events, but many of them require a venue where they can be held. We would like to start to maintain a data base of places where we have contacts that could provide us a hall/venue at a possible discount. So please reach out to us if you have any of the following contacts:

• Are you a member of a social or civic club or have friends/relatives who are associated with clubs like the Moose, Elks, Kiwanis, EMS, Firemen where they have halls and meeting rooms?

• Do you have contacts with local restaurants?

If You Answered Yes To Either Question, We Would Like To Hear From You!Please email your contact information to: fundraising@secondchanceforanimals.org

Please provide information about the venue – such things as phone number, contact person, capacity, cost to rent. We are always looking for locations that are local, cost effective and willing to help support the animals of Franklin Township!!

Adopted!

© CandidCreatures Photography

Chi-Chu

Adopt a SeniorA gray muzzle... one of my many weaknessesAs volunteers or visitors of FTAS, we may walk through

the kennels and feel sad for the dogs that do not have a

home. The dogs at FTAS are loved and well cared for but

we would like to see them snoozing on a couch, cuddling

with their human for a movie, or running in their back yard

chasing squirrels. For me, it is especially hard to see the

older dogs in the kennels. They seem a little sadder, a bit

more depressed. Like they knew what love was and never

dreamt of losing it. Rocky became my dog with the help

of a little fireworks night magic. I took him home because

no one else requested him for doggie date night back

in 2007. The big boy was a bit intimidating.

He barked incessantly at any visitors to the kennel,

including volunteers. At 100 lbs, a mix of German

Shepherd and Rottweiler, and 7 years old he was not

getting many second glances. I was wary as I put his collar

on for fireworks night. As soon as we got home though,

immediately upon entering the apartment, Rocky play

bowed to my cat Jeter. Instantly I felt that this dog had

to be mine. I was ready for a dog and my one concern was

that he or she was safe around my cats. It was as if Rocky

read my mind and instantly set me at ease. I had a hard

time bringing him back until I could get approval from the

apartment complex and finalize the adoption with Katie.

But soon enough, the big boy was mine. I hadn’t really

thought too much about Rocky’s age but it became

obvious he was having a hard time getting around very

quickly. We went to the vet I was using at the time and

neither Rocky or I liked how he conducted his examination.

This vet talked about extensive testing and xrays,

medications, etc and he made Rocky and I uneasy.

I sought a second opinion from the family vet we had

used for 25 years. Turns out, after xrays, Rocky had

undergone femoral head surgery for hip dysplasia

(removal of the ball part of the hip joint). He was

prescribed Rimadyl for his arthritis and luckily has been

just fine ever since. Last year Rocky had a few incidents

with neck pain which was solved with a cortisone shot and

now he gets monthly massage therapy from volunteer

Wendy Kerekes which he LOVES. Rocky will be 12 in

November. I treasure every day with my big boy.

Lucas, Stella and SandyI remember the first time I saw him in the back kennels

with his brother Spencer. He was looking sad and

impatient and maybe a bit tired of sharing his kennel

with the younger, more spry black lab mix. I think I knew

right away he would end up with me. Turns out a family

with 5 children was adopting a baby and that baby was

allergic to dogs. So Lucas and Spencer ended up at FTAS.

Spencer was adopted fairly quickly. He was a lab mix and

around 8 years old. Lucas, a beagle mix was already 12.

I could not stop thinking about him. I knew his chances

of being adopted were slim. And his heart spoke to mine.

On December 13, 2009, my Mom’s birthday, I made

it official. Lucas became a Jagger.

We worry about veterinary expenses when we adopt an

older dog, but Lucas has not had one medical concern in

nearly 3 years. He has a heart murmur and his teeth are

not so good but overall, his health is good. He can be a

cranky old man at times when the younger girls are being

pesky but he deserves to be. Lucas is 15 years old. I am

lucky for each morning I wake up with my little buddy. I

had the honor of spending 71 days with a sweet old girl

I named Stella in 2010. Katie found her wandering the

streets. I wandered in the back one day and was afraid she

was gone, all the dogs were barking and she was lying

still. Katie laughed – no, she is just deaf. I walked the old

girl once she was evaluated and I could not let her go.

© CandidCreatures Photography

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© CandidCreatures Photography

Lucas

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© CandidCreatures Photography

Rocky

Katie got her vaccines up to date and let me take her home.

She had some worms and a bit of a leaky bladder. Some

wormer from Katie and a quick trip to the vet cured both

problems with relative ease. Stella was such a joy.

That girl followed me around the house and gave me so

much love. One cold morning she woke up early and went

to a far corner of the back yard and laid down. That was the

day she left me. I look forward to heaven one day where

I know my sweet Stella will be waiting for me. That dog

was my heart.

Sandy was a yellow lab surrendered at 13 years old on the

same day my mom was adopting a dog from FTAS. My heart

immediately went to her. She looked so sad and forlorn like

she believed she had lost everything good in her world.

Sandy was surrendered in April and I took her home in May,

making sure my heart was ready for it first. Sandy had some

spunk! She let the other dogs know she was not going to

take any nonsense. We put Sandy on Rimadyl as it was

obvious she had some arthritis in her hips. Her body didn’t

give her much warning when she had to go potty so that

became something that we had to manage. And she had a

hard time on floors which got worse with time. Overall, aside

from the arthritis medication and her regular check ups,

Sandy had no medical issues during her time with me. In

the end, I sadly had to make the decision to let her go when

she could no longer get up and lost nearly all control of her

bowels. It was still a hard decision to make and a hard day to

get through. I miss my Sandy and my Stella every single day.

Though the heartbreak of losing them seems too much to

bear, I never once regretted my decision to bring Stella or

Sandy into my home or my heart. The joy of giving them a

second chance when there are few that have it in their hearts

to do so is worth the terrible emptiness of their loss. And the

memories and their souls stay with your heart forever.

— Amanda Jagger SCFA Team Leader

Second Chance for Animals Board of Directors are currently

working on a program for seniors, the Senior Pet Assistance

Program. This program, when finalized, will offer financial

assistance to help defray the cost of a senior pet with

medical needs. This is a new program and we will be

looking for donations and fundraising efforts to maintain

this important program.

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Socialization VolunteersFor volunteers attending Thursday night socialization at the shelter, there

are some changes you will need to remember:

1 Wear an SCFA volunteer t-shirt so that you will be easy to distinguish

from the general public.

2 A Team Leader will be present to oversee adoptions and help answer

questions the public may have.

3 You are not expected to have to work with the public.

4 The Socialization Leader will still be present to help you.

5 Be aware that members of the general public may be present;

be respectful.

6 Do not allow members of the general public to handle the animals

(until they have completed the pre-adoption form).

7 Members of the public should only be present in the entry area,

the cat adoption room, and the front dog runs.

If you have any questions about this, feel free to contact Gerry Harris at

gerryha@mindspring.com

Dry Dog Food

Dry Cat Food

Purina Kitten Chow

KMR Kitten Formula

Canned Cat Food

Cat Toys

Catnip

Dog Kong Toys

Pigs Ears

Bleach

Laundry Detergent

Pine Sol

Hand Sanitizer

Paper Towels

Sponges

Q-Tips

Blankets

Towels

Sheets

Dog Beds

Wish List

© CandidCreatures Photography

Constance

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Her New Name is Askja...So, I Adopted a 9 Year Old Cat From Our Shelter...Askja from what I understand has been an indoor cat for her whole life. From my experience with her, she has been very well taken care of and socialized (actually she is more like a dog than a cat for most). She loves people, goes to them to check them out etc. I love her to pieces and not to upset all my previous cats who were all wonderful though challenging at times, she is more adapted than any that I had before. I can run the vacuum cleaner next to her, drop something on the floor 1 foot away from her (being clumsy) and she is not disturbed by any of it. She just looks at it and I know her hearing is very good. All my previous cats would have taken off if that happened.

She is mainly challenging about food intake (she could eat until she bursts) and her early morning hours (though we discussed that point and came to an understanding). The other challenge is to get her to exercise: she loves being flat on the ground most of the time. We go visit the fenced in backyard together and she loves it. She gets fresh air and really learned to enjoy it all. Amazingly enough, she has one talent: HUNTING! She gets very active and excited if there is something to hunt in the backyard when we are there! And oh yes, squirrels and chipmunks!

Askja is the name of a volcano in Iceland, extinct. I named her for that volcano as she can be explosive and has a strong personality which I like. She is a lovely cat though and I have not had any problems with her. We handle the vet situations really well too as I get her to smell a treat when they poke at her and that does the trick as she loves treats so much. As I said, she is more like a dog than a cat and had a really good education from what I can assess.

Asjka is a wonderful cat and I had many before her.

– Tania Volochine

Askja

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2014CalendarSubmissionsPhotos submitted must be animals who have been adopted from The Franklin Township Animal Shelter. Color digital photographs are required and must be a minimum of 300 dpi, or 2400x3000 pixels, in JPEG (JPG) format so that they will produce high quality for the calendar. Be sure to include their names. We can only use photographs of your pets – no people please.

Send Photos to:

(Photo Tip! Don’t use flash, and have

sunlight behind you).

2013 SCFA Franklin Township Calendars For Sale! It’s Not Too Late!

The 2013 SCFA Franklin Township Calendar is available for purchase at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter during its regular hours (Tue-Sat 12:00-3:00pm and Thursday 5:30-7:30pm). Calendars are $20.00.

You can also pick up yours at Cedar Lane Animal Clinic at the corner of Cedar Grove Lane and Easton Avenue.

If you can’t get to any of these locations, you can send a check for $22.70 ($20.00 plus $2.70 shipping) for each calendar you want to our post office address of:

Second Chance for Animals P.O. Box 5172 Somerset, NJ 08875 Attn: Calendar Sales

Make checks out to Second Chance for Animals. Be sure to include the name and address where to mail them.

calendar@secondchanceforanimals.org

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Please Note: that in order to comply with the rules of the NJ Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission, all tickets, sold or unsold, must be returned to SCFA. So, if you are unable or unwilling to sell any or all of the tickets,

PLEASE return the unsold tickets to SCFA (do not drop them off at the shelter!).

Our Super 50/50 Raffle prize is up to $1,000! We have 2 weeks left to sell to all of our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers! Remember, last year’s prize was over $3,000... we have to sell a lot more tickets to get to that prize.

Please return the stubs, and money (checks should be made payable to “Second Chance for Animals”) in the self-addressed envelope enclosed with the books. All tickets must be returned no later than February 2, 2013.

Please do not drop them off at the shelter!

bid small

Win BIG!

Super 50/50 Raffle!2 Weeks Left!

Animal Crackers

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True Love WaitingI won’t ever leave you,

I won’t ever stray, I’ll be here waiting,

At the end of your day.

Whatever your troubles, Bring them home to our place,

And I will put a smile, Back onto your face.

Don’t need much in return, But a warm cozy bed, A smatter of kisses,

And a lap for my head.

So come get me now, I’m waiting for you,

At your local pet shelter, With a heart that is true.

–Tom Young

special observations around the shelter

© CandidCreatures Photography

Jester

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True Love WaitingI won’t ever leave you,

I won’t ever stray, I’ll be here waiting,

At the end of your day.

Whatever your troubles, Bring them home to our place,

And I will put a smile, Back onto your face.

Don’t need much in return, But a warm cozy bed, A smatter of kisses,

And a lap for my head.

So come get me now, I’m waiting for you,

At your local pet shelter, With a heart that is true.

–Tom Young

Cinnamon and Her New Daddy!Don’t Give Up Hope!Cinnamon went home recently, after over two years of waiting for her forever home.

Like Us on Facebook, and keep up to date with all the wonderful adoptions!

Adopted!

© CandidCreatures Photography

Cinnamon

at SecondChanceForAnimals

To submit a recipe, please email Linda at SCFACookbook@second chanceforanimals.org!

Cookbook FundraiserCalling all cooks....Second Chance for Animals is putting together its first cookbook to help with fundraising for the Franklin Township Animal Shelter.

So gather up your family’s favorite recipes, and send them in to be included! Our cookbook will include recipes for you and your best friend, so if you have a pet friendly recipe, send it on in!

We encourage you to submit them online (instructions below) or send them into the email below and we’ll get them in for you.

We are also looking for volunteers for this and editing! This is a great fundraising opportunity and we will have them for sale December 2013, just in time for the Holidays!

If you have any questions or are interested in proofreading, please email Linda at SCFACookbook@secondchancefor animals.org.

Shake Off those Holiday Pounds!Do You Have a Favorite Recipe That’s Light and Healthy?

The categories available are:

Appetizers

Beverages

Soups

Salads

Vegetables

Side Dishes

Main Dishes

Bread & Rolls

Desserts

Cookies & Candy

This & That

Pets

We will be collecting recipes until December 1st, 2013

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen? ...Not a Second Chance!!

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Thursday Evening SocializationThursday Night Cat Socialization is a very unique time for both volunteers and residents. It is a time devoted to just interaction & fun with our guests.

EACH CAT deserves to be touched and handled. Don’t let any of our cats sit on the sideline, and not be involved. They need to be stimulated, interacted with, and loved. This makes them more adoptable!

Your one-on-one interaction will probably be the HIGHLIGHT of their week.

Check with our Team Leader on where you can make an impact, and always remember to work your way from front to back only ...

Please note: Volunteers should never go into the Quarantine unless specifically instructed to do so by a Shelter Staff person.

1. Adoption

2. Incoming

3. Happy Critters!

Calling All Dog WalkersTrained Dog Walkers are always needed and appreciated as well on Thursdays.

If you’re new, and want to attend a Dog Walking Orientation, email Amanda Jagger amandajagger13@gmail.com for more information on the next Dog Walking Orientation!

ee

© CandidCreatures Photography

Bridgette

Tricky Tray 2013 is Coming to the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Franklin!Calling All Volunteers!Are you good with sales and marketing? Do you have contacts with local stores, restaurants, or companies? Do you like working with people? Can you make phone calls? Do you have none of these skills but still want to help? We Need You! The most critical component of Tricky Tray is solicitation of donations from stores, restaurants, sports venues, companies, etc. to ensure a successful event. We Need You!

Donation Drop-offsWe will be coordinating dates and locations in the early spring for volunteers, family and friends to drop off new items for our baskets. We are planning many themed baskets so if you have NEW items please consider donating them. We will be advertising drop off dates via email and on our website.

Theme baskets:Pets (Dogs, Cats,) Gardening, Bakers, Italian, Kitchen, Home Décor, Holidays, Seasonal, Exercise, Romantic Evening, Scrapbooking, Arts & Crafts and more.

Baskets, Filling, Ribbons And BowsWe need baskets and decorative boxes in all shapes, sizes and colors to package gifts. We also need basket filling, ribbons and bows to make them attractive to potential bidders.

If you have baskets that you would like to donate, please reply to this email and we will arrange pickup. Don’t forget to save any baskets or decorative boxes from your holiday gatherings. They do not have to be new but they must be in good shape with no broken handles, holes or fraying.

Questions? Would you like more information? Please send an email to ttinfo@secondchanceforanimals.org and we would be happy to respond to any questions.

Thanks for all that you do and we look forward to working with you to help the Shelter and the animals of Franklin Township!

— Rose Rivera, Susan Book & Karen Ferone 2013 Tricky Tray Chairs

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Tricky Tray is Back!

October 25th

2013

Please come to our Tricky Tray planning meeting on February 26th – 7:00 PM in the Franklin Township Library Historical Room to see how you can help.

Sunday, March 3, at 5:00pmat

The Stress Factory 90 Church Street, New Brunswick, NJTickets - $40 per ticket (Includes show and buffet)

proceeds benefit Second Chance for Animals

Contact aliciad@secondchanceforanimals.org or 732.748.7232

Second Chance for Animals, a registered 501(c)-3 non-profit organization, dedicated to enhancing the lives, adoption rates, and experiences of the animals living in shelters. We support the Franklin Township Animal shelter as well as provide dog & cat food to the Franklin Township Food Bank to help support pets for families who need assistance. at SecondChanceForAnimals

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Second Chance for Animals Board of Directors — 2012-2013Welcome our newest BOD member, Heather Steel. Heather joined SCFA in January of this year, and has decided to become more involved. Thank you Heather, we all look forward to working with you.

Please also join us in congratulating Bob Pezzano as our new Vice President. Bob has been active both on the Board and as a team leader and with SCFA for many years. We all look forward to working with Bob in his new role.

The Treasurer’s position is once again filled by Gerry Harris. Gerry has been instrumental in keeping SCFA fiscally sane and balanced over the years and we are all glad to have him take on this task for another 2 years.

President – Nora Breen

Vice President – Bob Pezzano

Treasurer – Gerry Harris

Secretary – Lisa Revel

DirectorsMarianne Mason

Stacy Megna

Pat Revel

Heather Steel

Board meetings are open to all members. They are held the first Thursday of each month at the Library.

meetingsAll Volunteers MeetingTuesday, February 5th at 7:00pm at the Senior Center (505 DeMott Lane, behind the library & shelter).

Board Of Directors MeetingsThe BOD Meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of each month. The first part of the meeting is open to anyone interested in attending and is normally held at the Franklin Township Library.

Contacts

*Note: Changes to Current Adoption Events Time required per week estimated: 2-4 hrs.

Remember to Log Your Volunteer Hours! The sign-up schedule for the shelter, Petsmart,

Petvalu and Petco are also now online.

Current Adoption Events

Shelter Every Saturday

Petsmart in Bridgewater3rd and 4th Sunday of the month*

Petco in Milltown1st and 2nd Saturdays the month*

PetValue 2nd Sunday of the month

Socialization/Adoption Thursday Evenings

Comcast Tapings Three to Four times a Year

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Kitty Solomita (Scheduling) (732) 297-8210 volunteer_scheduler@secondchanceforanimals.org

Nora Breen (President) (732) 227-1033 president@secondchanceforanimals.org

Bob Pezzano (Vice President) bobpezz@msn.com

Marianne Mason (Technology) (732) 249-2559 ferrante@verizon.net

Lynn Lawson (Foster Care) (732) 271-1291 llawson2711@yahoo.com

Gerry Harris (Animal Enrichment) gerryha@mindspring.com

Rose Rivera (Fundraising) RRiver32@ITS.JNJ.com

Heather Steel (Marketing/Community Outreach) hwsteel@comcast.net

Linda Tatem (Fundraising) tatemld@yahoo.com

©Photography and Graphic Design by Tracy Lee Sullivan Tracy@CandidCreatures.com www.CandidCreatures.com www.designwithfivestar.com

Volunteer Opportunities

Adopting one pet won’t change the world, but the world will change for that one pet!

...and have fun doing it!

www.secondchanceforanimals.org

Supporting The Franklin Township Animal Shelter and more!

© CandidCreatures Photography

Rodney