For high school senior Grace, volunteering at North Shore Animal League America started as a school requirement, but quickly became something much more. “I always knew I wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter,” Grace told us. “When I had to complete service hours for class, I saw it as my chance. I had adopted a cat from Animal League America before and loved the organization. Once I started volunteering, I knew I wasn’t going to stop.”
With Mother’s Day approaching, we’re celebrating a very special mom — one whose courage, love, and strength carried her family through the harshest of beginnings. Meet Hazel, a two-year-old Australian Cattledog mix, whose heroic story shows the incredible bond between a mother and her babies.
And too many dogs, too. But for now, I’m thinking about cats, mainly because of a tragedy that occurred in Medford, Long Island, on March 31. That morning, around 7:00, a fire broke out at Happy Cat Sanctuary, where as many as 300 cats lived with owner and founder Chris Arsenault. About 150 cats perished, along with Chris, who died trying to save as many as he could.
For Saarah Shahid, volunteering at North Shore Animal League America was a natural step, inspired by a lifelong connection to animals. “I’ve always felt a special connection to animals, and I’ve wanted to help them in any way I can,” she shared.
When six tiny, terrier mix puppies were surrendered to our shelter partner Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), they were already fighting a deadly battle. At just 10 weeks old, they had contracted parvovirus — a highly contagious and often fatal disease. Without immediate intervention, their future was grim. That’s when North Shore Animal League America stepped in.
For Gloria, the joy of seeing a once-homeless pet walk out the door with a loving family never fades. “Even after all these years, I still get excited when an older or hard-to-place animal gets adopted. That moment — that’s why I’m here.”
Growing up, there was never a time when a four-legged friend wasn’t part of Cliff’s household. When he retired after 35 years of service as a fire prevention and building codes official, he knew he wanted to spend his time giving back — and he knew it had to involve dogs. That decision led him to North Shore Animal League America, where for the past four and a half years, he has been a dedicated volunteer, helping our canine residents on their journey toward adoption.
Furry-Side Chats. Heartwarming Adoption Tails. Our adoption events are all about bringing new families together, whether on our Long Island campus, or any of our 2,000 shelter partners across the country!
The devastation left behind by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County and beyond has uprooted countless lives — both human and animal. As communities work to rebuild, shelters in California are facing an overwhelming challenge: finding space for the rising number of animals in need. While some shelters had emergency plans in place, others, like Western Riverside County Animal Services and its three affiliated shelters, were already over capacity when the fires began.
For most of us, our pets never live long enough. We treasure our time with them and are grateful beyond words when they live long healthy lives. Then there are cruel people like those who dumped Gabby and Romeo at a Florida shelter, not to have them rehomed but to be euthanized! After 10 years. Why? Because “they got too old.” Just thinking about this makes my blood boil.