Complaint Review: Humane Assoc. of Central New York - Syracuse (shelter located 4915.5 Taft Road Liverpool, NY 130 New York

I see over the past several years many people have had a reason to gripe about the Humane Association of CNY... but the important thing to remember is that they are here and helping.  These folks are working for the animals. 

We all know how tough the economy can be, especially in recent years.  A good deal of people have had to face alternatives to their original lifestyles or dreams.  Some times we have to make sacrifices.

Now, if you look at the alternatives... they could be euthanizing hundreds of uncared for pets, they could be beating them like people too often do, or they could take in numerous animals and allow them to quarrel for sport and profit. 

... But they do not!!

I'm not saying it is right to allow animals to be sick.  But when I compare it to taking that doggy or kitty's life, I darn well believe that they are doing the best they can for those animals under such impoverished conditions.

Nowadays, people go to look for pets possibly searching online... and over and over this is the first google search that comes up when you search for your local Humane Association.  Time and time again you push people away.  Maybe you think it was such a great cost to have to heal your sick dog, Mark... but you didn't take him back.  You chose that animal (Max) over the $800 you had to give up.  If the Humane Association had not been there... where would Max be today? Euthanized??  How ripped-off are you really to have that loving and so dearly loved family pet?

Maybe it was under bad management at one time.  Or maybe there was some very misfortunate oversight.  I do understand your frustrations... but all you are doing is bad mouthing a poor local facility that is struggling year after year to keep its doors open and provide for needy animals.  Is that what you all call a good deed?

How about donating some time to go to the facility and help take care of the animals, visit them, show them the desperately needed love they deserve.  Take some litter, food, blankets, laundry soap, or even donate some money to fund an already destitute cause?? 

Despite the bad economy... these are the things I have done.  Even through my own struggles... I find a way to help.  Even if things don't always look picture perfect at no-kill animal shelters, it is considerably better than the piled up animal bodies we could see instead.

This Humane Association needs a new roof, now.  Maybe instead of complaining about them not spending their monies on vaccines and care-takers... as you would like them to.  You can donate some money so that they can continue to provide care and still get the roof they need to save lives.  With limited funds, maybe those are the options... vaccinate OR buy a new roof. 

Come-on people... who is really being ripped-off here??  I think it is the animals that aren't getting homes, because you are scaring away possible families for something that happened nearly ten years ago.  Wake up, love your pet, and let it go!!

Was MAX a Beagle very large for his breed? Adopted around 6 years ago? Age around 5-7 years old? I am a former employee for the humane association of cny. Large dog Kennel caretaker.

Was MAX a Beagle very large for his breed? Adopted around 6 years ago? Age around 5-7 years old? I am a former employee for the humane association of cny. Large dog Kennel caretaker.

Was MAX a Beagle very large for his breed? Adopted around 6 years ago? Age around 5-7 years old? I am a former employee for the humane association of cny. Large dog Kennel caretaker.

Was MAX a Beagle very large for his breed? Adopted around 6 years ago? Age around 5-7 years old? I am a former employee for the humane association of cny. Large dog Kennel caretaker.

I recently adopted a a dog at the humane association. I thought the owner was seriously concerned about the welfare of these animals. I fell completely in love with the dog at the first sight of him. He was friendly and everything I could ask for. He was also disgustingly thin. Touching his back and ribs just made you sad. I was told he was there for 4 months. So I decided I have to have him and give him a loving home. So the adoption went through and I brought him home. 2 days later I took him for his check up and had he seemed to be ok other then he was aggresive towards the vet. So I brought him home and he was getting along fine with the family and other dogs which i'll add were adopted from the SPCA and have never had a problem with even both of them being found abused from where they had resucued them. I had noticed him growling when we would touch around his neck and chest and became disturbed about this behavior. So I went back to the humane association for some reaasurance and help with the situation. The woman behind the counter repeatedly demanded him back because my reaction was unhealthy for the dog. I refused it. I didn't know what to do but I knew I wasn't done trying to work with him. She then threatend to send someone to the house to remove him from this unhealthy situation. After arguing with her I spoke to the woman that helped me with him originally in tears and afraid my dog would be taken from me for simply questioning his past behavior and tips for him not to chase my cats and just wanting help with this some what aggresive behavior. To make a long story a bit shorter I went home and kept my dog. Not long after the visit I noticed my dog was coughing so hard he was gagging. So I immediatley took him to a near by vet and discoverd he had kennel cough. He was supposivley up to date with ALL of his shots and healthy. But numerous shots were not up to date. The money is not an issue right now but it would have been nice to know if other dogs had it or that he was sick. Now he is on medication and is doing great. He has put on over 5lbs in three weeks and is very loveable. He has a new kind of life to him. He is active and loves to cuddle and play. I now get an overload of kisses daily and always wagging his tail. He is a great member of the family excep for chasing cats. (still open for suggestions) On the other hand what about these other animals. Are they sick? Do they get proper nutrition? Do they get enough to eat? Do they get proper care? Do they get all their current vaccines? Why was my dog practically a skeleton for 4 months? After reading these other complaints and statements I can't help but want to help these animals. My heart goes out to each and every animal there. The first time reading the statements I was in tears. These animals need help and homes. Just as every person has special wants and needs so do these animals. Since they cannot speak for themselves we need to stand up for them. Why should they get shafted because they are animals and not humans? I'm thankful I saved one but what about the rest?

I have worked at the Humane Association on and off for 3 years and it is alot better than when I started. They do vaccinate and test every animal in the whole building. They have always been given the Rabies vaccination since I have worked there. There is always going to be sick cats in a shelter especially when cats are allowed to be free in a room and not in a cage. When a cat is discovered to be sick it is taken into the shelters hospital to begin treatment. The kennel is better than it has ever been. Hairballs are sometimes on my floor when I come home so does that make me a bad pet owner!!!!! Every shelter has problems and this one is no exception. The pay is low and there are no benefits except for the love you get from the animals. There is a high turn over of employees and the work is harder than most people expect. There are many rules I don't agree with but there is always rules that not everyone will agree with.

If the shelter is doing so well and under new staff, why do the cats in the shelter STILL look so depressingly ill? I visited the shelter 5/04 for the first time since I was employed there 2 years ago, and I find it hard to believe that the shelter is Testing and vaccinating again. I am fully aware that they had stopped all tests and vaccinations at one point. The shelter has Never Vaccinated against Rabies, and probably never will. While I cannot prove they have or havent started vaccinating again. My main concern is the health and safety of the animals in the shelter. The condition of the shelter when I visited was not satisfactory in the least. All the cats had sever and chronic upper respiratory infections, fur in awful condition due to illness, and hair balls thrown up all over the place and the cat room was far from clean. The dog kennel I was not allowed to even enter, because I didn't come there for that exact reason, to adopt a dog. Which leaves me to believe that the kennels are in no better shape now, than when I was employed there 2 years ago. It saddens me greatly that the shelter is under the direction of the same president (Joyce), and still suffering cause of that fact. A shelter cannot simply "house" animals. Illness and parasite infestation are a given and the shelter needs to do everything they can to make sure that the animals get the proper veterinary care and Vaccinations needed. Otherwise its nothing more than a hoarding situation, in a business type setting. Former Employee of the Humane Association Of CNY inc.

yes,perhaps this organization in the past has failed, but now it is under new staff and is doing everything for the animals. All testing of heart worm,feline luek. and parvo are done on every animal.Worming,advantage ect. are applied every mopnth.All the love and attenition is given to every animal on a daily basis. The biggest thing is trying to catch up on vaccinations and wormings ect. that former employes have failed to do. And if I might add their all up to date on all. I work at a shelter and do what I love to do .By making a bad name for this shelter means making a bad name for these animals.I am sorry that some of these animals adopted out were sick.I agree, for one they should have not been adopted out until healthy, or they should of at least helped pay for it. The animals nor I can help what or who runs this company, just please know that everything is being done to care,love and adopted out healthy animals.We, the employee's do care and do everthing humanly possible for this shelter. someone who cares,

The facility that I worked for conducted a certain procedure when animals arrived in our care. The animals were given a complete physical examination (checking the eyes, skin, coat, determining gender, checking weight and so on) Animals that were brought in as strays (having no vaccination records or vet care) were under constant supervision for any signs of illness. Every animal had an evaluation sheet that was attached to its intake form. Vaccinations were given to those with no records and were updated as necessary. Everything was recorded and initialed. Potential adopters were given this information about the animal they were interested in. However, on the case of heartworm disease, a veterinarian must diagnose as we were unable to do so. We have had animals come into the shelter with this disease but we also worked with a nearby animal hospital that provided us with treatment when needed. The animal hospital did charge the shelter for treatment but we always managed to get the money. After all, the animals came first. I am somewhat disgruntled after reading about "Max." Although vet bills comes with owning a pet, I feel that in certain circumstances such as this, a little help on the part of the Humane Association is justified. Of course, that's just my opinion. One other thought.....a dog that costs $75.00 should in no way be compared to one that costs $800.00 in my opinion. Shelter animals can make wonderful pets too. Just because someone abandoned them doesn't make them less worthy of your compassion. Please don't put a price tag on their value. They all need good homes. To Max's new family: Thank you for your compassion in bringing Max into your family. I hope he brings as much joy to you as you undoubtedly have to him.

Most people are not aware that $2.00 a month in wormer is all thats needed to prevent massive heart worms, and other intestinal worms. Its sad that people whom are suposed to be looking out for the welfare of animals are causing so much hurt. I feel that its even more sad that these people could have spent there $800 in a well breed animal without a genetic disorder or parisites. Its too bad the Shelter made it too easy for people to think there doing the right thing. I hope this guy gets the boot, Wheres the Animal activists now? I guess they are still chasing the cheese makers.

To whom This May Concern, I am writing to you today concerning a local Nonprofit no-kill animal shelter in my area that I was once employed with. That shelter being The Humane Association of CNY inc. at 4915 1/2 West Taft Rd Liverpool, NY, 13088 in the county of Onondaga. The shelter has suffered terribly under the direction of the current president. Supposedly the shelter has recently stopped all testing of FeLv, FIV, Parvo, and Worms and as ive been told also no more vaccines are being administered. This is a huge health concern, considering the amount of illness and parasite infestation that MAY occur in a shelter situation. This same shelter was shut down two years ago for a massive Ringworm infestation, and the shelter was forced to tear down and build new. Though, while I was employed there after the new shelter opened "we" the former employees were spotting Ringworm on the new animals in the shelter. No proper decontamination cleaning was ever done, and as new employees were hired , I and other employees were restricted from and in any way allowing them to be knowledgeable of the presence of Ringworm in the shelter. Most recently, a dog was adopted by a man by the name of Mark who had purchased the Dog for his 10 year old sons first pet. This Dog "Max" a Black Lab mix, had a very severe case of Heartworm and the shelter claims that they had no knowledge of the Dogs condition due to no Heartworm testing. This Dog had also been neutered by the shelters primary veterinarian then the Dog was released back to the shelter and shortly was adopted out to Mr. Burdick, only then to be seen by his veterinarian a week after and was diagnosed with a severe case of Heartworm that ran up a vet bill of over $800. The shelter president refused to reimburse or help pay any of the medical expenses. This is not the first time that this has happened, and IM sure that it will not be the last. There are also many other serious situations in the past and presently that we the former employees, members of the public, and adoptive parents feel are necessary to be addressed and intervention we feel is a definite need at this point. I have been chosen to speak on the behalf of 4 other former employees whose names are Susan , Michelle , Jackie , and Charles and also a member of the public Susan who was a regular visitor to the shelter who had also adopted in the past. Susan was banned from reentry of the shelter due to her speaking of her concern of the shelters depreciation in care and cleanliness. n September 2001 we all wrote letters to members of the board that we were knowledgeable of, their names being Bruce Shaferof, Ron Curtis Jr, and Stephen Caron {Director of the M. O. S. T. } and also to our local news Channel 9 , with no response given till now. April 4-5 2002 a story was aired on some of these issues by Channel 9 news reporter Julie Abbott. The members of this board are not listed anywhere for the public nor is there any budget listed of donations, board meetings are private and are not known of by anyone outside of the board. As employees, a former manager and members of the public requested this information, we were all told that it was not for anyone other than, the members of the board. We all were well aware of the large amounts of money that was donated to the shelter, but never did we see the money go into the shelter. Medical supplies were scares, and other supplies were mostly donated by visitors and stores. This in all is a tragedy and must be stopped. For the health and safety of the animals and the public as well. There is still so much more to this story and from what I understand the New York State Department of Agriculture is conducting an investigation but will not verify that to anyone. If you can be of any assistance in this very serious situation or if you can point us in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated.The animals need the public's support. Thank you for your time. Sincerely,