

In turn, many of the foster homes actually became the permanent ones for these pets. Several families took in cats and dogs from Last Hope, providing quite the relief for the organization. This is actually a quicker process, and one that simplifies it.īut one of the most compelling parts of the pandemic is the foster aspect. Unlike the past, all of the paperwork that needs to be filled out for the pet adoption process is now online. The organization also received a handful of small grants. However, it was a minor loan, nowhere close to the $150,000-plus that many businesses received. To keep operation costs at a minimum during the pandemic, Last Hope applied for and received a paycheck protection program (PPP) loan from the Small Business Administration. The dynamic duo at Last Hope also said it’s a great time for people to train their new pets because many are still working at home, even as stay-at-home orders have been lifted for the most part. The lifetime commitment will then commence, making a difference for both the animal and the person or people adopting them. Volunteers and those adopting the pets are required to wear masks for these meetings. The cats are in the meet and greet room.” A month ago, Last Hope took in beagles from a shelter in Kentucky that had dogs living in a dilapidated barn, with others in crowded crates stacked on top of each other. “The dogs have outside meetings, except for when it’s too hot. “They have a meeting with the dogs,” Anderson said. When people see a picture of one of the pets up for adoption, they receive specific requests for the adoption of that animal. Last Hope is generating plenty of interest on their website, as well as on the group’s Facebook page. Once the final paperwork is finalized, the dog will be dropped off at the animal’s new home. There are still obstacles and background checks that need to be conducted.
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“Our dog coordinator had a back supply of 30 approved applications for just dogs, plus an application for all but one of the 11 from Georgia.”īut just because an application is approved does not mean it will go through. “The other day, 11 dogs arrived from Georgia and four from Kentucky,” Joanne Anderson, outreach coordinator at Last Hope, said. People need a companion, and now is the opportune time to have one.

Last Hope is seeing a significant increase in pet adoption interest. Polly was rescued from bad situation in Port Jefferson in poor condition when found, being malnourished, upper respiratory issues, parasites and needed surgery for a locking kneecap. But there are also plenty of positive moments that have come out of this difficult time. The stay-at-home orders created plenty of challenges for this shelter, as well as others throughout New York.

“People have stepped up to the plate and they’re going into homes,” Last Hope President Linda Stuurman said. Volunteers were heading over to the Wantagh location twice a day during the height of the pandemic to make sure the animals that remained at the shelter were in good hands, receiving the special care they needed. The small organization’s staff worked tirelessly to send their cats and dogs to foster care for the time being. Unfortunately, during the coronavirus pandemic, that’s what happened to Last Hope Animal Rescue, located at 3300 Beltagh Ave.

(Photos courtesy of Last Hope Animal Rescue)Īdoption centers for animals are not supposed to close. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, Last Hope dog meet and greets with approved potential adopters are outdoors.
