Hi: I am VP of the Potsdam Humane Society, Inc., located in Potsdam, NY. We have a small shelter that takes care of dogs, cats and various other animals. We are in the second year of a capital campaign trying to raise $850,000 for an addition to our current facility. We are located in the largest county in New York State (St. Lawrence County). It is also one of the poorest.

A year ago we decided to begin the process of becoming a no-kill shelter. We put no animal down that is adoptable. Some of our residents stay as long as 6 months to a year if they adoptable and we feel that eventually they will be placed. We contract with nine townships in our area who are allowed to bring their strays and unwanted to our shelter without cost to them. All animals are spayed or neutered before they are offered for adoption. We have two local vets (one retired and one is an instructor at a local college) who provide this service to us for a very nominal fee. All animals offered for adoption have all their vaccinations, are wormed, dogs are treated for heart worm, rabies shots are given and cats are tested for feline leukemia, ear mites, fleas etc. Dogs are licensed at our facility at the time of adoption. We are trying to win the $1,000,000 makeover as are many other very worthy shelters. More later