SACC / OPIN and Saks Fifth Avenue Gift-Wrapping Collaboration a Huge Success!

 

 For the third consecutive year, Saks Fifth Avenue in the Stamford Town Center Mall

this holiday season invited Stamford Animal Care and Control volunteers

to gift-wrap customers' holiday purchases in return for donations to support homeless pets.

The results were amazing, resulting in at least one direct adoption, and reaping a very gratifying

financial benefit for the homeless pets to whom we dedicate this annual effort.

 

 

 We would like to thank especially Theresa Walsh, General Manager,

Paulette Pitt, Executive Assistant (our champion for the past three years),

and the rest of the SFA Stamford management team for their support,

as well as the many Saks associates who were so helpful to us throughout this endeavor.

But deepest gratitude and appreciation, as always, go out to our dedicated volunteers,

without whose efforts these initiatives couldn't succeed.

Thanks to the gift-wrapping team of Michael Albanese, Chantal Avignone O'Neill,

Lisa Bannerot, Jenny Colucci, Araceli Costa, Drika Costantino, Cindy Dunaway, Jeanne Feore,

Virginia Lentz, Katie Razzaia, Christine Seid, Carla White and Jane Wotton;

and to Andrew Mouradian, dog wrangler.

And extra special thanks to Dixie, Patina and Stella, our wonderfully appealing canine ambassadors!

To join the ranks of our outstanding volunteers, please contact carla@opinpets.org.

Adopting one saves two: the one you take home, and the one who takes his place. 

From Rock 'n' Roll to Rawhide: Fostering a Shelter Dog

Article on Military.com on one of Stamford Animal Care & Control's volunteers, rock and roll Hall of Fame Inductee Dennis Dunaway, giving adoptable dog Barley a break from the shelter. Barley is a Pets for Patriots eligible dog. Read full article

Pet video awards raise $21,000, Pavia announces funding for new shelter

Originally Published in Stamford Advocate

Teke Wiggin, Correspondent

STAMFORD -- Paul Newman, playing himself onscreen, had clearly misbehaved: A pizza box and lone high heel lay strewn on the floor of the room as he snoozed on its couch and hugged a bottle of wine between his hindquarters. The time was 6:00 p.m. -- or was it 6:00 a.m?

No matter -- the basset hound, named for his blonde fur coat and blue eyes, knew what to do when he heard the foreboding knock at the door: He sprang from the couch, quickly disposed of the evidence, and situated himself right where his master had left him, on the floor.

Paul Newman's performance won him and his master, Karen Wells, Best Pawformance at the 2nd Annual Pet Tail Video Awards, a fundraising event for Connecticut pet rescue agency Outreach To Pets In Need and the Stamford Animal Care and Control Center.

Wells, who also won Best Pawformance last year, said Paul's model behavior has always made her a little suspicious: "What if he had a secret life when he did whatever he wanted?" She asked, grinning at a table inside the Gen Re Auditorium of the University of Connecticut's Stamford campus ---where the films were screened.

Appearing in "Secret Life of a Good Dog," Paul Newman was one of many pet performers whose on-screen antics were viewed at the ceremony held Friday night. Guests included Mayor Michael Pavia, who announced fresh plans to build a new animal shelter at the event.

Pavia was cornered by fans who were thrilled by his support for their cause. Saying he participated in animal rescue efforts when he was younger, Pavia told The Advocate that he still has the "same type of passion and commitment" to animal rights.

"I think I'm now in a position to help improve our not-so-fortunate animal friends," he said.

Asked if he had a pet of his own Pavia grimaced. He did, but did he have to share its name?

"My wife named her `Baby Cat,' so don't hold it against me," he said.

Baby Cat's hapless peers may have new help headed their way, according to an announcement Pavia made at the ceremony. Pavia said he has initiated plans to create a new animal shelter.

"I have set aside $75,000 in capital allocation to the study of design and development of a new animal center," he said, labeling the current shelter and beneficiary of the night, the Stamford Animal Care and Control Center, "a discarded stepchild of the city of Stamford."

The fundraiser featured screenings of 15 films, each nominated for one of five categories, as well as a 16th Best-in-Show film. In addition to the Best Pawformance award, which Paul Newman and Wells took home, the categories were Best Musical Tail, Best Rescue Tail, Best Real Life Tail, and Best Belly-Rubbin' Comedy.

For the awards, attendees purchased $60 tickets to get in the door. But donation opportunities abounded after they entered. Silent auction tables lined the foyer walls, featuring everything from autographed Yankees memorabilia to regal-looking dog portraits to hotel getaway deals.

Participants in Outreach To Pets In Need's foster program walked around four dogs in need of permanent owners amid the 200-plus crowd.

In addition to film screenings, the ceremony also recognized three volunteers as outstanding contributors to the organization. Laura O'Brien, Renee Dunaway, and Martina Steed, who volunteered their time fundraising, cleaning shelters, walking pets, and housing pets, among other things, received the awards.

The organization enjoys the support of about 130 volunteers, many of whom act as stewards of homeless pets until they find permanent homes.

Press Release: OPIN to Host Second Annual Pet Tail Video Contest and Awards Gala

STAMFORD, CT, February 10, 2011 – Outreach to Pets in Need (OPIN), the area’s all-volunteer non-profit advocate for homeless pets in Connecticut, is now accepting entries for its second annual Pet Tail Video Awards.  Award honorees will be announced and nominated videos will be shown on the big screen at the 2011 Pet Tail Video Contest and Awards Gala on Friday, April 15, 2011 at the University of Connecticut, One University Place in Stamford, Connecticut.

Now in its second year, the Pet Tail Video Awards is part of a benefit gala event hosted by OPIN and Stamford Animal Care & Control.  The gala incorporates the video award announcements with a silent auction and cocktail reception.  All funds that OPIN raises at this event will go towards their life-saving programs such as providing medical support for pets in need, pet-owner training programs, foster programs, and adoption initiatives.

The public is invited to submit entries in the form of a short (30 seconds to 3 minute) video, starring their pet, by visiting the OPIN website at www.OPINPets.org.  Submission is free and all entries must be received by March 13, 2011. 

The five award categories are Best Pawformance, Best Bell-Rubbin’ Comedy, Best Musical Tail, Best Real Life Tail, and Best Rescue Tail.

In addition to obtaining the best video award, nominees are also eligible to win a Flip Video™ camcorder and a Jasper Award trophy, OPIN’s version of the Oscar. Winning videos will be shown in full length on the evening of the gala.

OPIN to Host Second Annual Pet Tail Video Contest and Awards Gala (page 2)

About Outreach to Pets in Need (OPIN)

OPIN is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization whose mission is to decrease the population of homeless pets in Connecticut through medical treatment, training, public education, and placement programs. OPIN supports pets at Stamford Animal Care & Control and beyond, and provides temporary foster homes for pets of domestic violence victims and homeless pets. As well, they are a member of Pets for Patriots, an organization who helps military members honorably adopt adult shelter pets. For more information, please visit www.opinpets.org

# # #

Contact:

OPIN
Outreach To Pets In Need, Inc.
P.O. Box 488
Riverside, CT  06878

outreach@opinpets.org
www.OPINPets.org

In the News: All in the Family: Keeping women and their pets together through the crisis of domestic violence

Originally Published by Best Friends Animal Society.

June 02, 2010, 4:47PM MT

By Kama Einhorn, Best Friends Network volunteer

Diamond is a happy 9-month-old Pomeranian who recently spent three days in foster care. The pup didn't know it, of course, but that foster home — and the people who moved swiftly to arrange it — was a key factor in keeping her human guardian safe from harm, and possibly the reason she didn't end up in a shelter.

There are many reasons pets are surrendered at shelters. Here is an especially heartbreaking one: a woman dearly loves her pet, but must leave her home immediately because her own physical safety is in jeopardy. 

Similarly, there are many reasons a victim of domestic violence opts not to go to a shelter or safe house. But, thanks to a newly formed partnership between the Domestic Violence Crisis Center (DVCC) of Stamford, Connecticut, with Outreach to Pets in Need (OPIN), the fear of abandoning a pet doesn't have to be one of them. Together, the organizations will work to provide foster care services for pets whose guardians enter the DVCC's SafeHouses in Stamford or Norwalk.

Diamond was the very first pet to be helped by this new program. "We're just in the beginning of this process, and our focus right now is getting a network of foster homes in place," said Jenny Colucci, OPIN's co-founder. "So this was on an emergency basis, and a bit premature for us. But it is a true success. We picked Diamond up on a Monday at the crisis center and she was reunited with her guardian that Wednesday."

Her foster caregiver was a volunteer for OPIN with a flexible work schedule. She has no other pets because she and her husband move around a lot, but wanted a way to help pets and women at the same time.

"At first, Diamond was clingy and initially seemed afraid of my husband," her foster caregiver said. She understood that Diamond would need more care and attention than an animal coming from a peaceful home. "It was bittersweet when she left," she remembered. "I was so happy she was going back to her permanent guardian, but I missed her! I tried to mentally prepare myself for that, and I'll do the same next time I foster. I loved how DVCC, OPIN, and myself all came together and helped — and it worked!"

And if you've ever seen a very happy Pomeranian in action, you can imagine the beauty of the reunion.

The Domestic Violence Crisis Center offers confidential services at no charge, including court and legal services, group and individual counseling, temporary shelter, housing services, children’s services, medical advocacy, multilingual services, PeaceWorks prevention education and a 24-hour hotline (1-888-774-2900). Now, this new program represents a huge step forward in the understanding of the word "family." Family includes pets.

"This partnership is so important for victims of domestic abuse who have pets and fear for their safety," said Cyndy Goldberg, director of the DVCC SafeHouses. "It's heartbreaking when a woman who needs and wants a safe place to stay decides not to come to us because there is no way to accommodate her pet."

Abusers often threaten the welfare of pets in order to control the victim. Afraid to leave her pets behind, the abused woman may choose not to leave her situation. Goldberg says that several women each year decide not to come to a DVCC SafeHouse because of their pets, and there are undoubtedly others who don't call in the first place, because they know they can't bring their pets.

Because the program is so new, OPIN's immediate goal is to build a network of people who are willing to open their homes to a pet for a temporary stay. DVCC works to help women become settled in a safe, stable place within 60 days. 

"Fostering is a wonderful opportunity to reach out to those in need, both human victims and those they care deeply about, the companion animals who have found a place in their hearts," said OPIN co-founder Jenny Colucci. "OPIN will coordinate the foster home and provide medical care, food and supplies if necessary. But it goes without saying that without foster homes, this exciting opportunity can't exist."

Because of obvious confidentiality and safety concerns, Diamond's loving permanent guardian cannot be identified or make a statement. All DVCC and OPIN can say is that she and Diamond are living together in safety and peace. And that's a lot.

What you can do:

• If you live in the area, offer your home as a temporary safe haven for pets. Applications to join the SafePet foster network may be found www.opinpets.org or by e-mailing the program coordinator: Jeanne@opinpets.org.
• Make a monetary donation to OPIN, P.O. Box 488, Riverside, CT  06878, or for further details email: outreach@opinpets.org, website: www.opinpets.org
• Make a monetary donation to DVCC, 777 Summer Street, Stamford CT 06901, (203) 588 9100.