HOW SPAY/NEUTER CREATES HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES
OUTLOOK 2023
Non-profit Spay/Neuter Clinic Tails of Hope reminds us why Spay/Neuter is one of the most important health decisions you’ll make for your cat or dog and our community.
Hermitage, PA (February 25, 2023) – February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, also known as “Beat the Heat Month.” This special recognition month highlights that spring litters are being conceived now, and how prevention is key for healthier pets and healthier communities.
As responsible pet guardians, or “pet parents,” we have an obligation to care for our furry friends and family members in sickness and in health. Spay/Neuter equates to wellness-both medically and financially for animals, their human families, our rescues/shelters, and the overall community.
Removing Barriers to Essential Pet Health Care
As pet care costs rise - along with costs in every area of life, it is important to remember that spay/neuter contributes to cost-savings for the lifetime care of your pet. Spay/Neuter is much less expensive than the serious health problems, including pyometra, and uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancers, that can develop in unspayed/unneutered pets. Spay/Neuter is also much less expensive than having and caring for unwanted litters. Tails of Hope’s everyday low costs and Spay & Neuter Angel Program (SNAP) make spay/neuter accessible to pet parents no matter their ability to pay. A visit to Tails of Hope may be the first time an animal is seen by a veterinarian. Medical issues previously unknown the pet guardian may be discovered and addressed-if possible-at Tails of Hope or referred to a full-service clinic for follow-up. These discoveries can save an animal’s life. Tails of Hope strongly encourages all pet guardians to establish a relationship with a full-service veterinary clinic in the area for annual visits & vaccines, and a lifetime of ongoing care.
Keeping Pets & Families Together
In addition, spay/neuter provides many other benefits for your pet, your family, rescues/shelters, and the community. According to ASPCA’s National Rehoming Survey, pet problems such as problematic or aggressive behaviors, are the most common reason that people abandon, surrender, or rehome their pets. Spay/neuter can reduce or eliminate unwanted behaviors, keep pets in families, and reduce overpopulation by preventing unwanted litters, instead of increasing the population of pets on our streets or the number of pets attempting to enter our already overburdened shelters. Spay/Neuter also reduces the chances of pets roaming, running away, or getting lost. In return, pets are kept safer animal intake into overcrowded shelters decreases, thereby lowering shelter costs, overcrowding, and euthanasia rates.
Giving Pets Their Best Shot
And high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter clinics like Tails of Hope also provide affordable access to essential wellness needs, such as vaccines and flea & tick preventatives. Fifty percent of participating pet parents surveyed reported their pets had never been vaccinated against these diseases. As puppy and kitten season approaches, pet exposure to contagious and deadly diseases – parvovirus, distemper, and panleukopenia – increases but is preventable with a simple vaccine. Core vaccines are considered vital to all pets based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans. Non-core vaccines are given depending on a pet’s lifestyle or exposure risk. Vaccines reduce the spread of disease to healthy animals and reduces the suffering of already infected pets. Flea & tick infestations can cause a host of costly medical problems from minor skin irritations to life-threatening blood loss. Vaccines and preventatives can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented. Tails of Hope began a partnership with national nonprofit Petco Love in October 2021 to join their commitment to provide 1 million free pet vaccines and help end life-threatening diseases in pets. Tails of Hope has already provided over 700 FREE cat & dog distemper vaccines through the “Give Pets Their Best Shot” initiative. This program makes crucial pet vaccines accessible to pet parents who may be experiencing financial challenges and assures that cost is not a barrier to protecting pets from preventable diseases. Learn more about Petco Love’s national vaccine effort and lifesaving impact at petcolove.org or freepetvaccines.org.
Spay/Neuter not only reduces long-term costs for families and community rescues/shelters, but our pets can live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
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Article Published by Sharon Herald OUTLOOK
innovative technology reunites lost pets with their families
Tails of Hope expands their partnership with Petco Love to include new "Petco Love Lost"
When the Unthinkable Happens, New “Petco Love Lost” Database Uses Breakthrough Facial Recognition Technology to Find Missing Cats and Dogs in Western PA & Eastern OH
Hermitage, PA (February 15, 2023) – Tails of Hope is proudly joining forces with Petco Love – formerly known as the Petco Foundation, a national non-profit working to lead and inspire change for animals – and animal welfare groups across the country, on a shared mission to help reunite lost pets with their families should they ever go missing. Sadly, according to industry statistics, one in every three pets will go missing in their lifetime.
Petco Love Lost is a new, searchable national database that uses patented facial recognition technology to make finding lost pets quicker and easier. This simple-to-use tool will be easily accessible to participating animal organizations nationwide, as well as any pet parent or person who finds a lost pet. Uploaded photos of a missing dog or cat are immediately scanned to determine whether the lost pet is at a participating shelter or with a neighbor in the community.
“We know how quickly a pet can go missing, whether they were curious, following a scent, wandering through an open gate or becoming scared during fireworks or a storm,” said Soraya Hejazi, Executive Director at Tails of Hope. “We work tirelessly to provide Spay/Neuter - the lack of which is the Root Cause of pet homelessness and pet overpopulation, and we value every effort to keep pets and their families safely together and out of shelters in the first place. We’re confident Petco Love Lost can lead to many more happy reunions, right here in Mercer County and across Western PA & Eastern OH.”
“We know that one in three pets goes missing in their lifetime, an estimated 10 million pets each year, and we’re not ok with that,” said Petco Love president Susanne Kogut. “That gives us 10 million reasons why we created Petco Love Lost, because we believe nothing is more important than keeping people and pets together for a lifetime of love. Together with Tails of Hope, our goal is to keep pets where they belong - at home, with you.”
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TOH Recognized as 2021 Inclusion Champion
Whole Life Services Celebrates 20 Years of Service
Pictured at right: Diane Webster & Soraya Hejazi of Tails of Hope with Christine Hamilton & Rachel Hendrickson of Whole Life Services.
Hermitage, PA (February 17, 2022) - On February 17, 2022, the Whole Life Services family gathered with various members of the community to celebrate their 20th Anniversary at The Avalon at Buhl Park. Established in September of 2001, Whole Life Services has grown from serving one person with a disability, to serving more than 100 people.
Represented at the event by Co-founder and President, Diane Webster, and Executive Director, Soraya Hejazi, Tails of Hope was honored to be recognized as one of Whole Life Service's 2021 Inclusion Champions. Cindy Vogan, Whole Life Services' CEO, presented Tails of Hope with a 2021 Inclusion Champion Award.
“We are honoring them as ‘Inclusion Champions’ because they involve people with disabilities in their programs, have them participate as volunteers, or provide them with job opportunities,” said Cindy Vogan, CEO of Whole Life Services. “By engaging and employing people with disabilities, these businesses are building valuable relationships that benefit everyone in the community.”
Vogan said as a service provider, she wanted to recognize those in the community who show support to those with disabilities and was especially excited to honor this year's Inclusion Champions as a part of the celebration.
Other recipients of Whole Life’s Inclusion Champions Community Engagement awards included: Buhl Club, Buhl Park, Community Food Warehouse, Cornerhouse Christian Food Pantry, DK Studio, Fresh Grounds, Laurel Technical Institute, Prince of Peace, Robert Lark of Mercer County Historical Society, and Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Read more about this event on Whole Life Services website here.
'GIVE PETS THEIR BEST SHOT'
Tails of Hope partners with nonprofit Petco Love for a second time
This section represents a portion of the Sharon Herald Outlook piece published February 26, 2022.
Petco Love established March as “National Pet Vaccination Month” to encourage pet parents to keep their pets’ vaccinations up to date. Tails of Hope is partnering with national nonprofit Petco Love for a second time to give pets their best shot for a healthy life by distributing free pet distemper vaccines.
Hermitage, PA (February 26, 2022) – Tails of Hope is partnering with national nonprofit Petco Love for a second time to give pets their best shot for a healthy life by distributing free pet distemper vaccines. Petco Love established March as “National Pet Vaccination Month” to encourage pet parents to keep their pets’ vaccinations up to date. As puppy and kitten season approaches, pet exposure to contagious and deadly diseases – parvovirus, distemper, and panleukopenia – increases but is preventable with a simple vaccine.
Tails of Hope is offering these vaccines as part of spay/neuter appointments only while supplies last.
The Give Pets Their Best Shot initiative makes crucial pet vaccines accessible to pet parents who may be experiencing financial challenges and assures that cost is not a barrier to protecting pets from preventable diseases.
National Pet Vaccination Month is a continuation of Petco Love’s 1 million free pet vaccine campaign, which has helped 400,000 pets to date. Half of participating pet parents surveyed reported their pets had never been vaccinated against these diseases. With Bissell Pet Foundation as an additional partner this month, Petco Love’s goal is to increase awareness and accelerate the distribution of vaccines. Learn more about Petco Love’s national vaccine effort and lifesaving impact at petcolove.org or freepetvaccines.org.
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Find out what's happening with Tails of Hope in Spring 2022 inside Sharon Herald's special Outlook section, 'Tails of Hope is Expecting as Kitten Season Nears'
January IS OFFICIALLY “Jean & BooTSIE MONTH"
Press Release
Tails of Hope Officially Declares January “Jean & Bootsie Month”
To honor and celebrate The Harnett Foundation’s Jean Harnett & her beloved cat Bootsie,
Tails of Hope will celebrate annually throughout the month of January.
Hermitage, PA (January 13, 2022) - On January 25, 2022, what would have been Jean Harnett’s 90th birthday, Tails of Hope will officially declare January “Jean & Bootsie Month,” this year and annually moving forward.
Tails of Hope is honored to be a recipient of generous grants from The Harnett Foundation to continue the Tails of Hope mission as an active member of a lifesaving community offering low- to no-cost Spay/Neuter (S/N) Programs, Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Programs, Vaccine Programs, and supporting animal welfare organizations while bringing awareness to animals in need.
“Jean LOVED her birthday,” stated Evelyn Shealy, Administrative Assistant of The Harnett Foundation, in an email to Tails of Hope. Shealy continued, “The Foundation is reaching out to all organizations that have received a grant, asking for your help in celebrating Jean’s special day (or as Jean would have preferred, her special month).”
Jean Harnett, of Greenville, PA, passed away August 27, 2018 and left behind her beloved cat Bootsie whom she adored. Unfortunately, Bootsie’s health is failing, and the Foundation requested Bootsie be included in Jean’s birthday celebrations to honor him as well.
In addition to newspaper, TV news, and social media coverage, Tails of Hope has recognized and celebrated both Jean and Bootsie throughout their grant awards over the past two years from The Harnett Foundation.
· The financial assistance program at Tails of Hope was re-named the “Spay & Neuter Angel Program” (SNAP) with a new logo, honoring Jean as the angel funding services to save animal lives.
· The image was also applied to the Howl-n-Purr Grub Club, which was established through specific Harnett grants for pet food distribution to families in need.
· T-shirts, tote bags, and face masks at Tails of Hope are emblazoned with the images dedicated to Jean.
· A banner with the SNAP logo is proudly displayed outside of Tails of Hope for clients and visitors to see.
· A plaque in deepest appreciation of The Glenn & Jean Harnett Foundation predominately hangs at the front door of our lobby with Jean’s and her beloved Bootsie’s picture in their honor.
· SNAP recipients receive a recognition card informing them their services were provided in honor of Jean Harnett & Bootsie through generous grants from The Harnett Foundation.
· TNR Day program participants have received recognition cards and Harnett labeled tote bags with cat food for their colonies.
Tails of Hope is pleased to initiate the celebration of the newly named Jean & Bootsie Month with a ceremony and several special acts of appreciation.
· An Official Certificate will be presented from Tails of Hope to The Harnett Foundation declaring January “Jean & Bootsie Month.”
· In honor of Jean & Bootsie Month, January clients will receive a recognition card to acknowledge The Harnett Foundation’s generous donations and continued support of Tails of Hope’s lifesaving programs and inform them any day-of-service sPAY IT FORWARD donations will be recorded in honor of Jean & Bootsie. Also, fun Bootsie Coloring and Drawing worksheets are also available for children at the clinic and on our website.
· In honor of Jean’s Birthday & Bootsie, gifts will be presented on designated days in January to clients, including catnip toys and Bootise cat cookies, homemade by Tails of Hope co-founder and President Diane Webster.
· Profits from Tails of Hope t-shirts with the Harnett Logo in the month of January will be recorded in honor of Jean & Bootsie.
· General Donations in the month of January will be recorded in honor of Jean & Bootsie and their exemplification of giving to animal welfare programs.
“Through The Harnett Foundation, and thanks to Jean and Bootsie, Tails of Hope can expand its low- to no-cost programs to address the Root Cause of why many animals enter shelters or become homeless in the first place,” said Soraya Hejazi, Executive Director of Tails of Hope. “Helping even more animals is the best way to honor Jean’s legacy. We encourage other animal organizations to research The Harnett Foundation. The more organizations the Foundation can help, the more it will benefit animals in need.”
Online donations to Tails of Hope in honor of Jean Harnett and her beloved cat Bootsie can be made here. Click “Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone” and type “Jean & Bootsie Harnett.” Check donations may be mailed to: Tails of Hope, 2450 Hoezle Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148, with the memo: Jean & Bootsie Month. Harnett T-shirts can be purchased at Tails of Hope.
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Tails of hope CELEBRATES 5 YEARS OF SAVING LIVES
Press Release
Tails of Hope Celebrates Five Years of Saving Lives
Closing its 5th year, Tails of Hope has performed over 9,000 spay/neuter surgeries in Hermitage, PA so far.
Hermitage, PA (November 26, 2021) – Tails of Hope proudly announces its 5th anniversary year as the only non-profit Spay/Neuter Clinic in Mercer County, PA.
Tails of Hope, located at The Thomas M. O'Brien Animal Care Center, 2450 Hoezle Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148, is a project that began with a wish and a prayer to help the animal population in our community. In June of 2011, Thomas O'Brien passed away and his wife, Diane, and one of his brothers, Paul O’Brien, joined together to fulfill this desire. Tom loved animals and was always willing to help them in any way. Due to his affection for his pet dogs, Paul and Diane thought it would be very appropriate to build an animal care center that would be able to eliminate neglect of the many animals in our community and to help control and prevent the pet overpopulation. The Animal Care Center project was completed in 2014 and soon after, the direction of the project became apparent. The idea for a non-profit Spay/Neuter clinic was established. On January 30, 2017, Tails of Hope opened to provide low- to no-cost services to animals in western PA and eastern OH.
Since its inception in 2017, the non-profit has been serving as an active member of a lifesaving community offering low- to no-cost Spay/Neuter Programs, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Programs, Vaccine Programs, and supporting animal welfare organizations while bringing awareness to animals in need. Now in its fifth year as the only non-profit Spay/Neuter Clinic in Mercer County, PA, Tails of Hope’s unwavering commitment to the Root Cause of pet overpopulation is stronger than ever.
“We are proud and grateful for all we have been able to do together over the past five years for our community and the animals,” says Diane Webster, Tails of Hope Co-Founder and President. “Our local community has been a vital part of our mission. Almost 4,000 volunteer hours have been donated so far in 2021. We give thanks local grantors, such as The Harnett Foundation, and to our individual donors, volunteers, board members, staff, and the incredible support shown to the animals of Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and beyond.”
According to the North Shore Animal League, Spay/Neuter diverts entry into shelters and/or pet homelessness by exponential numbers:
· By spaying and neutering just one male and one female cat, more than 2,000 unwanted births can be prevented in just four years-and more than 2 million in eight years!
· By spaying and neutering just one male and one female dog, more than 67,000 unwanted births can be prevented in just six years!
“Milestones and statistics measure the work we do and the need to do more. However, we are always mindful that behind these numbers are cats, dogs, their offspring, and their human guardians and families,” says Soraya Hejazi, Executive Director. “Only by working together as a community can we reduce the number of animals entering or re-entering shelters or homelessness and boost the number of healthy animals leaving shelters and finding forever homes.”
By addressing the Root Cause of pet overpopulation rather than treating the symptoms, Tails of Hope’s services and programs provide the maximum impact at the least possible cost to the public, and results in lowering animal intakes into shelters and reducing the spread of disease and suffering of animals in our community. Spay/Neuter clinics provide other lifelong and lifesaving benefits as well, such as identifying serious or life-threatening health issues, providing lifesaving vaccinations, and helping to reduce unwanted pet behaviors that may lead to displacement.
But without funding from local municipalities or state programs, Tails of Hope needs ongoing support from donors and talented volunteers in the area to achieve their mission for our community. Board member positions are currently available. Volunteer opportunities are always available. And Tails of Hope’s annual Holiday Fund Drive is currently underway through the end of December and needs community support. A gift today-no matter the size, will help further their mission to serve as an active member of a lifesaving community offering low- to no-cost Spay/Neuter Programs, TNR Programs, Vaccine Programs, and supporting animal welfare organizations while bringing awareness to animals in need. To donate to Tails of Hope’s 2021 Holiday Fund Drive, visit: https://donate.tailsofhopewpa.org/Give2021
Even with all of its benefits, Spay/Neuter is not a replacement for regular veterinary care. Tails of Hope strongly encourages all pet guardians to establish a relationship with a local full-service veterinary clinic for annual wellness visits, vaccines, and other pet health needs.
To learn more about Tails of Hope, visit https://tailsofhopewpa.org.
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Become a Lifesaver for Animals
A gift today-no matter the size, will help further Tails of Hope's mission to serve as an active member of a lifesaving community offering low- to no-cost Spay/Neuter Programs, TNR Programs, Vaccine Programs, and supporting animal welfare organizations while bringing awareness to animals in need.
PETCO LOVE & TAILS OF HOPE PROVIDE FREE PET VACCINATIONS
Press Release
Petco Love and Tails of Hope Aim to Stop the Spread of Deadly Preventable Diseases Through Free Pet Vaccinations
As Part of Petco Love’s Initiative to Provide 1 Million Free Pet Vaccines, Tails of Hope Will Distribute Free Pet Vaccines for appointments Through November
Hermitage, PA (October 8, 2021) – Tails of Hope will provide free vaccinations for Western PA and Eastern OH area pets. The free vaccines are made possible through Petco Love's new national vaccination initiative, which is providing 1 million free pet vaccines to its existing animal welfare partners, including Tails of Hope, for family pets in need.
Parvovirus and distemper in dogs, and panleukopenia in cats, are some of the most prevalent deadly diseases impacting pets that are preventable with a simple vaccine. An estimated 30% of pet parents do not take their pet to a veterinarian annually for preventative care. To address this critical need, Tails of Hope and Petco Love are partnering to make pet vaccines free and accessible in an effort to ensure the health and wellness of our beloved pets.
Tails of Hope aims to vaccinate 300 pets through this effort. The organization will offer these free vaccines as part of its spay/neuter package through November 30, 2021. Vaccines distributed through the Petco Love initiative will be the DAPPv Canine and HCP Feline vaccines. Tails of Hope offers core vaccines and microchips for cats and dogs at the time of spay/neuter appointment. All services are by appointment only and for a limited time.
“Thanks to Petco Love, we can offer these important vaccines at no cost to pet owners,” said Soraya Hejazi, Executive Director of Tails of Hope. “We also strongly urge community members to establish a relationship with a full-service clinic in the area for annual visits and vaccines to ensure the health and wellness of our community’s pets and four-legged family members.”
“It is heartbreaking when any pet suffers or dies from a disease that could have been prevented. It is further exacerbated when unvaccinated pets come into busy shelter kennels, where these deadly diseases can spread quickly, resulting in multiple deaths, skyrocketing expenses, and hindering saving pet lives,” said Susanne Kogut, Petco Love President. “By creating greater awareness and making this crucial preventative care more accessible to pets not currently receiving these lifesaving vaccines, we can prevent the dangerous spread of disease.”
For more information about vaccine distribution, contact Tails of Hope at 724-346-4673. To learn more about Tails of Hope, visit https://tailsofhopewpa.org. To learn more about Petco Love’s lifesaving impact, visit PetcoLove.org.
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LCCTC PRE-VET FIELD STUDENTS @ TAILS OF HOPE
PET PICS WITH SANTA
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