Q: Where are you located?
A: We are located about 50 miles northwest of New York City. Our shelter location is 44 Police Drive, Goshen NY 10924. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 37, Goshen, NY 10924.
Q: We can’t keep our pet(s). What should we do?
A: Owners feel they must give up their pets for a variety of reasons, but before making the final decision to surrender your pet, investigate your options and alternatives. Finding a workable solution to the problem is far better than turning your animal over to a local shelter or rescue organization that’s resources are already stretched to the financial breaking point.
Please be aware that when you surrender a pet to the shelter that there may be fees and/or requirements such as updated health records, vaccines, etc…. Please remember that many shelters are working on a shoe string budget and whilst they may be able to taken them in, they can not afford the veterinary fees that might be incurred.
If the problems simply cannot be resolved, we will help you find a good home for your pet. But, please do everything possible to try to resolve the problems first.
Q: We don’t live in or near Goshen, but our local shelter(s) can’t take in our pets. Will you take them?
A: The Goshen Humane Society shelter is a small facility serving the people and animals of Goshen. However, we do work closely with other local shelters and rescue organizations and make every effort to assist when we have room available.
Regardless of where an animal is coming from, we do have a waiting list, AND we do not get any funding for cats. Please note that there will be surrender fees (in Goshen or outside of Goshen.) Again, working on budgets (typically very little) the shelter will expect you to have updated health records, etc… We will NOT take in any animal that has bitten someone. In this case, contact your Veterinarian to discuss what options you may have.
Q: I don’t want my cat to scratch my new furniture, so I’m thinking about having her declawed. Is declawing a humane way to avoid behavior problems?
A: No, it is not, and not only is it inhumane to have a cat declawed, but doing so may cause other problems such as a negative change in personality or temperament, and physical limitations due to a loss of balance caused by the procedure. If you are considering having your cat declawed, please visit this page.
Before you even think about declawing, it is important to know that cats are trainable animals and yes, they are smart. You can teach them to use a scratching post and there are products available at Pet Smart and other pet stores. Goshen Humane will not knowingly adopt out an animal that we know will be declawed.
Q: What’s wrong with allowing my cat or dog to breed since I always find homes for the puppies/kittens.
A: Between four and five million cats and dogs are euthanized each year at shelters in the United States because loving, responsible caregivers cannot be found. When you allow your pets to breed, even if you find a home for your pet’s puppies or kittens, you are still taking a home from another animal. If you breed and you DO spay/neuter your kittens or puppies, you are at least not adding to the terrible problem of overpopulation.
There are other considerations. Spayed and neutered pets make better, healthier pets. They are less likely to bite, to spray or mark territory, or to roam and fight. Spayed female dogs and cats are at much lower risk from getting cancers such as uterine and ovarian cancer. Neutered male dogs and cats have a lower rate of prostate disease and can avoid testicular cancer.
Organizations such as T.A.R.A. (The Animals Rights Alliance) spay and neuter at a very low cost to the public. There is no excuse to not have your animal spayed or neutered. T.A.R.A. has now started spaying and neutering dogs (up to 35 lbs.)
Q: If my pet is missing, what should I do?
A: If your pet is missing, first call the shelter at 845-294-3984. Give a full description of your pet, where it was last seen, any medical issues, vet information. You can also email a picture of your pet to the shelter at goshenhumanesociety@gmail.com Having a picture posted in the shelter is very helpful if someone else drops off your pet. Call the shelter often so that we know you are still looking for your pet. Call other local shelters and call your local police department. Advertise in the papers, put up fliers and get the word out and use social media like FaceBook. If you find your pet, please let us know. Everyone likes a happy ending!
Lost animals can have a happy ending much sooner if they are micro-chipped. Only 1 out of 10 animals that come in the shelter are micro-chipped. CATS & DOGS can be micro-chipped. This is a very small cost to ensure your family pet gets back home.
Q: I want to give up my animal, but why does the shelter (any shelter) ask for records, and fees? Can’t I just bring it there?
A: Most shelters work on very limited funding. Your typical shelter is not big in size and imagine the number of people that call saying they can’t keep their pet for some reason. No shelter should be expected to absorb the financial burden of people not wanting to keep their pet for some reason. 90% of animals that come into the shelter are not spayed or neutered and many don’t have any vaccines. Just testing, vaccinating and spaying or neutering can cost a shelter $300 or more. Every shelter has operating costs, such as utilities, insurance, payroll, veterinary bills, maintenance costs, etc….
Surrender and adoption fees all help to keep a shelter running day to day.
Remember, you can always ask family or friends, about taking in your pet before going to a shelter. PLEASE do not put your animals on CRAIGSLIST. This is not a way to rehome your family pet!