Northeast Animal Shelter understands the importance of community. We provide outreach services to schools and nursing homes.

Senior Visitation Program

"It is the bright spot of their day. The residents' faces light up with joy." This is how the activities director of a local nursing home describes the days when Northeast Animal Shelter volunteers bring animal visitors as a part of our “Nursing Home Visitation Program.”

Some residents reminisce about the pets they once loved. Others who never had pets slowly warm up to the soft fur and sweet, trusting faces of their visitors.

To be sure that this is a positive experience for all, we carefully choose the pets who will participate in the program. They must be exceptionally calm and loving, and able to last through many pats and squeezes. They must also be comfortable around wheelchairs and other hospital equipment. Once we have determined that a pet is suitable for the program, we match the pet and their Shelter volunteer with a nearby nursing home.

Seeing an elderly person smile as he or she touches a pet is a very moving experience. Our animal friends have such healing qualities and we are happy to provide such a gift to our elderly friends.

Humane Education Program

As a way to spread the word about responsible pet ownership, we developed our Humane Education Program.

We visit local schools and bring special animals who are comfortable being around children and also give small group tours of the shelter.

We show them the proper way to pick up and hold an animal, how to gently brush their fur, and when to leave them alone. To make this a positive experience for the students as well as the dogs and cats, we carefully supervise while each child interacts with a furry friend.

For every child who gets a chance to meet and greet a pet, it is our hope that they take away the message about loving and respecting every living being.

As with all the Shelter’s programs, we depend on donations and private funding to maintain the Humane Education Program. Please Donate Now.