Paws Crossed to Reopen Elmsford Shelter This Month

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September 7, 2016

by Robert Kimmel

The usual inhabitants are finally returning; some are already there. They are abandoned dogs and cats, like the pets that for many years had filled the animal shelter at 100 Warehouse Lane South in Elmsford. Thanks to the determined effort of a caring group of volunteers and staff, Paws Crossed Animal Rescue, will be having its “Grand Opening” at the shelter on Saturday, September 17.

Leslie Zee (Board member), Julie Potter (Chairman), Ivan Kline (lawyer who has worked pro bono for over 10 months) and Jennifer Angelucci (President/CEO)

The facility, badly in need of repairs, was shut down a year ago by Pets Alive, headquartered in Middletown, New York. That group asserted it could no longer afford to keep open its Elmsford location. Paws Crossed was formed with the goal of re-opening the no-kill shelter.

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What Paws Crossed President Jennifer Angelucci described as a “…persistent 10-month pursuit,” resulted in the Town of Greenburg signing over the property to the organization this past June. In 2010, Pets Alive had taken over operation of the five-acre property from the Central Westchester Humane Society which had acquired it from the town for $10 in 1995. Pets Alive agreed to return it to Greenburgh last December. The deed to the land requires that it can only be used for an animal shelter or for municipal purposes.

“The community has been outrageously generous with helping to get this building up and running so far,” Julie Potter, Paws Crossed Chairman, stated. Among the donations that came through its capital campaign is what Potter described as a “wonderful grant” from the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. “What we have accomplished in the two-and-a-half months since the signing is truly amazing!” Among those who have been at work are various contractors, painters, electricians, plumbers, and landscapers.

The existing structure is still not entirely usable, Potter explained, but she added that “…about 70% of the building will be in use. We are incredibly fortunate that the four kennel wings are all usable immediately. With a little creativity we have figured out how to use the main hallway and five rooms off of it to their greatest capacity.”

While Paws Crossed estimates that it may take up to three years to restore the entire building, Potter added that, “…if what this board and supporters has done in the last two months is any indication of things to come, I think we will be much closer to two years!”

Potter noted, “The five staff members who are with Paws Crossed were all with Pets Alive,” adding, “This is a credit to their passion for this mission and their support and trust in Jennifer Angelucci, our president and CEO. Many volunteers come from the prior organization, but in the past year we have also met a slew of incredible new people that have joined our journey.” Mike Arms, praised by Potter as “a pioneer in rescue” has joined the group’s board. Arms is associated with the Helen Woodward Animal Center in California.

Paws Crossed has already begun accepting applications for adoption online and setting up appointments with potential adopters, according to Potter. She also said that Paws Crossed has, from day one, planned to negotiate for the return from Pets Alive of “legacy animals,” the dogs and cats that had been sheltered for long terms in Elmsford, but were sent to Middletown. “Pursuing this building as passionately as we did, was in large part thinking of these animals,” she said. “We hope they understand what these animals mean to us, and agree this is the best place for them to be.”

Paws Crossed, Potter noted, is “working towards partnering with Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry in a unique education program.” It would consist of “… a training program collaboration that will teach teenagers to empathize with and nurture animals. It teaches the teens consistency, patience and unconditional love while allowing them to build camaraderie and team work skills. The training the animals will receive will increase their exercise and human socialization, making them more adoptable,” she added.

Several fund raising events have been scheduled by Paws Crossed, including its first annual, “Autumn Tails” gala hosted at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, October 21. A schedule of all events, as well as photos of adoptable dogs and cats are available on its website,
www.pawscrossedny.org

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