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Cablevision Editorial!
Editorial 5/24/2011
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Shelter Stories: Bully for Brookhaven
presented by Peter Kohler
In Brookhaven, the old dog pound has been reinvented, as new leaders of the town’s animal shelter have joined with rescue groups to find homes for the Pit Bulls that are inundating animal shelters all over Long Island.
“Look at that cut around her neck…”
Shelter Director Dori Scofield tells the story of Honey. “She was a stray,” she said, “and we just have so many Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes in our shelters on Long Island and that’s why I created the Brookhaven Bully Alliance.”
What’s unique about the privately funded Bully Alliance is that it uses donations to pay rescue groups $250 to place animals for adoption. What’s more, Brookhaven’s shelter actually trains animals like Honey to improve their behavior for adoption.
Town Supervisor Mark Lesko has bigger plans to make the shelter a regional resource.
“We’re in the process of designing a new large shelter,” he said. “And one of the things we’re talking about is partnering with the adjoining municipalities to see if it makes sense to do a larger regional shelter with the smaller townships like Smithtown and Riverhead.”
Contrast Brookhaven’s experience with Hempstead’s animal shelter, where rescue groups continue to protest their ouster from a shelter that they say is more concerned with political patronage than animal care.
At Brookhaven, volunteers and shelter workers work together so dogs like Honey can find a new home.
Brookhaven has found a better model for its animal shelter–working with volunteers and rescue groups instead of opposing them.
Eugene Jacobs
NY
As usual, Cablevision’s editorial relies on allegations and rumors instead of facts. Cablevision should do some research and actual fact checking before commenting. Your editorial on animal shelters and rescue groups is so far from reality it would be laughable if it weren’t broadcasted. It has no basis in facts at all because it was never investigated by Cablevision’s news division and is myopic to say the least. Try some investigative journalism first before broadcasting. Your editorials have about the same validity as the Enquirer.
Diane
Garden City Park, NY
Paws up, Brookhaven!
Susan P.
Levittown, NY
Agree! It is time for TOH to do an overhaul and let’s vote this political patronage to the curb. Bravo to Town of Brookhaven!
Aria
Bellmore, NY
Thanks so much for keeping Town of Hempstead animal shelter in Wantagh, in the public eye. This place is still a horrible shelter that is still not doing the right thing. Why? Because they have a lot to hide and will not allow volunteers in. Saturday, May 14 and 21, were Pet Adoption days, but there was very little if any advertising of it. As a matter of fact, the Nassau County PD posted it on their facebook page on May 13th, but I never saw it on TOH animal shelter’s own facebook page. Why? This place is a joke and it would be funny, except that animals are suffering and still dying after being deemed “unadoptable.” I met one of these “unadoptable” animals. Her unadoptable reason: she was “shy.” They say they are not a kill shelter, but when you deem a dog “unadoptable” for a ridiculous reason and then kill them, then yes you are a kill shelter! Kudos to Cablevision, and please keep the stories coming! I urge you all to come to the shelter and adopt these animals and bring your cameras and take pictures of the hideous conditions you will also encounter in the kennels! And don’t let them tell you you can’t. Snap away!
Kandace Westhoff
Bethpage, NY
Thank you Cablevision for pointing out the differences between Brookhaven’s model for successfully working in the best interests of the animals in their care and the Town of Hempstead shelter’s continued disregard for animals and the rescue groups who would advocate on their behalf. TOHAS cares only for their patronage cronies and for protecting their bloated sense of power and entitlement.
Sue Hansen
Rocky Point, NY
I think this is an excellent editorial. Dori is doing a phenomenal job at Brookhaven and Hempstead’s animal shelter is a disgrace. Those $100K+ shelter salaries are obscene and banning volunteers is outrageous.
Fran
Levittown, NY
Thank you, Cablevision for this fantastic editorial and applause to Brookhaven for being progressive and truly caring about animals. The circus at TOHAS has gone on long enough. It is so heartbreaking that were it not for patronage protection, the problems at TOHAS could have been fixed long ago. Supervisor Murray has the power to change things but she does not–you have to ask why and the only way you will get an answer is if you vote on 11/8. Right now, a deputy town attorney is running our town shelter. The search for a new director is being dragged out and the residency requirements being placed on director candidates is in complete contrast to the town’s promise of a nationwide search. It’s all smoke and mirrors. The people working in the shelter are not there because they love animals and want to give them another chance at life. TOHAS is an institutional hoarder of our community’s homeless and helpless animals and they are screaming for our help.
Betty
Merrick, NY
Cablevision hit the nail right on the head once again when it comes to the Town of Hempstead Animal “Shelter.” The conditions there are disgusting and animals are suffering due to the arrogance of Kate Murray and her entire board. Rescuers are still banned and volunteers are not allowed in the building. It’s amazing that the only people defending this kill shelter are the people that work there or are related to the staff there that continues to neglect the animals in their care.
Stephen
Bellmore, NY
Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is a disgrace. I find it ironic that Town of Brookhaven’s phenomenal director, Dori, often consults with Diane Madden (banned from the Town of Hempstead since October). These two strong women love animals and want to help our homeless shelter animals. Town of Brookhaven embraces those that want to help and Town of Hempstead bans them from even entering the doors. Thanks for a great editorial.
Betsy G.
Mineola, NY
Excellent, accurate coverage, Cablevision. If the animals could thank you, they would. The bottom line is that the TOH shelter, and its $7 million dollar budget (compared to Brookhaven’s budget of $1.6 million) is a Republican Club with a few dead, or almost dead, animals inside. Please don’t take my word for it, go visit TOHAS. You will feel as though you are visiting a prison, but the prisoners never get out of their cells, and adoptions are obstructed, and the forbidden garage is a slaughterhouse. When you leave, you will have a sick feeling in your stomach, like you just left a dog pound from 1959. The same and only people fighting shelter reform, defending that house of horrors, and are against allowing volunteers inside are the same people on the TOH shelter GOP payroll. The Hempstead shelter is an overtime atm machine for the staff. They now cut off allowing visitors to give the animals treats, putting more distance between the public and the animals. If they could lock the shelter doors and keep the public out, they would. Kate Murray is duping the public and cheating the animals. Please keep the coverage coming and the cameras rolling. Little by little, the truth is coming out, and that will force the hand of reform. Hats off to Brookhaven, and Mark Lesko. Putting Dori in there was pure genius. Good eye!
John
Wantagh, NY
What is ironic to me is that the only people that defend the Town Of Hempstead Animal Shelter are those that either work there, know someone who works there or are related to someone who works there. No one else would defend that house of horrors! It still has the same problems that people have been speaking of for 20 years! Keep doing what you are doing Peter Kohler and Cablevision. Obviously you have struck a nerve and the truth hurts! Especially with those who live off the paycheck of this dog and cat pound–shelter means protected and these animals are not!
Marianne Lappas
Lindenhurst, NY
I sure do agree. It’s about time the media is speaking the truth. I am also a rescue person and used to be called to help TOH until they banned volunteers. That is because they don’t want anyone to know what is happening behind closed doors. I have witnessed the dogs in the back garage also. Keep up the good work.
Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter & Adoption CenterDedicated to helping the homeless pets in Brookhaven township
The Brookhaven Bully AllianceFormed to encourage shelters and rescues to help alleviate the overpopulation of Pit Bulls