Public Service Announcement

If you have dogs or puppies that you can no longer keep - Please Call Us!
There is no reason for you to abandon your animals.

The Front Street Dog Shelter does NOT charge any money to accept dogs or puppies from owners who are unable to keep them - Call us at 607.778.2493

About Our Shelter
The Front Street Dog Shelter has been in operation since 1956. Although Broome County allows use of their housing facility for dogs, the shelter operates independently of County funding. It is supported through contracts with twelve towns to house stray dogs and puppies, as well as through redemption fees, adoption fees and donations to our trust fund.

What We Do:

The Front Street Dog Shelter is dedicated to the following:
• Accepting all stray adoptable dogs and puppies from our contracted municipalities.
• Providing safe, clean housing and medical care for all adoptable dogs and puppies in our care.
• Providing a central location for owners to find and recover their missing pets.
• Accepting adoptable dogs and puppies that owners are unable to keep for any reason.
• Matching adoptable dogs and puppies with compatible, loving, adoptive families.
• Providing referral information for any animal-related concern. Our staff can help you acquire the information you need!
• Promoting the importance of dog licensing, spaying and neutering, vaccinations, obedience and behavioral training.
• Increasing community awareness of the stray and pet over-population problems through shelter tours and off-site education programs.

Hurricane Katrina: A Lesson in Emergency Preparedness for You and Your Dog

By Kimberly Zlatin © 2005
Heart wrenching images of Hurricane Katrina's four-legged victims are too much for most of us to bear. Fortunately the majority of people around the country have their loving companions next to them while they are watching the devastating news of dogs left to fend for themselves and people making the choice of their pet or their own rescue. A disaster such as Hurricane Katrina is not a common occurrence, but it does bring up important questions about what you would do with your dog if an emergency did arise in your household and you were unable to return to your home. Some important facts to keep in mind:

• Is your dog microchipped? The majority of shelters have a scanning device that can read the microchip that is placed under your dog's skin. The microchip carries important identifying information for your dog and can be provided at many shelters and vet's offices for a nominal fee in a matter of seconds.
• Make sure your dog has a collar with updated identification tags. This is a simple way for people to contact you if your dog has been found.
• Find out where lost dogs are taken in your neighborhood. Some cities have a central location where dogs are placed for the first 24-48 hours before being relocated to area shelters. Save yourself time by doing a little research now.
• Have a sign in your window so emergency personnel know that there is a pet inside your home that needs to be rescued.
• Have a designated person(s) to check in on your pet in case of an emergency. Give them a list of reputable boarding facilities just in case they are not able to take your dog into their own home.
• Where are your local emergency vet clinics? You do not want to be scrambling for this information when your dog needs immediate care.
• Is your dog up to date on vaccinations? If your dog is placed in a shelter, boarding facility, or lost on the street you want to make sure that he is protected against diseases that he would not otherwise be exposed to in your home.
• Where can you go with your dog if you must leave your home unexpectedly? Keep a list of dog-friendly hotels so you know where you can go if you are unable to stay in your home.
• Bring familiar objects for your dog. If possible, grab a favorite toy or dog bed with familiar scents that can reduce anxiety in a stressful situation.
• Never underestimate the power of the internet! Email yourself or a friend a picture of your dog so you have a picture available to post in case of separation. You can send the picture to local shelters and websites such as Craigslist.com or Petfinder.com.

A little advanced planning on your part could be the difference between a happy reunion or heartache for you and your dog. While we all pray that we will never need to use this information, having it on hand as a quick reference can bring some peace of mind in an emergency situation.