The progress of animal welfare hinges on the ability of animal shelters to be pro-active in their communities by providing programs that respond to the public's need. This can be done by preventing unwanted dogs and cats through spay/neuter and by helping owners keep their dogs by providing free behavior training and financial assistance for veterinary care, food and supplies. These programs prevent dogs from entering shelters, thus reducing euthanasia.

RVAA is proactive. We recognize that the homeless, neglected and abused animals who end up in our shelter are the tragic symptoms of a problem endemic to the larger community. We have rolled up our sleeves and taken our caring and our expertise on the road. The result is that, one dog at a time, one family at a time, we are keeping animals out of the shelters and in the homes with the people who love them and only needed a little help to keep them. Our innovative and flagship program is called Training Wheels®.

Training Wheels® takes the shelter out into the community to respond to the needs (educational, basic care, or financial) of pet owners in a proactive and non-punitive way. Often, people who most need help with their pets are least able to access and afford that help. Training Wheels® programs frequently enable pet owners to keep their pets and avoid having to relinquish them. Training Wheels® is taught by RVAA staff to shelters nationwide so that they can take the program into both urban and rural areas.

Lug Nuts™ is a program that organizes and hosts informal weight pulling contests. It was created in response to the increasing problems communities are encountering with dangerous dogs. It offers youths and their dogs a competitive, macho sport that is not harmful to the dogs and promotes humane training and handling.

With a mobile spay/neuter van, RVAA will greatly reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in the community by providing low/cost or free spay/neuter to residents of Ulster County.

RVAA believes the mental and emotional needs of shelter dogs are as important as their physical needs. Our innovative kennel-runs provide a comfortable and low-stress home-style environment, complete with furniture, toys and bedding, music and social interaction. We are committed to facilitating lifelong relationships between people and pets by providing lifelong behavioral help and free training classes to adopters.

To contact us:

Animals for Adoption
4628 Route 209
Accord, NY 12404
phone: 845.687.7619
email: jane@animalsforadoption.org