The Shamrock Animal Fund

(Syracuse, NY) - The final Healthy Pet Clinic of the 2012 fall series will likely push the total number of dogs and cats served over the 1,000 mark in just 14 months of operation by the all volunteer service.  

Another 100 plus pets are expected by organizers from the Shamrock Animal Fund and the Central  New York Animal Welfare Coalition.  Volunteer veterinarians from the Syracuse area will be joined by staff and students from the Cornell University Shelter Medicine program is operating eight to ten exam tables.

For $10 the pet receives an exam, vaccinations, flea/tick treatment and other services as providing by the veterinary staff.

The final edition of the series of fall clinics takes place at St. Lucy’s Church at 425 Gifford Street
in Syracuse from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday November 11th.
These clinics specifically are offered for residents of Syracuse’s south and
near west sides. Pet owners who live outside of the Syracuse city limits cannot
be served.

People are encouraged to arrive early. Owners must bring documentation
of financial need and proof of address.  Income limits are $25,000 per individual or $40,000 for a household. There is a $10 cash fee per
animal.

Owners need to bring past veterinary and vaccination records. Cats
must be in carriers. Dogs must be leashed. Aggressive dogs must be muzzled.
The City of Syracuse will offer dog licensing for an additional fee of
$10 per dog that is fixed and $20 per dog that is not fixed.  read more »

(Syracuse, NY)  Volunteers served some 120 dogs and cats today over a busy five hour clinic set up inside the gymnasium in one of the neediest neighborhoods in Syracuse.   Pet owners started arriving before 10:00 a.m. even though the official opening time for the Clinic was 1:00 p.m.

"Now that we are into the second year of the Healthy Pet Clinics we are running a smoother more effective operation," said Matt Mulcahy one of the event organizers. "The gratitude that comes back to us from the pet owners makes the effort truly rewarding for our volunteer staff."

Many of the clients attending the 2012 fall series of clinics first came to a Healthy Pet Clinic one years ago.  "It is exciting to see familiar faces coming through the door one year later," said Shamrock Animal Fund co-founder Jamie Pomilio-Mulcahy. "It's good to know they are following up on the needed care for their animals."

Volunteer veterinarians included: Drs. Eileen Fatcheric and Dr. Andrea Lee from Fairmount Animal Hospital, Dr. Nancy Freeborough from Nottingham Pet Clinic, Drs. Marcia Ziegler and Jo Millard from Stack Hospital for Pets, Dr. Eve Ryan from Beaver Lake Animal Hospital, Dr. Gayanna Gilbraith from Cicero Animal Clinic and Dr. Elizabeth Berliner leading a group of veterinary students from Cornell University's Shelter Medicine Program.

This series of fall clinics return to St. Lucy’s Church at 425 Gifford Street in Syracuse from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sundays: October 14th and November 11th. These clinics specifically are offered for residents of Syracuse’s south and near west sides. Pet owners who live outside of the Syracuse city limits cannot be served.  read more »

(Syracuse, NY) - By late Sunday morning volunteers will convert the quiet of the old gymnasium at St. Lucy’s Church in Syracuse into a hive of activity to deliver veterinary care to animals who otherwise would go without. The Healthy Pet Clinics organized by the Shamrock Animal Fund and the Central New York Animal Welfare Coalition are returning for a second year of offering low cost care in some of the city’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

This innovative program served some 650 dogs and cats in its first year of operation. At times pet owners waited for several hours for the opportunity to receive a low cost exam, vaccinations, flea and tick treatment and whatever other care the staff of volunteer veterinarians can offer in the makeshift clinical setting.

 This series of fall clinics return to St. Lucy’s Church at 425 Gifford Street in Syracuse from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Sundays: September 9th, October 14th and November 11th. These clinics specifically are offered for residents of Syracuse’s south and near west sides. Pet owners who live outside of the Syracuse city limits cannot be served.

People are encouraged to arrive early. Owners must bring documentation of financial need and proof of address. There is a $10 cash fee per animal. Owners need to bring past veterinary and vaccination records. Cats must be in carriers. Dogs must be leashed. Aggressive dogs need muzzles. The City of Syracuse will offer dog licensing for an additional fee of $10 per dog that is fixed and $20 per dog that is not fixed. Onondaga County is assisting with support on rabies vaccinations and tags. Information will also be given on low cost spaying and neutering.  read more »

The Shamrock Animal Fund continues to help animals during the summer months.  We receive numerous calls and e-mails requesting help in paying for the care of pets.

Pet owners should take note of the requirements of the Fund that are a necessary part of receiving assistance.

Thank you to all of our supporters who continue to make this mission possible.

Requirements:

The animal owner has to assume majority financial responsibility toward the vet bill.

The animal owner has to demonstrate financial need & verify income with appropriate documentation. All information remains confidential.  read more »

(Syracuse, NY) - The spring Healthy Pet Clinic on the north side of Syracuse returns to the campus of Assumption Church at St. Clare's Theatre on N. Salina Street on Sunday, June 24th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The spring Clinic's in April and May served some 180 dogs and cats of residents on Syracuse's north and east sides who were able to demonstrate financial need.

In May pet owners lined up hours before the doors officially opened.  They patiently waited as the line wrapped around the St. Clare's Theatre building.  More than 40 volunteers with the Central New York Animal Welfare Coalition, including some of the top veterinarians in the region, ran an efficient operation on a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon in May.

Click here for in depth story on the Healthy Pet Clinics.

For a fee of $10, Veterinarians perform exams, vaccinate for rabies, distemper and other illnesses. They also offer flea and tick preventative, offer various other services and educate pet owners on the importance of regular veterinary care. The CNYSPCA and SANS provide information on low cost spay/neuter opportunities.

The City of Syracuse clerk’s office will be on site to license dogs for an additional fee of $10 for fixed dogs and $20 for dogs not fixed. Cash only accepted.  read more »

(Syracuse, NY) - The spring Healthy Pet Clinic on the north side of Syracuse returns to the campus of Assumption Church at St. Clare's Theatre on N. Salina Street on Sunday, May 20th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  The initial Clinic of the 2012 spring season served nearly 70 dogs and cats of residents on Syracuse's north and east sides who were able to demonstrate financial need.

More than 40 volunteers with the Central New York Animal Welfare Coalition, including some of the top veterinarians in the region, ran an efficient operation on a sunny and breezy Sunday afternoon in April.  Pet owners were lined up hours before the doors open, but everyone was served.

Click here for in depth story on the Healthy Pet Clinics.

For a fee of $10, Veterinarians perform exams, vaccinate for rabies, distemper and other illnesses. They also offer flea and tick preventative, offer various other services and educate pet owners on the importance of regular veterinary care. The CNYSPCA and SANS provide information on low cost spay/neuter opportunities.

The City of Syracuse clerk’s office will be on site to license dogs for an additional fee of $10 for fixed dogs and $20 for dogs not fixed. Cash only accepted.

The Onondaga County Health Department is supporting the Clinics by maintaining records of rabies vaccinations and supplying rabies tags.

Requirements: The clinic is for pet owners who live in the north and east sides of Syracuse with financial need. Pet owners must bring identification, proof of address and financial need. Dogs must be leashed and cats brought in carriers. Dogs that are aggressive must have muzzles. Please bring any current veterinary records.  Requested donation for the clinic is $10 per animal cash only.

A third spring clinic is scheduled for St. Clare’s Theatre on Sunday June 24th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  read more »

(Syracuse, NY) - The Central New York Animal Welfare Coalition is inviting pet owners with financial hardship who live in Syracuse’s north and east side neighborhoods to the Healthy Pet Clinic at St. Clare’s Theatre on the campus of Assumption Church at 812 N. Salina Street in Syracuse.   The first of three spring dates is this Sunday, April 29^th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

The clinics provide veterinary exams and critical vaccinations to dogs and cats that have owners with financial need.  The Shamrock Animal Fund is organizing this effort along with many other volunteer animal welfare agencies in Central New York, area veterinarians and Cornell University’s Hospital for Animals Shelter program.  

The initial clinics last fall served some 350 dogs and cats for pet owners on Syracuse’s south and near west side neighborhoods. More than 40 volunteers helped make the clinic at St. Lucy’s Church a success. Owners walked for blocks, biked and took the bus to bring their pets to the clinic.

The clinics are being held in an area within the city that has an absence of veterinary hospitals.  The move to the north side this spring is in response to pet owners asking for wider service from this volunteer effort. Pet owners are encouraged to arrive early.

 For a fee of $10, Veterinarians perform exams, vaccinate for rabies, distemper and other shots.  They also offer flea and tick preventative and educate pet owners on the importance of regular veterinary care.   The CNYSPCA and SANS will provide information on low cost spay/neuter opportunities.

The City of Syracuse clerk’s office will be on site to license dogs for an additional fee of $10 for fixed dogs and $20 for dogs not fixed. Cash only accepted.

The Onondaga County Health Department is supporting the Clinics by maintaining records of rabies vaccinations and supplying rabies tags.

Requirements: The clinic is for pet owners who live in the north and east sides of Syracuse with financial need. Pet owners must bring identification, proof of address and financial need. Dogs must be leashed and cats brought in carriers.  Dogs that are aggressive must have muzzles. Requested donation for the clinic is $10 per animal cash only. 

Two more spring clinics are scheduled for St. Clare’s Theatre on Sunday May20th and June 24th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  read more »

(Syracuse, NY) - Giant poster sized photos of children hugging their pets hanged from the exposed beams welcoming guests to the renovated warehouse that played host to the 3rd annual Shamrock's Celebration to benefit the Shamrock Animal Fund.  The green friendly open space of King+King Architects provided a dynamic new backdrop for the cocktail event.

Throughout the evening the fabulous rhythmic music of Grupo Pagan entertained nearly 300 supporters of the Fund. The Emerald City Bagpipers punctuated the evening with a march through the room filling it with the drone of the pipes and thud of the bass drum. 

Fans of the Syracuse Orange basketball squad donned their orange and blue to cheer on and agonize over their beloved team on a giant projection screen provided by Francis Audio-Visual.  There was even a special room dedicated to the hard core fans watching on a 50 inch flat screen. 

People enjoyed a corned beef carving station, a mashed potato bar. Wait staff walked the room offering glasses of wine and Irish beer.

Volunteers worked the room offering raffle tickets for a 10 diamond cluster ring from Cazenovia Jewelers and a gold basset hound pendant from M. Lemp Jewelers.  The Silent Auction offered guests a chance to bid on a wide range of items including a chance to fly an airplane, a certificate to buy a new bed and wonderful wines, hand made jewelry and gift certificates to many of the best local restaurants.

The true highlight of the evening came at the conclusion of the Syracuse NCAA basketball game as the Shamrock Animal Fund dedicated the night to the late Diane Smith.  Co-founder Matt Mulcahy offered an emotional thank you to Ron Smith, Diane's husband, for Diane's immediate commitment to assisting with the Shamrock Animal Fund when it was conceived just over two years ago.

Co-founder and Shamrock Animal Fund President Jamie Pomilio-Mulcahy helped present the Diane Smith Service Awards to Drs. Marco Coronado and Nancy Freeborough for their continued commitment to providing affordable and accessible veterinary care to families in need of assistance.  Dr. Coronado inspired the listeners to find balance in their lives.  The native of Peru strives to consistently help animals even when the financial outlook is not good for the owners of the pet.  Dr. Freeborough thanked the Shamrock Animal Fund for the work that it does.

The evening wrapped up with smiles and dancing to the music of Grupo Pagan and a speedy check-out for Silent Auction bidders. 

"Thank you to all of the volunteers, donors, providers of goods and services," said Matt Mulcahy.  "It takes a tremendous amount of effort to produce a successful evening on a purely volunteer basis. We are proud to say virtually all of the funds raised go directly to helping the animals and pet owners in Central New York."

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Syracuse Orange have advanced to the Elite Eight game of the NCAA tournament for a 7:00 pm tip off against Ohio State. That game coincides with Shamrock's Celebration, but we will taylor our program and offer the game on a giant projection screen so we can cheer on the Orange while also celebrating the work to benefit animals and people.

(Syracuse, NY) The Shamrock Animal Fund has extended the RSVP deadline for its March 24th fundraiser Shamrock's Celebration.   The new deadline is Monday, March 19th.  Full details and advance reservations and payment can be made online by clicking here.

Excitement toward the evening is building with a great array of silent and live auction items.  An autographed basketball from the record breaking Syracuse University men's basketball team will be a highlight, along with a ladies diamond cluster ring with 10 brilliant cut diamonds measuring one karat from Cazenovia Jewelry and a gold hound pendant from M. Lemp Jewelers. 

MetroAir has donated a round trip private charter flight to New York City on board a Piper Navajo.  Metro Mattress has offered two $1500 gift certificates to purchase new beds at their stores.  And,  Pet Containment Systems of NY has given a fully installed Pet Stop Premium Pet Containment System.

There are dozens of other items available for bid and raffle from select area businesses, restaurants and individual supporters.

See you Saturday evening, March 24th from 6:30 to 10:30 pm at King+King Architects, 358 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, NY 13203.