WALLKILL VALLEY
TIMES
Vol . 34 , No 52 3 WEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 28 , 2016 3 ONE DOLLAR
VC girls outlast Newburgh
Page 36
www . WallkillValleyTimes . net
The Children ’ s Museum
Page 16
Know your town !
Wallkill town employees to become “ Wallkillopedias ” in 2017
By JESSICA COHEN jcohen @ tcnewspapers . com
A new “ I ’ m Every Department ” program could elevate assistance from Town of Wallkill employees to new heights in 2017 , according to Town Supervisor Dan Depew .
“ We ’ re not just competing with other towns . We ’ re competing with ourselves to do better ,” he said when he announced the initiative at a town board meeting last week .
What prompted Depew to devise the program , he said , was complaints from town workers that residents asked for information from the wrong departments .
“ If people don ’ t know where to go , Wallkill employees should be Wallkillopedias who can guide them ,” said Depew . “ The objective is that employees know how departments work and relate to each other ,” so they can help people take care of their tasks efficiently , rather
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What about the animals ?
Shelters running out of room for strays , injured pets
By JESSICA COHEN jcohen @ tcnewspapers . com
When Joanne Jasiel suspected someone was living under her porch recently , she called Ann Ilkiw , Montgomery Animal Control Officer . Ilkiw discovered a cat with four kittens , all long-haired with gray stripes , hiding out under Jasiel ’ s house . Jasiel feared touching the cats would provoke her asthma , so she called Walden Humane Society . A shelter representative told her the shelter was full , and mentioned a hundred dollar donation fee for the surrender . They suggested taking the kittens to the Beacon shelter , Jasiel said . She wondered why this was their response , since the Town of Montgomery has a contract with the shelter .
“ We have a contract with Montgomery for dogs , and we help with cats when we can ,” said Tracey Carvell , shelter manager . As for the surrender fee , she said , “ We always ask for a surrender fee , $ 50 per cat . If people can ’ t afford it , we work with them . When the shelter is full , we take names , and when a space opens , we call .”
Jake Cooper , a caretaker at the shelter , confirmed they are “ at capacity ,” with about 90 cats . Their six “ intake spaces ” are also filled
The $ 100 surrender fee covers spaying or neutering , vaccinations , and other health care , as cats often arrive with upper respiratory infections , Carvell said . The waiting list strategy has become more popular in animal shelters , as it prevents the practice of euthanizing for space . They usually take wait listed animals within a few weeks , Carvell said .
Benny had a broken back , but recovered his mobility .
“ But it ’ s a difficult year , with the bitter cold ,” she added . For cats living outside , she suggests using a styrofoam cooler to make a shelter , noting that Helpers 4 Shelters , a nonprofit based in Middletown , makes such cat and dog homes .
Kim Gallucci , a founder of Helpers 4 Shelters , begun in 2010 to help both homeless people and animals , said that Lowe ’ s employees recently donated 40 of those shelters . The group also holds Make It and Take It workshops , where they supply materials for people to build them . Igloo dog houses can be used for a larger enclosure , Gallucci said . The lid is duct taped to the base , and holes are drilled through the outer container and inner styrofoam on the front and side , so the occupant can escape predators . A mylar blanket and hay provide warmth .
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Fernando was also restored in Ilkiw ’ s care .
Ann Ilkiw rescued Russell the crow after he broke a leg . He healed and flew off .
SERVING CRAWFORD , GARDINER , MAYBROOK , MONTGOMERY , PINE BUSH , SHAWANGUNK , WALDEN AND WALLKILL