Huntington shelter to feature dog for adoption each week

Susie, Huntington's first Dog of the Week, is featured in a town adoption program that begins Jan. 18, 2016. Credit: Town of Huntington
Town of Huntington officials have a new program aimed at finding homes for some of its neediest dogs.
Starting this week, the Dog of the Week program at the town animal shelter begins, seeking to get more of the dogs in its care adopted. Under the program, the $103.50 adoption fee will be waived for a selected dog each week.
“If I get one dog adopted out of this program, it will be a success,” said Jerry Mosca, the shelter’s supervisor.
All the dogs adopted will have been spayed or neutered, and come with up-to-date shots.
Mosca said the idea for the program came up when he noticed a marked increase in traffic into the shelter and attention on its own Facebook page when it went up in early December. A fundraising drive for special dog beds featured on the site brought in $5,000 in less than two weeks.
“Social media is really doing things for us we didn’t have before,” Mosca said. “We’re so happy to have it. So my idea was, ‘Let’s do a dog of the week and have a free adoption for that dog; Facebook will give us the opportunity to tell the story about the dog.’ ”
The lucky dog to start the program is Susie, an 11-year-old pit bull mix who officials say loves to be around people.
Mosca said Susie was surrendered by her owners to the shelter when she was about 6 years old and has been at the shelter for five years. Mosca said Susie would have to be the only animal in her new home and he’s really hoping to see Susie live out the rest of her years with a new family.
Each dog will be featured for seven days, and on each day a new post, pictures or videos will be featured.
Town Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said the program will not only promote the dog, but also bring the added benefit of increased traffic to the shelter.
“If someone comes in to see the featured dog, and they thought it was bigger or smaller, we can then show them another dog that is more suitable,” Petrone said. “We have great dogs; they have all been through training, and our goal is to get them out of the shelter and into a home. We are an adoption center.”
The shelter is at 106 Deposit Rd., East Northport.
9 arraigned in missing girl case ... Joann closing 2 LI stores ... 90 couples renewed vows ... Romantic spas in the winter
9 arraigned in missing girl case ... Joann closing 2 LI stores ... 90 couples renewed vows ... Romantic spas in the winter