POMONA, NY – The Rockland Green CARES Animal Shelter, previously known as Hi-Tor Animal Shelter, over the past year has seemingly cleaned and sanitized its facility to continue to provide care and shelter to animals in need despite ongoing challenges. The staff and volunteers of Four Legs Good, stewards for the facility, have been working to improve conditions and ensure the animals receive appropriate care, training, and opportunities for adoption.
The shelter has implemented new systems and upgraded the facilities to better accommodate the animals while maintaining health and safety standards.
The interview and tour in the video above was conducted on May 7, 2024. Rockland News was in no way incentivized by Four Legs Good, Rockland Green, Hi Tor, or any other individuals or entities to conduct this interview and tour.
Shelter Operations and Partnerships
The shelter operates under a structured system designed to manage the different needs of animals. The front lobby, referred to as the cat adoption room, is where younger cats and kittens are housed. Recently, the shelter has had success with adoptions, reducing the number of cats in this space. This success is partly due to partnerships with other organizations like Father John’s, which regularly transfer animals to facilities with lower intake volumes. Such collaborations have allowed Rockland Green to maintain a steady flow of adoptions and provide essential donations like cat trees and bedding.
In addition to adoption efforts, the shelter relies heavily on community donations. Supplies such as dog toys, leashes, collars, cat carriers, and other essentials are frequently delivered by the public and organized by staff. Bedding items like towels, blankets, and pillowcases are stored in dedicated trailers, but space limitations mean storage is an ongoing challenge. Despite these challenges, the shelter expresses gratitude for the community’s generosity.
Facility Improvements and Animal Management
Staff members have undertaken significant cleaning and renovation efforts across the shelter. Rooms are being cleared, scrubbed, and painted one by one to improve the living conditions for the animals. Particular attention is given to preventing cross-contamination of illnesses, with animals quarantined when necessary to avoid spreading diseases such as upper respiratory infections or ringworm. Each room is carefully managed to ensure sick animals are isolated from healthy ones, and additional precautions are taken to sanitize spaces thoroughly.
Improvements also extend to the infrastructure of the shelter. Damaged areas, such as broken cables, clogged drains, and deteriorating walls, have been repaired. The shelter’s ventilation and air conditioning systems are being cleaned and updated to enhance the overall environment for both animals and staff. The staff also noted that individual litter scoopers have been placed in each cat cage to prevent cross-contamination and improve hygiene standards.
Color-Coded System for Animal Management and Care
The shelter uses a color-coded system to help staff and volunteers manage animals with varying behavioral concerns. The traffic light system includes:
- Red: Indicates animals that require careful handling and pose greater behavioral challenges.
- Yellow: Represents animals that need caution but are manageable.
- Blue: Refers to animals that are part of the shelter’s behavioral programs. These animals may need additional leash training or have specific sensitivities, such as reactivity to other dogs or discomfort with men or women.
This structured approach helps staff identify the needs of each animal and assign the appropriate level of care and training.
Small Animal and Dog Care Programs
Many people who bring these animals to the shelter are unprepared for the responsibilities involved in their care. Some abandon rabbits and guinea pigs at the shelter when they can no longer manage the care, often due to rapid population growth when pairs are misidentified as the same sex. In some cases, individuals have been found breeding rabbits for profit but later abandon the animals when they cannot sell them.
The shelter’s dog care program is structured to maximize the well-being of the animals. A designated dog walking board ensures that each dog gets out for exercise at least twice a day, with the goal of increasing these outings. Volunteers, including members from the local community and members of organizations like the North Rockland Chamber of Commerce and Rotary, regularly assist with dog walking.
Additionally, dogs needing isolation due to illness, such as ringworm, are placed in dedicated spaces that are sanitized between uses.
The facility does continue to face difficulties managing the population of small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs. Many animals arrive at the shelter when owners are unable to manage the rapid population growth due to misidentification of sexes. The shelter also rescues abandoned rabbits found in parks or other public areas.
Rabbits, in particular, face high risks when left in the wild, as they are prey animals and vulnerable to predators like hawks, snakes, and dogs. The shelter attempts to rescue and rehome them when possible but faces ongoing difficulties due to the high abandonment rates.
Future Plans and Proactive Measures
According to the Four Legs Good Operations Manager, Rockland Green’s involvement has been instrumental in improving shelter operations. The organization provides oversight and resources, ensuring that shelter management remains accountable and efficient. Staff members have expressed appreciation for the collaborative and supportive relationship, highlighting the transparency and open communication between Rockland Green and the shelter’s management.
With plans for relocation within the next year, the shelter is proactively working to address any remaining issues on the current property. Efforts include reducing the stray cat population and ensuring all animals are placed before the move. The shelter’s focus remains on improving conditions, expanding community partnerships, and finding suitable homes for animals to ensure a smooth transition.
Challenges with Fractious Cats and Barn Home Relocations
The shelter continues to manage a population of fractious cats. These cats are placed in a designated area that has not yet undergone full repair due to the difficulty of relocating and managing them without causing additional stress. The shelter works with other organizations to find barn homes for these cats, offering them an environment suited to their nature. These partnerships extend to farms in areas such as Orange County, New Jersey, and other local properties, helping to relocate cats where they can serve as natural pest control.
Before relocating, the shelter ensures all cats are tested for health issues like FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus), and provides vaccinations for rabies and other common feline diseases. The aim is to reduce the number of roaming cats on the property and eventually eliminate the issue entirely.
Facility Improvements and Future Plans
The shelter has made strides in improving its facilities. Staff have cleaned and renovated areas previously used to feed and house roaming cats. They have constructed a new kennel area with shelters, a roof, and a designated feeding station to provide a safe and controlled environment. These efforts aim to acclimate the cats, making it easier to capture and relocate them.
However, with the shelter expected to relocate in a year, staff are proactively addressing these issues to ensure no animals remain on the property when the move occurs. This includes efforts to reduce the stray cat population and find homes for the remaining animals before the transition.