BY MATT LINDSEYNorth Country This Week

HEUVELTON — Since 2002, Gracious Friends Animal Sanctuary in Heuvelton has been a lifeline for abandoned, neglected, and abused animals, but a new state law has the small operation seeking a $2 million upgrade.

The sanctuary, founded more than 20 years ago by Candy and Erik Brown, provides shelter and care for a variety of animals, from dogs and cats to farm animals like horses and mules.

However, as the number of animals in need rises, the sanctuary faces new challenges. Gracious Friends is preparing for the upcoming Companion Animal Care Standards Act, which requires shelters and rescues to meet stricter standards for animal care. A planned expansion will allow the sanctuary to continue providing care and increase its community impact.

The sanctuary was gifted land by donor Debra Perry at 37 McIlwee Road in Heuvelton, where they plan to build a new adoption center. This expansion will help meet state regulations, provide more space for animals, and offer educational programs on responsible pet ownership.

“The new center will help us recruit new volunteers, foster families, and adopters, while also giving us the chance to educate the public on animal welfare and care,” said Donna LaRock, a long-time volunteer at the sanctuary.

Animal Intake and Adoption Rates

Gracious Friends often house animals for extended periods before they are adopted.

“We always want to see our animals go out as quickly as possible, but it’s not always the case,” she said. “That’s why fostering and volunteer work is so important. Fostering opens up space for more animals, and volunteers help socialize the animals.”

One long-term resident was Rocco, a Treeing Walker Coonhound who stayed at the sanctuary for three years before finding a home, LaRock said.

On average, 7% of dogs are adopted within the first month, 50% within six months, and 3% remain at the sanctuary for more than a year, she said.

Adapting to Companion Animal Care Standards Act

The sanctuary is preparing for the upcoming Companion Animal Care Standards Act, which takes effect in December.

“We decided it would be best to build a new center rather than try to fix up what we have,” LaRock said. “If we don’t comply, we risk shutting down, and that would be devastating for our community.”

Some provisions of the law include mandatory ongoing staff training, better record keeping, improved transportation protocols, and ensuring that shelters are adequately staffed.

“Our new building will give us the space we need to store documents, conduct training, and house animals in accordance with state regulations,” she said.

New Facility Design and Expansion Plans

The new facility would feature an HVAC system, a quarantine area for puppies and kittens, designated spaces for dogs and cats, as well as office space.

“We hope the new building will increase our adoption rates and make it easier to raise funds and attract volunteers,” LaRock said. “It will also be closer to a more populated area, which we hope will increase visibility and improve our chances of finding homes for animals.”

The total cost for the new facility is estimated at $2.1 million, a figure that includes land development, construction, and interior build-out. Currently, the sanctuary has only $4,900 in its account toward this goal.

“We’ve had access to some smaller grants, but we lack the expertise to apply for larger state grants,” LaRock explained.

Financial Struggles and the Need for Donations

Gracious Friends remains financially dependent on donations, fundraisers, and volunteers.

“The cost of everything from the ground up is $2.1 million, and we aren’t anywhere near that number yet,” LaRock said. ”

The sanctuary is continuing to accept donations through its GoFundMe campaign. In addition to monetary donations, the sanctuary is always in need of pet-related supplies, volunteers, and foster families.

Despite financial challenges, Gracious Friends has found innovative ways to secure supplies and support.

A partnership with the Treat App, allows users to play games on their phones and earn points that can be exchanged for supplies for animal shelters. Through this program, the sanctuary has received over 45,000 meals and other essential items, including vaccines and medical supplies.

“If that’s not an impact, I don’t know what is,” LaRock said.

Additionally, the sanctuary has a presence on PetFinder, which has expanded its reach to a wider pool of potential adopters, fosters, and volunteers.

“We’ve always been a small operation, but these partnerships allow us to connect with more people and increase our visibility,” LaRock added.

For more information on how to support Gracious Friends, visit graciousfriendsanimalsanctuary.org or contribute to their GoFundMe campaign here.