There’s No Place Like Home

Say the phrase “There’s no place like home,” and one is sure to think of Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, from the classic film “The Wizard of Oz.” That’s exactly the type of heartwarming nostalgia Kent Animal Shelter plans to elicit at its “No Place Like Home” 50th anniversary party on Saturday, September 28.

Each year, the no-kill shelter provides homes and care to countless animals. For all of these years, it has done all of its humane work from its humble origins in the original building along the Peconic River in Calverton. However, the current building has been aging rapidly, and is unable to keep up with the shelter’s growth. Kent plans to release the blueprints for a new building at the event, ensuring a stronger future for the next 50 years.

“We’ve been trying to build for a long time and haven’t been able to find the proper sponsors,” said Pamela Green, the executive director. “Finally, we came up with a plan to rebuild the structure basically on the same footprint as the present property we are located on. It will be a facility that’s more efficient and will have more animals.” Green has been part of the shelter since 1985, calling it her “original road plan in life” to be able to help animals. She always wanted to do something meaningful with her life and found her home at Kent.

The big celebration aims to get new and varied supporters to come out and become essential pieces to the ever-growing puzzle. A shelter is a community effort and this community aims to grow upward and outward. The 50th anniversary party will be held at the Cherry Creek Woods Golf Club restaurant, Stonewalls, located in Riverhead, and hopes to bring everyone “home.” It will feature appetizers, a buffet dinner, live music, GoCharity auction, Chinese auction, raffles, and, of course, plenty of “Wizard of Oz” fun.

Recently, Kent Animal Shelter also teamed up with a group of organizations to aid animals who have suffered or been displaced by Hurricane Dorian. In a true East End effort, they coordinated with Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons to receive some of the animals, with plans for additional rescue efforts in upcoming weeks.

“We have a really dedicated team at the shelter that is working really hard to keep the animals loved and cared, and to keep everything running on track. Then, the most important part is the dedicated supporters and our friends that really continue to see our mission as one of the most important to them as well, and something that they’re wanting to support,” Green said.

Tickets for the event are $75 per person. Kent Animal Shelter is located at 2259 River Road in Calverton. Visit online at www.kentanimalshelter.com or call 631-727-5731.

nicole@indyeastend.com