Few things gather attention like a barking dog. Add a couple of cats to encourage the dog to bark, and eyes will automatically focus on the scene.
That's exactly how the Lakeshore Humane Society and the Fredonia Post Office promoted the unveiling of a new stamp series from the U.S. Postal Service.
Called "Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet," the postal service hopes the stamp series will raise awareness of "the importance of adopting companion animals from shelters to help prevent the senseless euthanizing of millions of animals each year."
"It brings awareness to social issues one letter at a time," said Fredonia Postmaster Tim Sullivan. "This particular stamp, they're expecting to be one of the highest sellers. They've already produced four times the initial print of the number of stamps they normally produce, even though our overall stamp sales are down."
The U.S.P.S. printed 300 million stamps on the first run, Sullivan said.
Animal stamps have always been popular at the post office. Sullivan expects the "Animal Rescue" series to sell extremely well. Also, if a customer asks what sorts of stamps the post office is offering, he thinks his staff will suggest the animal stamps.
"We'll have them advertised, and I actually purchased extra stamps," Sullivan said, "I'm sure when they ask, 'What kind of stamps do you have?' The clerks here will say, 'Go with these animal stamps.'"
The stamps officially go on sale Friday morning.
Anne Bowers of the Lakeshore Humane Society, or LHS, thinks the stamps will be a huge help in the society's ongoing effort to encourage shelter pet adoption.
"It's a tremendous thing for our community's animals. We're hoping that the animals will benefit," Bowers said. "We want the animals to be safe and happy and well-fed, and this is a way to get to the community."
As part of Professor Lisa Walters's Introduction to Business Communication class, a group of SUNY Fredonia students have been working with LHS to enhance the society's communication with the public.
"This is a beautiful link between the stamp and the community and the students," Bowers said. "It's just a wonderful thing."
In their work with the humane society, the students have focused on different areas - such as fund-raising, awareness, communications and management - to improve the overall organization.
Students have found the experience with LHS to be enriching, and for many, it has showcased the need for a public that is committed to animal safety.
"They showed us pictures of what they see on a daily basis, and they gave us the numbers on how cats reproduce and how many are out there," said Andrew Natoli, a junior majoring in business administration. "And it just hit home that there are a lot of animals out there that need everyone's help to have a home and a healthy life."
Many strays are the former pets of college students, Natoli said. This stamp series campaign might make students more aware of the harm they do by releasing pets to the streets.
"We need to be more aware about what is going on in our community, especially college students," Natoli said. "They talked to us about how a lot of cats that are strays come from college campuses where students just let them go after their done at the end of the semester."
One of the cats that came to the post office to show her support was named Tri-pod. Nancy Cranston of the Humane Society - and Tri-pod's owner - said the cat is a perfect example of the good work done by the society.
"Tri-pod, the cat, whose here with three legs - the fourth was amputated - is a prime example of a cat that's been rescued," Cranston said. "We will work with it, and it can have a long life. It's only 3 years old. We could have euthanized it and said, 'It's only a cat.' But it's not."
Postmaster Sullivan said Kathy Thorp, a clerk at the Fredonia post office, was instrumental in the local shelter pet awareness campaign.
A lifelong pet-lover, Thorp recently rescued a dog, whose owners were going to put it up for adoption.
"He just looked so sad," Thorp said of the puppy. "But I've just always loved animals."
Cranston complimented the staff of the post office for being so friendly, and she called Thorp the "chairman of the friendliness."
Bowers and Cranston also thanked local animal control officers who have partnered with them in saving stray pets.
With a new building soon to be built and other animal safety projects still ongoing, the humane society is looking for donations.
"We absolutely need funds," Bowers said. "Our spay/neuter program, we ran out of funds for that already, and the state no longer funds it. We need medicines for our animals, and we have a new building going up. We're eager to have that happen."
The new LHS facility will be located on Stegelske Avenue in Dunkirk.
Individuals interested in donating can write a check to the Lakeshore Humane Society and send it in an envelope addressed to LHS/P.O. Box 12/Fredonia, NY 14063.
Donations are also accepted online at www.lakeshorehumanesociety.org.
As part of the stamp series, the postal service has partnered with Ellen DeGeneres and Halo, a pet-food company, to inform the public about the millions of shelter pets waiting for adoption.
"We called her (DeGeneres), and we got on her Facebook page," Bowers said, "but, you know, I guess she was busy with 'Idol' or something."
"Maybe if someone would have offered to sing she would have come," Sullivan interjected.
As the campaign is launched, Halo will donate a million meals to animal shelters across the country.
For more information, visit: www.stampstotherescue.com.
Comments may be sent to jmackowiak@observertoday.com
