Dan Heitzenrater introduced today’s speakers, Jane Babinsky and Laura Corey of the Chautauqua County Humane Society.
Executive Director Jane Babinsky has held this position since October 1, 2024, after serving on the Board for some time. She has a BA degree from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio and then attended Kent State University Graduate School for Therapeutic Recreation and Administration. She had a consulting business for a few years setting up Pet Therapy Programs in Ohio hospitals, nursing homes, psych facilities, schools and libraries. She also owned
K9Piper’s Place, a dog daycare facility which included training, grooming, and retail. Jane also has 11 years’ experience as a Veterinary Assistant.
Before coming to the Human Society, Jane served as the Executive Director of the Chagrin Falls Historical Society & Museum, Executive Director of the Dunkirk Historical Museum, and Executive Director of the Fenton History Center. She has served on the Board of Directors as Secretary of the Lily Dale Assembly and is currently President of the Lily Dale Spiritualist Church.
Jane has been an evaluator for several years for Therapy Dogs International, Inc. and an AKC/CGC Evaluator. She has taught obedience and therapy dog classes since 1983 as well as showing her own dogs in obedience trials and owning several therapy dogs.
Laura Corey is the Humane Society’s “Building Our Future” fundraiser co-chairman. She is a retired Human Resources professional, having served as the Training Manager and Director of Human Resources in local companies before starting her own consulting business. She founded the local chapter of the Society for Human Resources and served as its President. She has been a Zonta member for over 25 years. Dottie is her therapy dog, and they visit nursing homes, Hospice, schools and libraries.
Laura has been involved with the Chautauqua County Humane Society for over 12 years volunteering as a dog walker, front desk support, laundry, cat socializer, and Humane Education educator. She was on the board and served as board president. Having fostered over 100 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens.
The representatives from the Chautauqua County Humane Society led a comprehensive discussion of their work, the Agency’s needs, and the capital campaign.
They covered: animal adoptions, low-cost spay/neuter services, a community pet pantry, animal education, cruelty investigations, and the major renovation campaign. Data and facts shared were Year to date: 79 dog adoptions and 203 cat adoptions.
The shelter’s no-kill rate is 97.7%. Year to date for spay/neuter: 570 cats and 54 dogs.
Pet pantry distribution has included 17,000 pounds of food distributed and more than 1,100 animals served over the year.
The organization has 22 staff and 125 volunteers with an annual operating budget of approximately $1.3 million. The shelter receives no county funding; income comes from donations, grants, adoption fees, medical fees, and fundraising.
The “Building Our Future” campaign and facility plan includes: a three-year campaign running from January 2024 through January 2029 with a fundraising goal of $7 million.
The original plan was reduced from $15–21 million by cutting out the proposed new medical clinic and other nonessential items.
Current plans include: 18 new kennels, new outdoor play yards, a community room that can be rented by other organizations, and a cat café/community cat area where visitors can interact with cats and potentially adopt them.
Renovations are intended to improve compliance with the New York State Companion Care Act requirements and expand capacity for cruelty cases and include larger kennels.
Specific cases were discussed to show why the expansion is needed.
A breeder case involving 19 dogs in Sinclairville, NY included discussion of the legal and emotional difficulty of cruelty investigations. The shelter had to return six dogs after caring for them for six months as a result of a court ruling, and staff are still exploring legal options to recover them.
Another example involved Oscar, a foster-fail dog with heartworm and Lyme disease, illustrating the high medical costs and long recovery periods involved in rescue work.
The presentation also emphasized the need for community support to include donations of leashes, collars, and no and gently used pet supplies which are always welcome. Items can be dropped off during open hours.
The shelter’s website allows donors to order needed items directly from Amazon.
PLEASE DON’T MISS:
WELLNESS & WHISKERS September 2 at 6pm at the CC Humane Society, Strunk Rd.
THE MEOWSQUERADE BALL ON October 26 at the Doubletree Hotel in Jamestown.
THE PET EXPO ’26, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 12-4 PM at Northwest Arena
In recognition of the presentation, Rotary announced a Polio Plus donation of four vaccines in the presenters’ names.
