Visit Us At Eastview Mall!

The 2013 Ontario ARC Gift Wrap Booth is up and running at Eastview Mall in Victor, New York, and our wonderful volunteers will be happy to help you with your holiday gift wrapping needs! With two convenient locations in the Mall's center court right next to Santa and in front of Macy's, there is no need to stress over the little details this holiday season!

There are over ten different wrapping paper options to choose from and a variety of size and box options to accommodate any gift!  In addition, the booths are offering carousel cards for $7.50 with a portion of the proceeds going to Ontario ARC, as well as our very own Bad DogTM Shampoo for a special holiday price of $8.00/bottle!  The sales of Bad DogTM Shampoo will go to our Pet Connections program at Ontario ARC!

The Ontario ARC Gift Wrap Booth is an annual event that supports our programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Feel The Beat with autism movement therapy!

Get ready to move!  Ontario ARC is very proud to introduce another one of our great and innovative program!

Feel the Beat is our autism movement therapy program launching on July 23.  This new program promotes cognitive thinking, speech and language skills, academics and positive behavior.

Designed for individuals on the autism spectrum, Feel the Beat is expanded to include everyone regardless of diagnosis.  It gives people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to express themselves through movement and dance. 

Late summer sessions are now open for registration and will fill up fast!  Visit us online and learn how you can be a part of the area's only autism movement therapy program!  Looking to speak with someone about Feel the Beat?  Contact Diane Van Derwater, our clinical services manager, at 585-919-2148 or via email. 

If you want to get the latest on Ontario ARC and be the first to know about our new and innovative programs, sign up today to receive e-news from us.  We will never sell your information to a third party and you can unsubscribe at any time.  Promise!

Camp has kicked off!

Maddyn DeSain flashes a smile to her mother before boarding the bus to 4-H Camp Bristol Hills.

June has gone by fast and July is moving at even quicker pace.  But the campers at 4-H Camp Bristol Hills barely seem to notice!  Ontario ARC's program which collaborates with the Canandaigua camp has given more than 75 campers over the past three years the opportunity to attend a summer camp program.  For many of these children, it is the first time they can attend camp. 

Errina McCarthy and a fellow camper do "trust falls."

And boy, do they enjoy it!  Campers go swimming in the pool, catch fish in the camp's pond and participate in activities like geocaching, arts & crafts and archery.  Through the camp, they build new friendships and create memories that last a lifetime.  It's awesome to see so many children "unplugged" and enjoying the great outdoors in this techie world!

Not only does this collaboration scream "FUN," campers improve their social and physical skills in a relaxed environment -- without even realizing it. 

Trained Ontario ARC staff are always on-site -- including a special education teacher, recreation assistants and an occupational therapist specializing in autism.  In addition, 4-H Camp staff receive training on autism spectrum disorders.  4-H Camp Bristol Hills and their staff have been so warm and welcoming, the transition for the children from Ontario ARC is seamless.  Much thanks to Tim Davis, the camp's program leader, for everything he has done to make this partnership a success!

Looking for more information about Ontario ARC & 4-H Camp Bristol Hills?  Contact Diane Van Derwater, our clinical services manager, at 585-919-2148 or via email.  She'll give you the scoop. 

Get ready to run at the Cubby Chase!

Get your running shoes ready...the Cubby Chase is coming back to Geneva!  Join us and our friends at Finger Lakes Health for this popular 5K, 10K and one mile fun run on July 27. 

The Cubby Chase is the only certified 10K between Rochester and Syracuse.  Both the 5K and 10K courses go through historic Geneva, the beautiful campus of Hobart & William Smith and offer spectacular views of Seneca Lake.  Timing is done by YellowJacket Racing.

Race day check in and registration begins at 7 a.m. at Finger Lakes Health's Child Care Center.  The one mile fun run for kids begins at 8:15 a.m., followed by the 10K at 8:45 a.m.  The 5K, which is a walk or run event, begins at 9 a.m.  Register to run today!

Proceeds benefit Ontario ARC and Finger Lakes Health's Child Care Center.  Learn more about the Cubby Chase!

After-School Program Is All Work And Play

When it comes to after-school programs, young students with autism are usually left in the dust.  Your typical program doesn't have the resources or the "know how" for children who need extra support.  We serve a bevy of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum...so when their parents ask for a program, we listen.

This past fall, we began offering an After-School Program through The Autism Center.  Among its many, original offerings:

• Staff specifically trained in working with children who have an autism diagnosis
• Homework assistance provided by a NYS-certified special education teacher
• Opportunities for outdoor, recreational fun
• Access to iPads, computers and SMART Board
• Support from Ontario ARC's clinical team
• Activities centered around building social and communication skills

Of course, one of its most popular and unique offerings is the Tales to Tails component.  Every Wednesday, Albert, our registered therapy dog, visits the After-School Program and listens closely to each child as they practice reading out loud.  While the children enjoy Albert's presence, they are also building fluency, comprehension and their self-esteem.  Albert is one of the biggest motivators for improving literacy and social skills.

And even as the school year winds down, it isn't too early to be thinking about fall 2014.  Summer will be here and gone before you know it.

Learn how you can sign your child up for The Autism Center's After-School Program!  Contact Diane VanDerwater at 585-919-2148 or JoEllen Meath at 585-919-2118.

Restoration and Reinvestment Act of 2013 introduced to NYS Legislature

We wanted to share with you a news release from our parent organization NYSARC, Inc. regarding the Restoration and Reinvestment Act of 2013...

UJA-Federation of New York, Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, NYSARC, Interagency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Alliance of Long Island Agencies & Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York 

NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release 

PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESTORATION AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2013 INTRODUCED IN NYS LEGISLATURE 

 Albany, NY -- Advocates are joining members of the New York State Legislature today at a 2:00 pm news conference in the Capitol to express support for the "People with Developmental Disabilities Restoration and Reinvestment Act of 2013." People with disabilities and others view the legislation as critical to protecting the quality of supports and services for people with developmental disabilities in the wake of the 4.5% budget cut. The bill, Assembly 6692 and Senate 4777, is sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg and Senator Martin Golden. The Act requires the Legislature to appropriate up to $90 million to fully restore the state funding cut to services for people with developmental disabilities. 

The bill recognizes the important measures that were taken in the “savings plan,” as required by budget language, to minimize the impact of the cut. The savings plan is seen as a very positive step towards restoring the $90 million budget cut. However, it is unclear to what extent that will be accomplished so the Restoration and Reinvestment Act requires an assessment of the savings plan impact. To the extent that the savings plan does not fully restore the cut, the Legislature would fund the shortfall through a contingency appropriation. 

The bill also requires reinvestment of savings, provided by greater efficiencies, into services for people with development disabilities. After years of cuts totaling approximately $350 million, advocates believe that current funding levels must be protected. This is especially true because of significant unmet needs, the cost of converting services to managed care and implementing a “transformational agenda” which includes smaller more person centered services, greater community integration and greater employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. 

Advocates and leaders said the following about The Act: 

“There can be little doubt that State funding reductions to meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities will significantly affect quality of care to this vulnerable population. We thank members of the Legislature for recognizing this funding shortfall and making every effort to restore needed financial support.” - Ronald Soloway, Managing Director of Government and External Relations, UJA-Federation of NY. 

“We are grateful for the support of the New York State Legislature,” said Susan Constantino, President & CEO of Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State. “Assemblyman Weisenberg, Senator Golden and many others have heard from families across the state and they agree that the cuts must stop. We are eager to work with government officials at every level to ensure that the non-profits will continue to have the resources necessary to provide critical supports and services to people with disabilities in their communities.”

 “We cannot afford to see services for people with developmental disabilities eroded any further,” said Marc Brandt, the Executive Director of NYSARC, the nation’s largest parent governed, non-profit serving people with developmental disabilities. “Maintaining quality is consistent with the goals of the people and families we serve. It is also a top priority of the federal government as represented to NYSARC by top CMS officials in Washington.”

“We are particularly pleased that the bill would restore the savings achieved through efficiencies. The reinvestment of these funds will ensure additional supports for people who have been waiting for services and families with unmet needs.” - Peter Pierri, Executive Director, InterAgency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc. 

"It is important to assure that programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities are protected from budget cuts and that any savings from closures or greater efficiencies are reinvested in the developmental disabilities system,” said Seth Stein, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Alliance of Long Island Agencies. 

“In western New York we have over a thousand individuals waiting for residential placement and the list is growing daily. This legislation is of paramount importance to families of individuals with developmental disabilities as well as the 22,000 people that the 44 agencies of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York employ in total,” said Rhonda Frederick, President of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York and Chief Operating Officer of People Inc.

Wellness Fair 2013

The annual Wellness Fair is a labor of love for our dedicated Wellness Committee.  They spend months planning every detail -- reaching out to local vendors and organizations, inviting fitness instructors, putting together door prizes and making sure the day runs just right.  And, it is well worth the effort.  Hundreds of agency staff and people from our programs turn out, have a blast and learn something new!  Here are some shots from this year's fair. 

Partnering around pets

The two people on the far right in the picture are Paul and Ashley.  They are students at Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES' animal science department.  Each week they mentor people from Pet Connections to help the program's participants expand their grooming  skills while reinforcing their own knowledge of the subject.

When you walk into the classroom you can feel the energy and spirit of collaboration. The students are eager to pair up with their Pet Connections partners.  And even the students who aren't directly mentoring, can't wait to see the Ontario ARC van arrive on Wednesdays.

Paul, Ashley and Alexis (left) are just some of the amazing students I met that day.  They reinforce their education by imparting that knowledge on the program's participants -- many of who wish to find employment related to animal care.  And now towards the end of the year, the participants seem to have the animal care routine down to a "t."

Much thanks to the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES animal science students and their instructor Sandy Hawkins!

Girl Power!

Errina, from the wellness group, does yoga.

Ontario ARC is deeply rooted in wellness.  We offer a comprehensive health and wellness program for the people we support as well as our staff.  In addition, we have a Wellness Committee that puts on lots of great events, including our upcoming Wellness Fair this Friday.  And, we've taken a new approach to help pre-teen girls stay healthy, too.

Once a week, we are offering a wellness group for these young women focusing on topics such as nutrition, body image, personality, and assertiveness.  Led by one of our behavioral specialists, Jennifer Danker-Stiles, each 24-week session also include yoga to help enhance breathing and relaxation techniques.  Jennifer also guides the girls through an imagery piece, where the girls listen to quiet music and focus on their feelings and thoughts.

Learn more about this new offering from our agency in this issue of ARC Life!

Come Cruisin' With Us!

Save the Date!

It is finally nice to see the sun in the Finger Lakes!  Around the same time each year, I find myself amazed around 7 or 8 p.m. that the sun is still out.  Spring is here and that means that summer isn't too far behind.  And with that, comes Cruisin' for a Cause.

On Saturday, August 17, Ontario ARC will celebrate the end of summer with its 21st annual Cruisin' for a Cause on the lakefront under the tent at Steamboat Landing in beautiful Canandaigua.  This year's event will feature entertainment by The Skycoasters and live auction emceed by "The Mayor" Pete Kennedy.  We will also have a silent auction featuring unique items, complimentary wines, summer barbeque, and cruises will be available aboard the Canandaigua Lady.  

Proceeds from Cruisin' go towards our programs and services for people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.  Each year more than 800 attendees turn out for this exciting summer happening and support our agency and "get on board" with our vision -- for individuals to become fully included members of their communities. 

Join us!  If you haven't been to Cruisin' for a Cause, check out some pictures from last year's event our Facebook page.  Then, buy your tickets today!

Creating community inclusion through the arts

Art, music and horticulture are deeply rooted in what we do at Ontario ARC, thanks to our Creative

Creative Expressions artists work on a sail
for the festival's Sail Trail.

Expressions team.  They provide the tools and guidance that have helped hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities independently express their thoughts, feelings and emotions.  And each spring, our artists and musicians have a place to share and exhibit their creative talents with the community.

The ARTS Experience is a two-week long festival celebrating community inclusion and the arts at Hobart & William Smith Colleges.  ARC Chapters from around the area -- including Ontario ARC -- partner with HWS students and professors as well as the community to share how the arts can impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The event includes workshops, performances, classes and concludes with The ARTS Experience Gala.  Our own art specialist, Christin Lersch, even led one of workshops, Rain Barrel Painting which involved the creation of sustainable rain barrels that were painted.  It is truly a unique event for our area!

Here the final product of the above sail from the Sail Trail.  See what else we created during the festival on our Facebook page.

5 Ontario ARC staff receive Total Life Care Certificate

Congratulations to Emily Steinruck, Andrea Hill, Eileen Bancroft, Grace Baker, Janet Fellows and Wendy Christensen!  These five skills instructors from Ontario ARC's residential services recently completed  Total Life Care -- 28 hours of training designed to help improve the care of medically frail individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Total Life Care gives Ontario ARC's direct support professionals the tools to successfully support individuals throughout their lifespan by providing for their changing needs and supporting maxium quality of life. It designed to teach staff how to support individuals who are medically frail and individuals who are aging.  It provides detailed instruction on how to deliver end of life care. This year, we were pleased to welcome House of John Director Carol Jensen, R.N. and Care Coordinator Danese Grigg. They offered insight and shared their experiences in end of life care, bringing a rich and meaningful addition to the class.

The Total Life Care course was written by Ontario ARC nurses Yvonne Truchon, Jody Thomas and former Ontario ARC nurse Laura Bowman along with Shelley VanLare R.N. from the ARC of Monroe.

The course is taught by four Ontario ARC nurses including: Justine Zanghi R.N., Yvonne Truchon R.N., Elaine Hanagan R.N. and Jody Thomas R.N.

Congratulations for a job well done!!

Third Age Providers Committee extends its early bird fees for 9/10 symposium

**UPDATE on 4/30** The Third Age Providers Conference has been cancelled.

Caring for older individuals with disabilities can be challenging. And as we face our first generation of senior citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it is important that we equip our "front line" -- direct support professionals, medical personnel, and families -- with the most up-to-date information and ease the transition in to the "third age."

That's why for the past 22 years, we have hosted the NYS Third Age Providers Conference.  This year's theme is Empowering Caregivers: Sharing Approaches for Facing Dementia. 

Save The Date & Join Us On May 9 & 10!

 22nd Annual NYS Third Age Providers Conference

Empowering Caregivers: Sharing Approaches for Facing Dementia 

May 9 & 10, 2013 in beautiful Saratoga Springs, NY

$120 per attendee (includes meals)

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kathleen Bishop

 Alzheimer's Association's Virtual Dementia Tour™

Plenary & Breakout Speakers

More than a dozen vendors

Door & Raffle Prizes

Visit the conference online and register today!

We hope that you'll share this information with your friends and colleagues!  Pass it on!

Dressin' up in BLUE!

In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day.  And each year, this day -- dedicated to raising awareness of autism spectrum disorders -- continues to grow in participation and strength. 

Today at Ontario ARC, it looks like a sea of blue as staff were encouraged to dress in the color to show support for World Autism Awareness Day.  Above is just a sampling of people from different departments -- Service Coordination, Clinical Services, Staff Development and Community Services -- who came together to show their support.

Not wearing blue?  That's OK.  You can still be a part of this celebration.

• Learn more about autism:  Visit The Autism Center online and get a glimpse at the services and supports we provide everyday to people on the spectrum.  We also have a wonderful Resource Library housed within -- you can check out what books are available on Pinterest.
• Volunteer at The Autism Center:  We are always looking for dedicated people from the community who want to share their talents and time with us.  Learn more about volunteering and start your application.
• Make a donation:  For more than 50 years, we've provided services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities -- including autism.  We owe much to our generous donors who make the availability of these high quality programs possible.  Any contribution to Ontario ARC is always very much appreciated.

Partnering with Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES

Dissecting Gummy Bears

One of the great things about our Pet Connections program is the unlimited opportunity for community partnerships and collaborations.  Recently, we have teamed up with Animal Sciences students at the Flint campus of Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES to enhance our knowledge of pets.

Once a week, four of the program's participants attend the Animal Science program which runs from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.  During this time, there they are provided with the opportunity to work with students to learn various animal care techniques. The students serve as mentors and assist participants as the learn different, animal-related tasks such as grooming and general care. Through this partnership our Pet Connections participants are improving their knowledge, skills, and confidence.

Grooming

Pet Connections Visits the Seneca Park Zoo

This past December, participants from the Pet Connection program visited the Seneca Park Zoo. Despite the cold and snowy weather, participants were able to see each enclosure at the zoo. We were also provided with a tour of the zoo and an explanation on how clickers are used with training the animals. 

Clicker training is the use of a small mechanism that makes a clicking sound to reinforce a behavior. For example, the meerkats have been trained to go through a small door when they hear the clicker so their food can be placed safely in their enclosure. We also learned that larger animals, such as rhinoceroses, have names used by the public and names used in private for training purposes.

We also visited the Eco Center, where participants were able to learn some facts about snakes and got to touch the skins of various snakes. Did you know that snakes have vertebrae that extend from skull to the tip of their tail? Animals like the lions were also a “big” hit. We were able to get up close and personal with them as they sat on the heated rocks near the windows. Afterwards, we stopped by the animal hospital to see some of the equipment available for sick animals and visit the snow leopards.

We are all very excited to visit the zoo again soon and continue learning about different animals.

We haven't done it alone

Fore more than 50 years, our agency has provided high quality services to people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  We've supported hundreds upon hundreds of individuals in reaching their full potential and live as independently as possible.

But, we haven't done it alone.  

The generous donations we receive each year for events like Open Our Bottle Night have make these services possible for people with intellectual and developmental, both today and tomorrow.  Its thanks to the businesses with a heart and the people in our community who believe in our mission and vision.  You make much of this possible.

As we get closer to Open Our Bottle Night -- read all about it here -- we hope that you'll continue to support Ontario ARC and the programs and services we provide to nearly 900 people in our community.  Here are the sponsorship levels for this event, held at the New York Wine & Culinary Center on March 23:

• Sovereign Sponsors, $5,000 & up -- Sovereign Sponsors receive visual and vocal recognition at the event and their company logo featured on event signage.  In addition, sponsors get a full-page advertisement in the program, mention in all media materials and 10 tickets to the event.
• Imperial Sponsors, $2,500 & up -- Imperial Sponsors receive visual and vocal recognition at the event and a half-page advertisement in the program.  In addition, this sponsorship level receives six tickets to the event.
• Jeroboam Sponsors, $1,000 & up -- Jeroboam Sponsors receive visual and vocal recognition at the event and a quarter-page advertisement in the program.  In addition, sponsors receive four tickets to the event.
• Magnum Sponsors, $500 & up -- Magnum Sponsors receive visual recognition on event signage and two tickets to the event.

Want to discuss it a bit further?  Contact Donna Auria at 585-919-2191 or via e-mail.  She can help you with our sponsorships or connect you to other ways you can be a part of Ontario ARC.

A congratulations and an introduction...

Jody Thomas

Earlier this week, I was able to send out some great news to local news, television and radio stations.  Jody Thomas, our aging services and wellness manager, has become the 2013 chairperson of the New York State Third Age Committee -- a panel of experts who focus on issues facing senior citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Read the official news release to get the whole scoop. This is -- without a doubt -- a huge honor and everyone is very proud of her.  Congrats are certainly in order!

Jody has been with our agency for 18 years, and for the past seven years has devoted her attention to Ontario ARC's growing aging population.  Jody focuses on improving the all-around health and wellness of our senior population and develops programs and curriculum, among many other things. 

She'll be adding one more thing to her resume in the coming weeks -- blogger.  Jody will be writing blog posts here at Ontario ARC Speaks! about all of the really wonderful things we have going on that she's involved in; such as Food, Fun and Fitness, Sit-A-Spell, and all things aging-related.

As always, stay tuned and get the latest and greatest from Ontario ARC.

Make a gold record with ARC!

Ontario ARC has joined Songs for NYSARC -- a joint effort by NYSARC, Inc. (our parent organization) and the great people at Musicians for a Cause.  Together, they have created some wonderful songs about people with disabilities.  These songs raise awareness and understanding of the people we support.

All four songs are now available to download for donation.  Each donation will help us reach our fundraising goal of $2,500.  Songs purchased from Ontario ARC's page benefit our agency and the more than 30 programs and services we offer people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Visit our page to listen to the songs available.  The first song released is "I Am" by Liz Longley.  Check out her video created with pictures from ARC Chapters across the state.

Meet Big

Pet Connections has a new friend!
 
Meet Big -- a German Shepherd-mix dog who is about 6 to 8 years old.  He was found wandering around and was brought to Happy Tails about a month ago.  Big will be spending some time at the agency with participants from the Pathways program so he can fine tune his skills and increase his "adoptability".

 Big is a well-mannered, gentle soul and extremely intelligent.  He knows several commands including: sit, stay, down, and wait.  The kennel staff at Happy Tails call him, “the best dog!”  Big is good with other large dogs, smaller dogs, as well as more aggressive dogs.  He has only spent a few hours here at Ontario ARC but has won the hearts everyone he's met!!  


Want to learn more about Big?  Right now, this lovable canine is the shelter's dog of the week.You can also call our friends at Happy Tails at 585.396.4590 to get some more details about him.

Keep tabs on us!

Ontario ARC is certainly an exciting place to work at.  There is always so much going on -- fundraisers, workshops and presentations featuring nationally-renowned experts, and great stories about the people we support and what they are doing to make a difference in their communities.  We try to post it all here on our blog, but sometimes, its hard to keep up! We have many different ways that we use to keep in touch with our friends, such as Facebook, Twitter, and our award-winning newsletter, ARC Life.  The agency also send out e-news periodically (if you haven't already, sign up and get the latest and greatest from us).  And, if you love to "pin," find us on Pinterest and see what we are doing. 

To get you started, please enjoy our latest issue of ARC Life!

"The Seven Senses" on March 16

Join the Autism Center at Ontario ARC for The Seven Senses -- a special presentation by Carrie Roberts, OT from the Arc of Yates.   This event will provide you with information on how the senses can affect (and are affected by) an Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Get tools and tips to help families, service providers and educators avoid sensory-related problems and improve the quality of life for individuals on the spectrum.

Download the registration form and get signed up today!  For more information, call our Training Department at 585-394-7500, ext. 2300.

Open Our Bottle Night returns on March 23

We are excited to announce that Open Our Bottle Night will return to the New York Wine and Culinary Center on March 23!  Join us and the event's Honorary Chairs Jerry Archibald, Lauren Dixon and Tom Fountain for a festive evening of internationals foods and wines along with interactive cooking demonstrations.  This fundraising event will also feature the jazz sounds of John Nugent and friends.

Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online at ontarioarc.org/oobn.  Proceeds benefit Ontario ARC and the high quality services it provides to nearly 900 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in our community.

For more information about Open Our Bottle Night or to learn how you can support it, contact Donna Auria via e-mail or at 585-919-2191.

P.S. -- Inn on the Lake is offering a special "Stay & Play" rate to Open Our Bottle Night attendees.  Call 585-394-7800 to make your reservation before March 9.

Pet Connections Socializes Cats from Happy Tails

One of our new feline friends!

Beginning in the middle of December, Pet Connections has had the opportunity to conduct weekly visitations with the cats up for adoption at Happy Tails.  To prepare for these visits participants watched videos to learn cat behaviors and body language.  They also learned how to appropriately keep a cat calm while handling.    

Socializing the cats at Happy Tails is beneficial for both parties as petting a cat is relaxing, decreases blood pressure, relieves depression, and decreases anxiety for our participants while the cats stress is minimized, their quality of life is maximized, and the likelihood for adoption of the cats greatly increases. 

Plaques stating that the cat has been socialized by Ontario ARC participants will be made to hang on each cats’ crate who participates in the socialization. 

This great partnership with Happy Tails will continue weekly every Wednesday afternoon from 1:00-1:30! Based on a similar program for dogs, Pet Connections has experienced 100% success rate with adoptions of the dogs from Happy Tails and is off to a great start with the cats as well!  We hope to keep the momentum going!