Green Team - August Sanctuary Update - Our Companions Animal Rescue

Hi Everyone!

Summer is starting to wind down and it won’t be long until we start feeling a slight chill in the air, or at least less oppressive heat. For me, one of the greatest things about the end of summer is the drop in yard care responsibilities. The grass needs to be mowed a little less and the weeds stop growing like…well, weeds! At 47 acres, summer feels like a three-month panicked sprint to keep nature at bay. I couldn’t do it without the help of some great volunteers. Here’s a big thank you to Rick, Lisa, Jeff, Katie, Michelle, Adam, and Jason!!

Neo stopping to smell the flowers in the garden in front of the dog cottages

Greta finds zen among the plants at the remembrance wall

Ferguson is matching with the hydrangeas in his fruit rain jacket

Would you or someone you know be interested in joining the yard care team?? Or maybe you’re part of an organization who would like to come here once or twice a year (or more!) to help keep our grounds in shape for the meaningful work our staff and volunteers do everyday. We would be so appreciative of any help we can get for our yard care team. That not only includes lawn mowing and trimming, leaf removal, and trail maintenance, but also gardening and light shrub work as well. Just head to our volunteer opportunities webpage for more information. There’s still plenty to do through the end of October, and the work picks right back up again in April. Thank you so much for the support!

Katie, our favorite weeder, and former resident Arya, our favorite pug

Vinny’s View

It’s that time of year again! Time for our yearly fall supply drive! This year, we’re calling it the Chow Down Showdown! This event saves us thousands of dollars in supply costs every year and makes a huge difference in the way we can support and care for our resident furballs! Follow the link below, or visit our Amazon wish list, to get all the details and watch our social media for updates and fun challenges. And most of all, please spread the word far and wide to drive as much support as possible from all the animal lovers you know.

https://www.ourcompanions.org/chow-down-showdown-2026/

See you soon!

A panel event series starting next month, Our Companions is excited to introduce Paws for Thought! ⏸🐾❤

We welcome you to join us at the Valerie Friedman Program Center and have a compassionate, collaborative conversation about animal welfare in the community!

Our first event on Thursday, 9/10 at 7PM starts with “Behind the Scenes of Animal Welfare” alongside our wonderful panelists for the evening…

Dr. Ally Salzer, Canine Behavioral Blueprints

Elease McConnell, Manchester, CT Animal Control

Jody Macrina, Protectors of Animals

Seth Martin, CT Votes for Animals & Our Companions Animal Rescue

Sue Lawlor, Our Companions Animal Rescue & Protectors of Animals

We also have a Facebook event if anyone is interested in sharing/attending: https://www.facebook.com/share/18yqarM4Hh/.You can RSVP for FREE here: https://form.jotform.com/262294058179163.

We look forward to having an opportunity as a community to pause, reflect, discuss, educate, and advocate together for animals in need!

And of Course…Adoptions!!

August was typically slow with adoptions, but they were still special! In cats, Jack and Tetley went to their furever homes and super senior Roxi joined the gang. In small animals Papa, the rabbit, Valentine, the hamster, and Mousey, our little mouse star, all went home. We were able to welcome Kiki, the guinea pig, and fill back up on ferrets with two pairs, Boba & Mochi and Ladle & Whisk moving in.