The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation has been there for the Southampton Town community for more than 15 years, providing homes and care for thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals in need. Now, it is hoping the community can return that favor.
Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that in less than a month, the foundation will undergo much-needed repairs to its adoption center at Red Creek Park in Hampton Bays, which will require the temporary relocation of more than 150 animals, over a period expected to last anywhere from two to five months.
During that time, the Southampton Animal Shelter foundation is seeking families and individuals in the community willing to open their homes to foster pets. Volunteers at the shelter point out that fostering has many benefits — it helps the shelter pets decompress and become more adoptable, and gives hope to overlooked pets who never experienced the comfort of a home. It’s also a great way for families and teens to earn community service hours.
The shelter received grant funding through the Town of Southampton for two of the main components of the repairs, which are scheduled to begin on September 2. The grant funding will cover the cost of fixing the floors in the four large kennel rooms at the shelter, which haven’t been addressed in 16 years, and the cost of installing brand new kennels, which are also 16 years old.
The shelter will also receive an updated sewage system.
While those repairs are taking place, the staff and animals will need to completely vacate the building. A temporary shelter will be built in the parking lot, with a tent and kennels, as well as a temporary office building unit. Some of the animals will be housed in that temporary shelter, and a few will be taken in temporarily at Bide-a-Wee, another shelter several miles to the west.
But at last count, SASF Executive Director Chris Teakle said the shelter was home to 40 dogs, 86 cats and 21 rabbits, meaning securing foster homes outside of the temporary facility will be key.
The shelter will continue to operate during the repair project as well, meaning it will need to be prepared to take in any new animals that need a home.
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The Internal Revenue Service is rescinding some layoffs and seeking to persuade former workers to come back after being fired or pushed out. Those job cuts, including departures from the agency’s operations in Holtsville, had been among the most highly publicized parts of a broad federal effort earlier this year. Billy House reports in NEWSDAY that details of how many job reinstatements might specifically be aimed for the Holtsville office in Suffolk, if any, were not available yesterday from an agency press office in Washington. The IRS also has operations in Nassau County in Bethpage, and an Appeals and Chief Counsel Office in Westbury.
Kristen Thomas, 28, of Farmingville, said she was among hundreds of employees who lost their jobs at the Holtsville operation early this year. She said she is "disgusted" and "appalled" the IRS is now seeking to have some employees come back.
Thomas, who worked as a tax examiner and now works as a waitress, has not received any communication asking her to return.
"But who would do that?" she told NEWSDAY, given the disruption and heartache her job termination caused, at a time she was eight months pregnant.
The initial job termination letter received in February, while she was still a probationary employee, stated the action was being taken because her continued employment was "not in the public interest." Her deferred resignation occurred in early April.
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The Town of Southampton Youth Bureau is now accepting applications for its Youth Advisory Committee for the 2025–26 school year. Students in grades 7 through 12 who are interested in planning events, engaging in community service, and connecting...
