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Suruluna’s staff, volunteers and dogs can now be found at their new home, The Dog Village, in upstate New York! Suruluna will continue their amazing dedication to dogs who have trouble locating forever homes by offering training, enrichment, rehabilitation, foster services and LOVE! We’re happy to have given them a grant for a new shed. Adorable Sinbad is happy, too! To learn more about Surulua, please visit: www.surulua.org
There are few things more rewarding that witnessing the adoption of a shelter animal. For some, however, lack of socialization, breed-type and behavioral challenges can dampen chances to find a forever home. The Tortorella Family Foundation is proud to sponsor “The Way Home” program with the SPCA of Westchester, a no-kill animal care campus in Briarcliff Manor, NY. The program focuses on working with large, and bully breed dogs, typically the toughest to find homes for. Joanne Langman, Behavior and Enrichment Director and Lisa Ricker, manager of the Way Home Program are constantly looking for ways to improve shelter animals’ odds of being adopted. According to the pair, kennel reactivity – becoming over excited when people are viewing a dog -was the biggest challenge to overcome Here are a few stories that demonstrate the wonderful success of the program.
Natasha, a five-year-old pit bull mix spent years at the SPCA, mainly because she did not show well to potential adopters. Natasha jumped and barked in her kennel whenever anyone approached. Joanne and Lisa decided to schedule a meet ‘n greet with potential adopters at a nearby park that Natasha loved. The change of venue worked well – Natasha was calm and affectionate and went home with her new family
Gloria’s kennel presentation was horrible. A large, brindled pit bull who was at the SPCA for 5 years, Gloria grabbed her leash in frustration and violently shook her toys when potential adopters first approached her kennel. Due to the actions of an SPCA volunteer who loved to take Gloria for rides in her car where she was calm and affectionate, Joanne and Lisa arranged for her new family to meet Gloria during one of these joy 
rides. Success was immediate. Outside of her kennel, in a “real life” setting, Gloria was a completely different dog.
An extremely shy dog who cowered in the back of her kennel was paired with another shy dog. The two bonded beautifully and after one was adopted, her new family came back for her bestie. Through The Way Home program, Joanne is always looking for new ways to help dogs reduce fear and frustration while they are sheltered, so that they might know the happiness of a forever home. Joanne’s goal is to see more dogs “go from cage to couch!’
The 3rd Annual Homeless to Home Animal Rescue & Cat Sanctuary Golf Outing, hosted by Anthony Rothman and Jamie McGann is almost here! August 24 is the date. The silent auction this year will be the COVID version of online raffles. Browse the items for great sports memorabilia for yourself or for gifts. Anthony and Jamie have worked hard to make these amazing raffle items available to support the animals. So please GO SHOPPING!!https://www.971thefan.com/homelesstohome/
Jamie McGann at Golf Outing for Homeless to Home
Thanks to the devotion and patience of Bella Run Equine of Ohio, Chevy enjoys a happy life. This rescued horse was close to death, but Bella Run felt strongly that they could help her. And so they did. To see the moving video that documents Chevy’s journey to health, click here. 
Last week on Hockey and Hounds, Anthony Rothman and Coach Tortorella shared the great news that people now have a right to rescue a minor child or animal they deem in danger in a locked car. Bill 215 will go into effect on August 29th. Many people are unaware of how quickly temperatures can rise inside a car to create a deadly situation. For specifics on this law please click here
The Tortorella Family Foundation received a heartbreaking request to rehome a sweet, special needs pittie who lives in Ohio. If anyone can help, we’d be very grateful as would his family. Bane is two-year-old paraplegic dog who is terrific with dogs and cats and adores his two little human sisters who call him “Bean”. Due to financial reasons, his family cannot keep him. It is obvious that they provide him with lots of love and excellent care. They would like Bane to go to a good home or rescue that can provide him with the therapy he needs to strengthen his muscles. He is UTD on all vaccines and has been neutered. Please share Bane’s story far and wide.
Happy Faces from Muskingum County Dog Warden and Adoption Center
On their weekly broadcast for Hockey & Hounds, Coach Torts of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anthony Rothman of The Fan 97.1 have been talking about Muskingum County Dog Warden and Adoption Center in Zanesville, OH.
The Muskingum County facility is usually filled to the brim with dogs that have been lost, abused, neglected or owner surrendered. It’s a challenge, but one that the shelter rises to with a little help from their friends like Multiple Breed Rescue of Grafton, Ohio who drove over three houses to bring them dog food, leashes, treats and other supplies. They walked some of the dogs and took them to a local pet store for a bath then pulled 4 dogs for Friendship Animal Protective League. Wood County Humane Society in Bolling Green also pulled four more dogs who had also been long time residents at the Adoption Center.
Muskingum County Dog Warden and Adoption Center is in need of a new building. To learn more about their plans please click here.
Meet three of the most handsome gentlemen from the Adoption Center who found forever love!
Buff’s smile says it all!
Buff is a bulldog mix who had been at the Center for seven months… before getting adopted by a lovely couple.
Kreed, a small bully breed was being overlooked at the shelter time and again until his foster decide to make his situation permanent!
It’s impossible to not see the joy Kreed feels with his new family.
For more info on the Center and their work, please call 740-453-0273.
Graced with the title of “Longest Resident” after Buff was adopted, Leonard was at the Adoption Center since August. He is now in his forever home and we’re thrilled.
Leonard is such a handsome catch!
Visit Where I’m From to get your Hockey & Hound Stickers and Hoodies.
Join the H & H team by purchasing this awesome product and help support pet adoptions, community volunteering and charitable efforts.
100% of proceeds will go directly to The Tortorella Family Foundation. Your donation will stay in the great state of Ohio helping those who directly impact the lives of animals and children.
97.1 The Fan sports radio in Columbus combines forces with Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella to showcase shelter animals in their weekly segment “Hockey & Hounds” on the “Carpenter & Rothman” show.
Fans and friends rallied around Coach Torts recently to show their support and admiration for him and the family’s love for animals:
Our family would like to thank everyone who made recent donations to the programs of our family foundation through Go Fund Me. This support means so much to us and it will help us, help those, who work tirelessly to try stop the suffering of animals. There is so much to do and those people and organizations, on the front lines of this compassionate passion, need the help of the community. And you’ve given it. We pledge to use 100% of every donation in the best way possible to help animals! It takes a team!! Thank you all! And special thanks to Amanda Meyers!
To learn more about what our family foundation has been doing with our rescue partners, please visit our website: www.tortorellafoundation.org, our facebook page: www.facebook.com/tortorellafoundation and view our year-end video for 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U453Qu2miE&feature=youtu.be
Again, thank you, we are deeply touched by the support and excited about how the fundswill help Bear’s Angels!
Warm regards,
John and Christine Tortorella
OUR MISSION
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