The approval of the Central Pine Barrens Commission is a key and the final authority on whether the Kent Animal Shelter may rebuild its aging facility on the site where it has been located since it was established in 1968. The existing structures have reached a critical stage of deterioration to the extent that the shelter may have to cease to exist. 

The planned project boasts many important environmental benefits to the Peconic River, Pine Barrens Corridor, and groundwater from the removal of three antiquated buildings, the new sanitary and storm water drainage systems and the native plant re-vegetation efforts.

This is the only facility that the Kent Animal Shelter operates and has done so since 1968. Kent Animal Shelter is serving the needs of the surrounding communities and its location is key for its success. The increase in development and resulting human and animal population on the East End are the driving forces for the need to update and expand the facility. Moving the location of the Kent Animal Shelter is not an option because there are hardships and variances required for animal shelters everywhere on the East End, not to mention the amount of money the Shelter has invested in this property and the planned project. 

Please consider the following twelve key reasons why the Kent Animal Shelter needs your support now at this critical moment in its history:

1. The shelter has been a vital organization for the care and sheltering of homeless animals on the North Fork of Long Island since 1968;

2. The shelter provides a tremendous public service to the residents of the surrounding communities and all of Long Island by offering assistance to individuals and families in crisis situations that are no longer able to provide for their pets;

3. The shelter provides low cost spay/neuter services to over 4000 pet owners annually helping to control overpopulation of homeless animals;

4. The shelter provides a vital community service by reducing the number of feral cat populations through foundation funded spay/neuter projects;

5. The shelter places over 780 animals annually in responsible homes;

6. The shelter provides assistance to municipal shelters by helping to relieve overcrowded conditions in their facilities;

7. The shelter provides Humane Education to schools, local councils of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America and Little Flower Children’s Services;

8. The shelter provides internships for Eastern Suffolk BOCES and Family Residences & Essential Enterprises,

9. The shelter participates in work programs for the Suffolk County Dept. of Corrections,

10. The shelter provides a workplace for court mandated community service for Towns of Riverhead and Southampton;

11. The new shelter will greatly benefit the environment by providing a state of the art, upgraded facility reducing pollution, waste and noise;

12. The new facility will provide an aesthetically pleasing, calm and serene environment created on the banks of the Peconic River by removing the antiquated kennel and replacing it with a vegetative buffer of native plants with a park-like atmosphere.

THANK YOU!