William Mattar Rescue a Shelter Animal Campaign
Since 2013, William Mattar has supported shelter animals and rescue groups. Our pet photo contest was developed to bring the community together over our love of giving back, helping others, and sharing the special bond we have with our pets. Each year, we ask the public to submit their pet photos and then cast votes on their favorite photos to celebrate our furry friends and support local animal shelters and rescue groups.
This Year’s Pet Photo Contest Winner

Pictured above: William Mattar (on left), Phil Galuppi and his dog Demi (on right)
We are pleased to announce that Demi, a two-and-a-half-year-old Mountain Cur mix, is the grand prize winner of the William Mattar Rescue a Shelter Animal Pet Photo Contest. The winning photo was submitted by Demi’s owner Phil Galuppi of Liverpool, New York.
The voting and submission period has ended. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Pet Photo Contest.
Official contest terms and conditions.
RESCUE A SHELTER ANIMAL
Pets are beloved family members who bring years of happiness and joy to their families. They provide us with companionship and emotional support, which may reduce stress levels and feelings of loneliness. Pets stand by our sides during times of need, often posing the question, who rescued who?
As the cold weather moves in, William Mattar Rescue a Shelter Animal campaign highlights the importance of rescuing an animal in need from local shelters and rescues. All animals deserve a safe, warm, and loving home. Despite the hard work of shelters and rescues everywhere, it is estimated that millions of dogs and cats enter America’s shelters each year. Please consider rescuing or fostering an animal, donating, or volunteering at a local shelter or rescue. Every little bit helps.
HELPING SHELTERS IS MORE THAN JUST RESCUE
Animal shelters and rescue groups are humane places overflowing with happy and healthy animals waiting for a home. Many animals that end up in shelters are usually there through no fault of their own typically because of a human problem, such as divorce or a move. Many animals living in shelters are already house-trained and use to living with families, children, and even other animals.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, each year, “more than one million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States, simply because too many pets come into shelters and too few people consider adoption when looking for a pet.” Most animal shelters do their best to take in unwanted pets and rehome them, but the costs associated with medical care, food, and shelter add up, making the task monumental for everyone involved.
Rescuing a shelter animal not only gives an animal a second chance in a happy home. You may also save it from being euthanized in an overcrowded shelter. Most rescue groups do not have brick and mortar facilities and depend strictly on foster homes for shelter and care. This can make it difficult to place animals in forever homes.
By taking home a new pet, you also make room at the shelter for another animal with nowhere else to go. This is especially important for senior pets, as they typically get a bad reputation because of the stigma associated with their age and potential growing medical needs. Senior pets may have an extended stay at shelters, but it does not necessarily mean they are not loving and loyal companions.
At William Mattar Law Offices, we encourage the public to not only consider rescuing a shelter animal but to donate to shelters to help offset the tremendous costs associated with helping these animals find forever homes. Financial donations can give shelters the support they need to provide food, shelter, and medical care to homeless animals. Shelters and rescues are also in need of volunteer support.
MORE THAN JUST DOGS AND CATS
The humane work conducted by animal shelters and rescue groups extends well beyond traditional dog and cat pet options. More and more shelters and rescues have opened their doors to other animals, including guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, and even horses and livestock. If you are interested in opening up your home to a rescue animal but are looking for something a little bit different, a great resource to start with is The Pet Shelter Project.
THE BENEFITS OF RESCUING A SHELTER ANIMAL ARE ENDLESS
If you or your family is looking to bring another little smile into your lives or maybe find your next best friend, then we encourage you to visit your local animal shelter or rescue.
When you adopt a pet, the cost of a spay/neuter, first vaccinations, and even microchipping may be included in the adoption fee. This may help save you some upfront costs when adding a new furry friend to your home. The animal you select may also be housebroken, which will allow you to save on training expenses.
If you buy a dog from a pet store, online seller, or flea market, you may be getting a dog from a puppy mill. Puppy and kitten mills are factory-style breeding facilities that put profit above the welfare of dogs and cats. Animals raised in puppy and/or kitten mills are housed in poor conditions with improper medical care, which may cause numerous medical or behavioral issues as a result. Mills confine the moms of these animals to cages to be bred over and over, without human companionship and with little hope of ever joining a family.
Puppy and kitten mills will continue to operate until they lose support. By rescuing a pet from an animal shelter, you will have peace of mind knowing that puppy and kitten mills will not be profiting.
ASPCA Facts: https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
- Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year
- Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year
- Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet through word of mouth
- Approximately 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society
- About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners
SHELTER ANIMAL RESOURCES
William Mattar Law Offices offers many helpful resources to help you find a shelter close to you. When you are ready to open your heart to a furry friend and give an animal a forever home, we sincerely encourage you to visit a local shelter or rescue group. We have links to over 100 shelters and rescue groups in the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton, Elmira, and Utica areas. If you know of a rescue group or shelter that you do not see listed below, please email [email protected] with the organization’s name and website link, and we will be glad to update our list.
In addition to rescue efforts, the shelters listed below welcome donations, supplies, and/or volunteers. Please visit their respective websites for more information.
SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS:
Buffalo & Western New York Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
- 716 Paws
- A Purr-Fect Fit Animal Rescue and Adoption Center
- ABC Basset Rescue
- Akron Canine Rescued Angels
- Awesome Paws Rescue
- Bernard’s Beagle Rescue
- Black Dog, Second Chance
- Bright Star German Shepherd Rescue
- Buddy’s Second Chance Rescue
- Buffalo City Animal Shelter
- Buffalo C.A.R.E.S. Animal Rescue
- Buffalo Greyhound Adoption
- Buffalo Paws and Claws Animal Shelter
- Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue
- Buffalo Underdogs
- Cattaraugus County SPCA, Olean
- Diamonds in the Ruff
- Educate A Bull
- Erie County SPCA, West Seneca
- Empire Animal Rescue Society
- Feral Cat Focus of WNY
- Furever Friends of WNY
- Hamburg Mutts for Freedom
- Heart Animal Rescue, Hamburg
- Heart of Niagara Animal Rescue & Adoption Team
- Home Sweet Home Animal Rescue
- Hope for Cats, Inc.
- Joyful Rescues
- Lakeshore Humane Society
- M.A.D (Make a Difference) Rescue of WNY
- Magic’s Mission Beagle and Hound Rescue
- Niagara County SPCA, Niagara Falls
- Nickel City Canine Rescue
- Open Arms Rescue of WNY
- Pet Connection Programs (Maternity Shelter)
- Pets Alive Western New York (formerly Buffalo Humane)
- Piece of Heaven Kitten Rescue
- Pixie Mamas Rescue
- Precious Paws Rescue, North Tonawanda
- Queen City Pitties
- Sadie’s Safe Harbor Canine Rescue
- Save a Pet
- Second Chance Sheltering Network
- Tabby Town Cat Adoption Center
- Ten Lives Club
- White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary
- Wyoming County SPCA, Attica
Rochester Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
- Allegany County SPCA, Wellsville
- Animal Service League
- BlueMoon Meadows
- Brindle Posse Rescue
- Bugsy’s Animal Adoption Center (38 Area Shelters)
- Genesee County Animal Shelter
- Greece Residents Assisting Stray Pets
- Greyhound Adoption of Greater Rochester, NY
- Habitat for Cats, Rochester
- Hamlin Dog Shelter
- Hornell Area Humane Society
- Humane Society of Wayne County, Lyons
- Humane Society of Yates County, Penn Yan
- Keller’s Kats Rescue
- Lab Lovers Rescue
- Logan’s Rescue
- Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester, Fairport
- M.A.D (Make a Difference) Rescue of WNY
- New Start Kitty Shelter
- New2U Rescues
- One Love Pet Adoptions
- Ontario County Humane Society
- Orleans County Animal Shelter
- Pet Pride of New York, Inc.
- Pitty Love Rescue
- Rescue Pit
- Rescued Treasures Pet Adoptions
- ROC the Dogs Rescue, Inc.
- Rochester Animal Services
- Suzie Q Dog ResQ
- The Mia Foundation
- Verona Street Animal Society
- Woof2Hoof Rescue
Syracuse Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
- All Creatures Big and Small
- Broome County Humane Society
- Cayuga Dog Rescue
- CNY SPCA, Syracuse
- Cortland Community SPCA
- Every Dog’s Dream Rescue
- Fetch a Friend Rescue
- Finger Lakes SPCA of Central NY, Auburn
- Finger Lakes SPCA, Bath
- GRROWLS-NY Inc.
- Helping Hounds Dog Rescue
- HumaneCNY
- Humane Society of Rome, New York
- Humane Society of Schuyler County, Watkins Glen
- Northeast Boston Terrier Rescue
- Oswego County Humane Society
- Paws Across Oswego County
- Paws for the Cause Rescue
- Pibbles & More Animal Rescue (Binghamton)
- Rescue Me! Dachshund Rescue
- Second Chance Canine Adoption Shelter
- Seneca Humane Society, Seneca Falls
- SPCA of Tompkins County
- Tanners Paws
- The Haven at Skanda
- Trooper Husky Rescue
- Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association
- United Friends of Homeless Animals, Richland, NY
Albany Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
- Albany Humane Society
- Animal Lovers
- Animal Protective Services
- Capital District Humane Association
- Free to Be Me Rescue
- Homeward Bound Dog Rescue
- Mohawk Hudson Humane Society
- Unconditional Love Pet Rescue
- Whiskers Animal Benevolent League
Binghamton Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
- Animal Care Council
- Binghamton Animal Clinic
- Broome County Dog Shelter
- Broome County Humane Society
- Harper’s Haven Dog Rescue
- Every Dog’s Dream Rescue
- Project Paw
- Stray Haven Humane Society and SPCA
Elmira Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
- Chemung County SPCA
- Elmira Animal Shelter
- Finger Lakes SPCA, Bath
- Horseheads Community Animal Shelter
- Paradise Garden Animal Shelter
- Pawz and Purrz Animal Rescue, Inc.
- Tanner’s Paws
Utica Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
- Herkimer County Humane Society
- HumaneCNY
- Humane Society of Rome, New York
- Stevens-Swan Humane Society
- Wanderer’s Rest Humane Association
National Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups
Resources for Pet Owners
- Animal Advocates of WNY
- Animal Alliance of Greater Syracuse
- CNY Pet Food Pantry
- Emergency Animal Rescue
- Hope Before Heaven may provide aid for emergency vet care bills in certain situations
- Operation Pets spay/neuter clinic in Blasdell
- Pet Emergency Fund
- Pet Heaven Funeral Home
- Sherlock Bones Lost & Hound Dog Recovery
- White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary can also temporarily board an animal after an emergency (like a fire). All are encouraged to visit the animals for cuddle time and some furry company.
- Wild Kritters of Niagara County wildlife rescue & rehabilitation