Our Story
The Shelter Connection is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization working in partnership with Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter staff in Port Washington, NY.
In 1999, our forward thinking shelter had a dream. This was the year The Shelter Connection was realized, as a group of volunteers entered the shelter’s doors with like-minded goals: to improve the lives of shelter dogs while they await adoption. Our successes, to say the least, are beyond what we could even have imagined!
Volunteers are professionally trained as adoption advisers and dog handlers, and our fundraising efforts support many shelter improvement programs.
We believe that every dog is unique in their personality and needs. As such, our goal is to find each dog the home and family they deserve.
Learn More...
Your donations help our shelter dogs like
Lucy in many ways.
"We love Lucy!" She is a very
gentle girl that we believe
would get along well with kids
of all ages.
Making a Difference
Our shelter dogs are unclaimed strays or surrenders from the Town of North Hempstead. They come in all shapes, sizes, and ages.
Click here to view our currently adoptable dogs on Adopt-A-Pet and Petfinder.
Shelter hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
We are closed on Sunday.
The Shelter Connection has been able to improve the quality of life for our shelter dogs in so many ways. Some of our earliest contributions include subsidizing the shelter's food budget to improve the quality of dog food, purchasing beds for the kennels, and buying treats, toys and other training material.
Over time we have succeeded in even more ambitious projects that make the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter a progressive model for open admission shelters. Learn more about our programs.
Paws to Remember
In an effort to beautify our town animal shelter, to make it a warm and welcoming place to adopt a companion dog, The Town of North Hempstead dedicated a peaceful, outdoor seating area incorporating "Remembrance Bricks". These bricks can be engraved with a personal message honoring beloved pets or sharing simple, inspirational thoughts or messages for visitors.
The Shelter Connection is sponsoring "Pavers for Paws", a program enabling the public to purchase a brick to help fund this garden seating area, while giving an enduring way to pay tribute to a loved one.
Events
The Town's costume event for dogs and their owners was a Howling success. Look who represented our shelter at the TSC event's table...Current shelter resident and ambassador, Einstein (left), who was a perfect gentleman with one and all. Also supporting the team was former shelter resident, Jeter (right), who showed what a "Happy Tail" really is.
Spay/Neuter
for Feral Cats and Kittens!
Contact our Feral Cat Coordinator to learn more about The Town of North Hempstead's Trap, Spay/Neuter, Release program click here or call: 516-869-6311