Orange County animal charities get grants for repairs, supplies, care

A new round of grants is paying for roof repairs at the Humane Society of Walden, enrichment work at Warwick Valley Humane Society and care improvements at Victory Hill Therapeutic Horsemanship, putting the money into the day-to-day costs that keep local animal services running in Orange County.

The Community Foundation of Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland said the Hudson Valley Animal Shelter Fund in Memory of Jean A. distributed $16,500 to five organizations. The fund is meant to support shelters and rescue groups that help with free pet food, essential supplies, shelter care and medical support, a practical safety net for pet owners facing financial hardship and for nonprofits stretched by overcrowding and rising costs.

The fund has been part of the region’s charitable landscape since 2016, when it was created through the generosity of Thomas and Jean Rowe to distribute grants in perpetuity to nonprofit animal shelters in the Hudson Valley. Grants have ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, and the 2024 cycle had $15,200 available with requests accepted from $1,000 to $5,000.

For the Humane Society of Walden, the money went toward a new roof and façade updates. The shelter describes itself as a no-kill, nonprofit safe haven for stray and abandoned cats and dogs, serving Montgomery, Walden, Maybrook, Crawford, Wawarsing, Shawangunk and Mamakating. Those repairs matter because a shelter cannot take in animals, store food or keep veterinary supplies secure if the building itself starts to fail.

Warwick Valley Humane Society received support for animal enrichment and training programs. Founded in 1954, the group has operated the Warwick Animal Shelter since 1968 and says it is the second oldest humane society in Orange County. Its role reaches beyond adoptions: the Town of Warwick says the organization provides animal control services, and the Town of Chester says its animal control officers are dispatched through police for emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Better training and enrichment can improve outcomes for animals in the shelter and in the field.

Victory Hill Therapeutic Horsemanship also received funding to improve outcomes for rescued horses. The group runs equine-assisted activities and therapies, including Cross Roads for fostered and adopted children and youth and Horses 4 Heroes for veterans, first responders and active military. The remaining grant went to Catskill Animal Rescue in Sullivan County for shelter care and its medical support program, extending the same pressure relief beyond Orange County.