Artist donates $1,000 to shelter small critters

WARWICK — Ron Genovese, a resident of Warwick Grove, recently walked into the Warwick Valley Humane Society's animal shelter and presented Suzyn Barron, president of the society, with a $1000 donation for the shelter.

Last month Genovese, a former musician who turned artist only six months ago, had a showing of his impressionistic Tuscany paintings with all of the proceeds from the sale earmarked for the Humane Society. And he wants this to be an ongoing form of volunteering to help the shelter's homeless pets.

"Ron has a special place in his heart for cats and it's hard for him to see them always caged at the shelter," said Barron. "All he needs is a venue for his artwork to be seen and hopefully sold to add to his volunteer effort on our behalf."

The $1000 donation will be put towards the purchase of new open colony style cages, which cost $5000, for the shelter's front lobby cats.

In addition to these cages, the shelter is making other improvements including a new and so far un-named "mini barn" for small creatures who are no longer wanted or have been abandoned such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and so forth.

"Maybe we could hold a naming contest for the new barn," said Barron.

The Warwick Valley Humane Society has been managing the Warwick animal shelter for 44 years. It provides the contractual services of animal control to the towns of Warwick and Chester. Animal control officers handle animal complaints and respond to animal related emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To offer a donation call the Warwick Valley Humane Society at 986-2473.