Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons

In collaboration with the town of East Hampton, the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) has played a pivotal role in transforming East Hampton into a "no-kill" community. ARF is dedicated to the well-being of cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens, providing them with compassionate care at our adoption center in East Hampton, NY, until they find their forever homes. Commencing in 2021, we embarked on a journey of significant campus renovations and new construction at ARF, which temporarily reduced our shelter's capacity. This limitation compelled us to facilitate adoptions primarily through our mobile adoption van stationed at the shelter. Throughout the construction phase, our shelter's capacity was diminished by more than 50%. Despite these challenges, ARF achieved remarkable milestones in 2022, with 321 cats and dogs finding loving families, and the rescue of 329 cats and dogs, both locally and through our valued partners. Additionally, we continue to provide lifelong care for nearly two dozen cherished residents.ARF is resolutely committed to minimizing the duration of animals' stays in the shelter. To this end, we have bolstered our staffing and invested in professional development to ensure that dogs and cats in our care receive adequate enrichment, socialization, and training, thereby reducing the stress associated with shelter life and enhancing their prospects for successful adoptions. Every animal at ARF receives comprehensive medical care, including surgical interventions and consultations with board-certified specialists when necessary, to ensure their successful adoption and to afford them the highest possible quality of life.The success of our adoption programs has enabled ARF to fulfill the needs of our local community and extend our reach by actively rescuing and transporting animals from regions where the euthanasia of cats and dogs in municipal shelters remains a distressing norm due to over-crowding. Notably, ARF's Operation Cat (Op Cat) program, established in 1997, stands as a pioneering feral cat Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) initiative. Op Cat has played a monumental role in the neutering of over 30,000 feral cats, spanning from Montauk to western Suffolk County. This volunteer-driven program is diligently overseen by ARF staff, with invaluable support from our medical team for TNR procedures and our animal care staff, who assist with the trapping process. In 2022, ARF performed an astounding 269 free spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats, furthering our commitment to responsible animal welfare and population control.