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September 7, 2008

Humane Society shop expands

By BRUCE ROWLAND

PLATTSBURGH -- Funding the Adirondack Humane Society Shelter on Idaho Avenue on the former Air Force Base in Plattsburgh takes a big bite out of the fundraising efforts needed to keep it going.

So, to help keep things afloat, The Adirondack Humane Society Thrift Shop at 89 Bridge St. in Plattsburgh has expanded. A new building has been secured across the street at 90 Bridge to house clothing, furniture and space-consuming sets of things -- all the money-raising items for sale that won't fit in the building across the street. The space was previously occupied by a stained-glass business.

"We provide the funding for the shelter -- food for animals, salaries for staff, utilities," said Joe Swinyer, manager of the new store, which will be called Not Necessarily New.

The shelter thrift store began at the site of Arnie's bar in 1998 right after the Ice Storm, moved to 41 Durkee St. in 2004 and to the Bridge Street location in summer 2007. The new shop will be opening Tuesday.

Profits from the thrift shops also fund educational programs encouraging spaying and neutering. "There's a huge number of abandoned animals, especially cats," Swinyer said, adding that income-eligible people can receive financial help for spaying and neutering "as money permits."

Administrator Nancy Paiser said the people who run the thrifts don't get paid. "We're all volunteers," she said. "The only place where there's paid staff is at the shelter."

She said there is no other such facility in Plattsburgh, and the shelter -- which is affiliated with the national Humane Society -- doesn't get contributions from the city or the town. Money has to be raised from the thrift shops, an annual street drive and a semi-annual garage sale, which will be held Oct. 11 this year at the E-Z STO storage facility at 1080 Military Turnpike in Plattsburgh.

"We're getting bigger and it costs more to take care of animals," Paiser said.

Anything received for the thrift shops and the sales is tax-deductible. "All the goods are donated," Paiser said. "We don't pay for anything. It's not a consignment shop."

Donors are usually animal lovers or supporters of spaying and neutering who want to support the Humane Society's programs. The shelter doesn't euthanize animals unless they are ill or vicious and focuses instead on adoption. People who adopt are screened to be sure they will be good pet owners.

Paiser said Not Necessarily New will not be a thrift shop like the location across the street, which houses smaller items such as electronics and books. "This is a used-furniture store with sets of things and good clothing, all at good prices," she said. "We just wanted to define this store as different. They're like sister stores, working for the same cause."

She said volunteers are being interviewed who can work at the new shop. They are needed for customer service, pricing, sorting, maintenance, pickup and transportation of goods, helping with the garage sales and working as cashiers. "There's all kinds of things to do," Paiser said.

Donations often come from "downsizers" who have found or built a smaller home, estates, people who are tired of their old decor and want to try something new, or businesses that are changing their inventory. "Some people, instead of having a garage sale, say I don't want to be bothered,'" Paiser said.

Businesses often donate things like curtain rods that can be used in the shop.

She said that if someone is looking for something specific, the shops have lists and customers can leave their phone number in case something matching their needs comes in.

"We really want to work with the community," Paiser said. "We certainly need to raise more money and we really want to double the size of the building at the base."

Dogs are fairly easy to find homes for, but more space is needed, especially for cats. "We want to help people in the community fight the overpopulation."

Volunteers are also needed for a fostering program that seeks temporary homes for cats until they are six-to-eight weeks old. "It keeps them socialized and in better health," Paiser said.

Not Necessarily New will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and donations are accepted during open hours. The existing thrift shop across the street is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Paiser retired from Verizon after 38 years, but knew she had to keep busy. She started out at the old Arnie's location. "If you really love what you're doing, you put in a lot of volunteer hours, that's for sure," she said.

For more information, call 566-1234. "I'm retired from Verizon, Paiser grinned, when asked to explain how she got such an easy-to-remember number.

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