HEART hopes new location, more volunteers will lead to more animal rescues

Though HEART Animal Rescue and Adoption Team Inc. is currently caring for nearly 200 cats, Sharon Gorman, vice president and rescue coordinator of the non-profit organization, can identify most of them by name, personality and the story of how they came to HEART.

Gorman does not have a photographic memory, rather, getting to know the strays on an individual level is typical of HEART volunteers.

“We care about our animals so much,” said Gorman.

In October, the pet adoption center moved to 48 Buffalo St. in Hamburg, allowing its cats more room to stretch, roam and play.

“We absolutely love it here,” said Gorman, who keeps around 15 cats at the site at a time, and shelters the rest in foster homes and stores such as PetSmart.

The no-kill organization also takes in stray dogs and other domestic animals, such as rabbits. However, while it pains volunteers turn an animal away, HEART only accepts injured and sick animals in need of emergency care.

“We do not take personal pets,” said Gorman, who explained that they simply do not have enough foster homes to accommodate every request. “Our phones are constantly ringing off the hook as it is, and the SPCA has a waiting list over 500 animals long.”

For those who are looking to rehome a healthy pet, Gorman warns against cutting corners or rushing through the adoption process.

“We recommend they take the time to really learn where their pet is going,” said Gorman, who recounted horror stories of people adopting kittens only to use them to train a fighting dog or feed them to a pet snake. “There is a lot of bad stuff going on out there, you really have to be careful.”

Having worked for HEART for 15 years, Gorman has helped many sick and abandoned animals have a happy ending to their sad stories.

One such animal is Bert, an orange cat who was recently brought to HEART after being found frostbitten and starving in the frigid winter weather.

“He was on death’s door, but he is doing great now,” Gorman said. Bert was treated for hypothermia, lacerations, fleas, dehydration and starvation. Now, all Bert needs is some minor dental work before he is ready to be adopted.

Bert’s calm personality would make him the perfect lap cat, especially for a senior citizen, Gorman noted.

HEART treats all of its rescues, as well as performs spay and neutering services and keeps them up-to-date on vaccinations.

“We make sure they are healthy, we do everything for them before they go,” Gorman said.

Yet sometimes neglected animals develop ailments and illnesses for which there are no cure.

“I’ve got many animals with slight imperfections that I am always looking to place in good homes,” said Gorman, who said that this include cats with head tilts, chronic sinus problems or those that have Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.

“A lot of people don’t want those animals, but most times they are the sweetest ones,” she added.

HEART is always looking for volunteers, especially those that are willing to open their homes or barns to foster rescued animals. The more foster homes HEART has, the more animals they can accept.

“It kills us when people call us and we cannot take an animal,” Gorman said.

To volunteer, donate or adopt a loving pet, call 649-4348 or visit the adoption center in person.

If HEART is able to extend its lease at their new Buffalo Street location, it hopes to install glass doors to better supervise the cats and accommodate more cat condominiums in the building.

Still, if HEART ends up switching its location, Gorman promises the center won’t go far.

“We’ve been in Hamburg since we have started,” said Gorman, who noted that the organization has been around since 1984.

“We plan to stay in the area. The village atmosphere and the people here are unbelievable,” she said. “I can’t think of anyplace else that would be a better spot to be.”