Earlville Resident Joins Wanderers’ Rest staff

Leads capital campaign for new shelter

(Canastota, NY – Nov. 13, 2013) Linda DeMuro, of Earlville, has joined the Wanderer’s Rest Humane Association, Inc. staff as director of marketing and finance. 

In this position, DeMuro oversees the fund development and marketing efforts, as well as event planning for the non-profit located on Sutherland Drive in Canastota.

DeMuro brings more than 20 years of experience building partnerships within the community which will augment the shelter’s efforts to care for lost, abandoned, abused and homeless pets.

“I am excited to be part of the Wanderers’ Rest team,” DeMuro said. “I am passionate about working with both people and animals and advocating for positive changes in the environments that surround them.

I plan to provide innovative ideas and leadership within the community that will enable us to expand our presence and grow.”

Among her top responsibilities are leading the capital campaign for a new shelter, in addition to developing partnerships to enhance current funding.

The shelter’s current $2 million capital campaign would make way for a new shelter, replacing the aging and cramped facility where it has been for 31 years. “Obtaining a new facility is a very important part of our effort to increase the health and quality of life for our animals,” DeMuro said. “In our current setting, a great deal of our time and money is spent on overcoming the shortcomings of the building.”

The new shelter would hold the same number of animals, 75 cats and 25 dogs, but would also provide the animals larger kennels and a healthy, low-stress environment. Plans also include an outdoor dog park, an educational resource center, a lobby/reception area, a meet and greet room for potential adopters, more space for healthy cats, including three community rooms where they are free to roam, and heat and air conditioning with separate air-handling units for redundancy and disease control.

Wanderer’s Rest is funded through Madison County, as well as public donations and fees charged for adoptions and other services. Proceeds from the shelter’s Second Chance Thrift Shoppe, located on Route 20 in Bouckville, also benefit the shelter. The shop is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Dec. 14.

As an open admissions shelter, all animals brought through the doors of Wanderer’s Rest are accepted. That can be taxing at times, according to DeMuro who noted that the shelter is seeking foster homes for a recent influx of cats.

“We are in such desperate need of foster homes,” she said. “Fostering is a wonderful opportunity for those who can’t take on the financial ownership of a cat.”

Looking to the future, DeMuro has several aspirations for Wanderer’s Rest including building its volunteer and membership base while also expanding the community education program and strengthening community support.

DeMuro’s extensive community experience includes working at Morrisville State College and the Chenango County Department of Social Services. She has served in a variety of professional capacities, including as chair of the Chenango County JSEC-Job Service Employer Committee, co-chair of the Chenango-Delaware-Otsego Workforce Partner’s Committee, and as a member of Chenango County Interagency, the New York Association for Continuing and Community Education, and the New York Association of Training.  Additionally, she is a teaming leadership consultant.

DeMuro earned a bachelor degree in elementary education from SUNY Cortland and is pursuing a   master’s degree in leadership from Walden University.

For more information about the Wanderer’s Rest New Shelter Campaign or to donate, visit www.wanderersrest.org.