Community News

Animal Farm Foundation Launches Pets Together Program

-Response to COVID-19 crisis designed to ease social isolation- 

Bangall, NY April 16. 2020: Animal Farm Foundation has announced the launch of Pets Together, a free virtual program that allows those who are socially isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic to enjoy friendly interaction with pets (including dogs, cats, goats, horses, and other critters) and people. The goal of the program is to increase social connection and mitigate the loneliness that is a painful aspect of the pandemic. 

Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing dogs and people together to end discrimination. Using live video-conferencing platforms (Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts), the AFF team will schedule real-time visits where people can watch the animals and participate in friendly conversations with those who care for them. Notably, the Pets Together model greatly expands access to pet visits that have traditionally been reserved for face-to-face interactions for people living in group settings (such as nursing homes and hospitals) through formal therapy animal programs. The video chats are also available to doctors, nurses, and other health professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis.

“One of the many effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is social isolation and loneliness, which were already highly prevalent before the crisis” said Stacey Coleman, Executive Director of Animal Farm Foundation. “We designed Pets Together to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances by tapping into the power of pets to spread joy and bring people together.”

Even before the pandemic, social isolation was a public health threat negatively impacting the wellbeing of many individuals, including but not limited to older adults. Now, with the mandate to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, so many more people are at risk for social isolation—further threatening physical as well as mental health. 

Defined as a state in which the individual lacks a sense of belonging socially and engagement with others, social isolation can result in a 29% increased risk of mortality over time, researchers have found. In fact, social isolation is comparable with other well-established risk factors such as poor access to health care, exposure to environmental hazards, injury and violence, obesity and physical inactivity, substance misuse and mental health disorders. 

Kim Wolf, Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work Candidate at the University of Georgia, worked with AFF to create the innovative Pets Together Program. She explains, “Pets bring us comfort during times of distress, but not everyone is in a position to have one. I can’t imagine going through this pandemic without my pets, so I wanted to share them with others. Pets Together is a model that brings joy and comfort to those who are feeling socially isolated and lonely. We are all in this together, even the pets!”

For more information about the Pets Together Program, or to learn how to participate, please visit https://petstogether.org/

About Animal Farm Foundation: 

Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) brings dogs and people together to end discrimination. As a 501(c)3, AFF creates positive change for dogs, people, and communities through our service dog program, PAWS prison program, and by funding the training of K9 detection dogs. We provide lawmakers and policymakers with the information they need to create non-discriminatory laws and policies. If necessary, we work within the legal system to end breed-specific discrimination. We also consult with and offer free resources to animal welfare workers and community advocates. www.animalfarmfoundation.org

Our Town Board Meeting will be held on April 9th, 2020 at 7:00 via ZOOM.  The meeting will be live-streamed to our TOWN OF STANFORD NOTES FROM THE SUPERVISOR Facebook page, and you will be able to send in questions from that site which we will answer.  The meeting will be recorded and posted to the Town website hopefully within a day or two.  We are still trying to learn a lot of new technology so we can keep the working of our government going and at the same time keep you all informed.

The Town Board has decided to postpone discussion on the Tax Restorative Levy due to the urgency and immediacy and financial ramifications of our Community dealing with the COVID-19 virus.  Although the forensic investigation will continue into the unauthorized 59% tax levy, now is not the moment to try to rectify this c. $547,000 loss to Town Finances.  We realize that Town other revenues will be hard hit by this Pandemic, including sales tax revenue..but all of us are struggling right now to come to grips with how COVID-19 will impact each one of us financially, so we have put the Restorative Levy on the back burner.

Stanford Grange 808 has done an extraordinary service to the Stanford community what began as a project called Our Little Food Pantry. It has turned into a much larger enterprise, with two pantries stocked at all times, as well as a small donated refrigerator.  Citizens in need can simply drive up behind the Grange and take whatever supplies they need, from lentils to oatmeal to hygiene products as well as hand-sewn makes donated by a fellow citizen.  The Grange can always use additional food donations as well as cash infusions.  Checks should be made out to the Stanford Grange 808 and mailed to PO Box 108 Stanfordville, NY 12581

The LFP is a place where non-perishable, hygiene products, pet food and household supplies can be found. It can help those in immediate need and creates and environment of community.  The Stanford Grange needs your help to get this project started so that our community can add one more thing we offer the people to show how much Stanford cares.  A beautiful wooden pantry has been donated, so donations can be made to help the Grange stock it full of goods. 

Thank everyone who crowded into the Town Auditorium on Thursday night to hear our presentation on the STATE OF THE TOWN finances.  I realize that there were many people who could not fit into the room, and I’m pleased to say the entire video of the meeting is available if you scroll down to the middle of this homepage and find the link under the railroad photograph.  I will work with the videographer to move the link to the top of the page so it is more easily found.

The presentation raised as many questions as were answered, though the main focus was to explain how the 10.84% tax cut promised by the last Administration turned into an unauthorized 59,8% cut and I hope our Power Point slide show clarified that process.  You can view that presentation in its entirety at the link below. We are happy to discuss Fund Balance and Financial Controls at another town wide forum.

I  deeply regret that the change in the tax levy, which  impacts the Highway Department’s operating funds as well as the l Fund Balance, has been turned into a political football.  We inherited this budget and with your support we hope to fix it.  Our goal is to serve the community and not to engage in political games.

Thank you for your patience and your support,

Wendy Burton