{"id":53257,"date":"2024-05-19T11:02:19","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T15:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=53257"},"modified":"2024-05-19T11:02:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-19T15:02:19","slug":"genesee-county-volunteers-for-animals-celebrates-40-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/05\/19\/genesee-county-volunteers-for-animals-celebrates-40-years\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Volunteers for Animals celebrates 40 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Volunteers For Animals of Batavia celebrated 40 years of service in Genesee County on Saturday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. With a $5 donation per person at the door, supporters enjoyed refreshments including a special cake, activities for the children, door prizes and favors.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The people that volunteered initially saw the need for a humane society and organized in 1984,” says Angie Knisley, a longtime member at Volunteer for Animals<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On display at Saturdays 40th Celebration, a history of the VFA and the people who founded the organization, along with photos of the animals that have been adopted through the years. Apparel was also available for sale to supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s really amazing to look back at the history to see how the group started, and the group is now, it’s like night and day,” says Wendy Castleman, Treasurer at the VFA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They were just working with the basics, trying to save animals that were running lose, had no care, lots of puppies that were left on their own. Now, we’re beyond that in terms of being able to provide preventative services. We do a lot of spay\/neuter vouchers to help prevent unwanted litters, SOS does trap, neuter and release, we do a lot of fostering, we bring in animals from out of state from shelters that are high volume. So, it’s just evolved into a very different group, but the basis is saving animals.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Castleman says currently the group at VFA is working with the Genesee County Animal Shelter to make sure the Animal Shelter building will be compatible with new NYS regulations that will take effect in September of 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’re focused on that, a lot of it has to do with how animals are cared for while they are in the shelter, having space, good climate control and things like that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As far as what VFA has planned for the future, Castleman says it all has to do with who comes into the group and what their interests are and what they will bring to the group. Currently there are 30-40 core volunteers with about 40 foster families. To volunteer your talents, view the link below and find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Link for more information below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers For Animals (vol4animals.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s a lot of work and it can be very painful at times, but there is a lot of reward from it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volunteers For Animals of Batavia celebrated 40 years of service in Genesee County on Saturday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church in Batavia. With a $5 donation per person at the door, supporters enjoyed refreshments including a special cake, activities for the children, door prizes and favors.\u00a0 “The people that \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[4329],"class_list":["post-53257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-batavia","tag-volunteer-for-animals-40th-anniversary"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-dQZ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":30438,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/02\/04\/genesee-county-puppy-paws-craft-vendor-market-at-the-downs-raising-funds-for-volunteers-for-animals-this-sunday\/","url_meta":{"origin":53257,"position":0},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Puppy Paws Craft & Vendor Market at the Downs raising funds for Volunteers For Animals this Sunday","author":"aka","date":"February 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Mary Bucceri, Group Sales Manager\/Marketing\/Batavia Downs with Rich Pearson\/Treasurer\/Volunteer for Animals, and Angie Knisley\/Volunteer with Volunteer for Animals with Bronx, a Mastiff mix who was found lying in the road in Corfu last month. He was found with very long nails and was very dehydrated. Volunteers believe he is 5-7\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220203_132118.jpg?fit=924%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220203_132118.jpg?fit=924%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220203_132118.jpg?fit=924%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220203_132118.jpg?fit=924%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30832,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2022\/02\/24\/genesee-county-batavia-downs-event-raises-money-for-volunteers-for-animals-and-animal-shelter\/","url_meta":{"origin":53257,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Batavia Downs event raises money for Volunteers for Animals and Animal Shelter","author":"aka","date":"February 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Left to right- Henry Wojtaszek\/President &CEO\/Batavia Downs, Mary Bucceri\/Group Sales Manager, Batavia Downs, Brad Mazur\/Undersheriff\/Genesee County, Catherine Seward\/Dog Control Officer, Sarah Fountain\/Dog Control Officer, Angie Knisley\/Volunteer\/Volunteer For Animals, Shanna Shaw\/V.P. Volunteer For Animals\/Check presentation for $2,471. Press release Contribution a Result of Onsite Event Held in February BATAVIA \u2013\u00a0Western Region\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220224_110511-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C734&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220224_110511-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C734&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220224_110511-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C734&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220224_110511-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C734&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/20220224_110511-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C734&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80071,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/09\/03\/genesee-county-charity-riders-present-check-to-the-animal-shelter-and-volunteers-for-animals-after-hogs-for-paws-ride-in-august\/","url_meta":{"origin":53257,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Charity Riders present check to the Animal Shelter and Volunteers for Animals after Hogs for Paws ride in August","author":"aka","date":"September 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Genesee County Charity Riders presented a check for $1,000 to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and Volunteer for Animals after their Hogs for Paws motorcycle run in August. Funds were raised from registration and a basket raffle from 28 riders. Link to previous story: https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/08\/09\/genesee-county-charity-riders-chip-in-with-hogs-for-paws\/","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260902_160419-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260902_160419-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260902_160419-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260902_160419-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20260902_160419-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C790&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2016\/11\/29\/man-sentenced-in-animal-cruelty\/","url_meta":{"origin":53257,"position":3},"title":"Man Sentenced in Animal Cruelty","author":"aka","date":"November 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"BATAVIA Man sentenced in animal cruelty case Darren R. Annovi, 42, of Batavia, was sentenced to 5 years probation Tuesday afternoon in Genesee County Court after pleading guilty to an aggravated cruelty to animals charge, a class E felony, in September. Annovi accepted a plea deal September 28, 2016, pleading\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/15235785_1304817886237826_8855365010540875923_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/15235785_1304817886237826_8855365010540875923_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/15235785_1304817886237826_8855365010540875923_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/15235785_1304817886237826_8855365010540875923_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/15235785_1304817886237826_8855365010540875923_o.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":40732,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2023\/03\/13\/wny-fur-ball-gala-fundraiser-at-batavia-downs-raises-20000-for-area-animal-charities\/","url_meta":{"origin":53257,"position":4},"title":"WNY\/Fur Ball Gala fundraiser at Batavia Downs raises $20,000 for area animal charities","author":"aka","date":"March 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Pictured left to right-Julie Calvert\/Wyom Co. SPCA, Jackie Leach\/CFO Western OTB, Henry Wojtaszek\/Pres. CEO Batavia Downs Gaming, Mary Bucceri\/Admin. Assist. for Live Racing, Alycia Baran Exec. Dir. Wyom. Co SPCA. 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