Sullivan County’s latest Distinguished Citizen Awardee, Swan Lake resident Joanne Gerow (center), was lauded by the Legislature today for her tireless work in protecting and aiding animals. From the left are District 9 Legislator Alan Sorensen, District 6 Legislator Luis Alvarez, District 7 Legislator Joe Perrello, District 8 Legislator Ira Steingart, District 2 Legislator Nadia Rajsz, District 5 Legislator George Conklin, District 3 Legislator Mike Brooks, District 4 Legislator Nick Salomone and District 1 Legislator Rob Doherty.
Monticello, NY – Joanne Gerow still shudders when she remembers arriving at a supposed “animal shelter” in Summitville circa 1987.
“It was beyond anything I could have ever imagined – it was an Auschwitz for animals,” she relates. “There were over 1,000 animals with embedded collars and halters, mangy, emaciated. It was the largest animal cruelty case in the nation.”
Joanne had been summoned by authorities because she owned a horse farm in Swan Lake and could take in some of the vast number of wounded creatures.
“It was then I decided I wanted to make a difference with animals,” she says.
Her reputation as a generous, compassionate and competent guardian of abused animals only grew from that day forward, and in 2003, she was named the Town of Liberty’s Dog Control Officer.
“Supervisor Frank DeMayo was instrumental in helping me spread my wings and fly,” she affirms, noting that he and the town board sponsored her training to become a peace officer and learn the particulars of animal cruelty investigation. “I wanted to make a career out of this, and I wanted this position to matter.”
Matter she did. Joanne became an integral partner with law enforcement in cases involving animals, ensuring thousands of dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, horses and more were removed from unsafe situations and placed in appropriate homes, farms and ranches.
With friends Eugene Scheiman and Laurie Dutcher, Joanne in 2014 launched Catskill Animal Rescue, Inc., a nonprofit expressly devoted to what had become Joanne’s driving passion. Thanks to an active social media account and local publicity, she adopted out an increasing number of animals in need of loving homes.
She also continued her Dog Control Officer duties in Liberty. The only problem was the Town’s own shelter was in such dire shape, “I housed animals in my house for three years.”
Supporter Maurice Gerry introduced her to his brother Alan, who accompanied Joanne on a tour of the Town’s dilapidated kennel.
“Alan was very distraught over it,” she recalls. “It wasn’t fit for rats – though it did have rats living in it!”
He asked her what she envisioned her “dream kennel” would look like … then made it happen. First, Alan donated 5 acres of property along Old Monticello Road in Ferndale. Then, he built a 4,000-square-foot shelter complete with 24 runs, a cat room, a kitchen and laundry, a reception area, a meet-and-greet space, an office, an exam room, a grooming room, a security system, three televisions, even a stereo system to play soothing music for those housed within.
“It’s totally magical!” Joanne says. “I can’t even describe how I feel about Alan. I love the man!”
The facility is owned by the Town of Liberty, which lets Joanne and her nonprofit use it for free in exchange for their services.
“It has saved money for the Town, and we’ve adopted out well over 200 animals since we opened last April,” she notes.
The shelter also serves as a training ground for volunteers from Sullivan/Orange ARC and animal husbandry students from Sullivan West Central School District. Joanne’s own volunteer team numbers close to 50.
For all these reasons, the Sullivan County Legislature today proudly bestowed its Distinguished Citizen Award on Joanne.
“I have known Joanne for many years and can personally attest to her tireless compassion for all God’s creatures,” says Legislator Luis Alvarez, whose District 6 encompasses Liberty’s shelter and Joanne’s still-active horse farm. “Without her, hundreds upon hundreds of animals would have suffered needlessly. The gift she has given this County is beyond measure.”
For more information on Catskill Animal Rescue and Joanne’s work, visit www.facebook.com/catskillanimalrescueinc.