Memorial
Open Letter To The Community
It is with great sadness that we share with you the loss of our beloved Amber. On April 23, 2003 the staff who loved her had to open their arms and allow Amber to cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Amber came to the Front Street Dog Shelter on October 18, 1994 as a 4 year old, pregnant stray from the Town of Colesville. Her two beautiful pups were born on October 31, 1994 and she was an exceptional mother to them. Amber was a gentle and affectionate dog that loved both people and other animals. On December 29, 1994 Amber became a full-time member of the staff and a permanent resident in the Front Office at the shelter.
Amber began immediately helping with the shelter's pet visiting program and handling the tours and programs being held at the shelter! She would happily greet everyone at the counter each day and enjoyed spending time individually with all our visitors, both young and old!
She was the first dog micro-chipped on February 28, 1995 as the shelter became an authorized scanning agency in Broome County for micro-chipped animals and had her picture in the Press!
During her 9 years at the shelter Amber was instrumental in teaching new shelter staff and new Dog Control Officers humane animal handling techniques and how to properly use animal control equipment by being the "example dog". She did so with grace and a whole lot of patience!
Amber genuinely loved other dogs. It didn't matter what size, breed or age they were! This proved invaluable over the years in helping us work with a wide variety of dogs... especially the ones that no longer trusted people and the very young puppies that needed an older dog to help prepare them for their new life. She provided safety, confidence and guidance to each animal and a bridge for us to that animal. With her help we were better able to evaluate how our adoptable dogs felt about another dog and she became a wonderful playmate for dogs and pups during their stay with us.
Amber became the foundation for our education programs - both programs held at the shelter and the off-site programs. If you never visited our shelter you may have met Amber at a community event or program. Some, but not all, of her programs were:
Town of Binghamton Town Fair - 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000
ARC Tours - 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Binghamton Psychiatric Center - 1995, 1996
Willow Point Nursing Home - 1995, 1996, 1997
Benjamin Franklin School Program for 5 & 6 year olds - 3/21/95
Boces Animal Organizations Day - 5/13/95
Critter Fair @ Boscov's - 6/17/95
Broome County Highway Department Open House - 10/14/95
Jenny F. Snap School Tour - Make A Difference Day - 10/28/95
BOCES Animal Science School Tour - 1996
Kids Spring Fling @ Boscov's - 4/3/96 & 3/25/97
STAR - Christian Girl Scout Troup tour - 11/6/96
Vestal Hills Elementary School - Kindergarten & 1st grades - 1996
Started OFA Day Care Center Visiting Program - 1/23/96
Ross Park Zoo's - Bark In The Park Program
Town of Binghamton Tiger Cubs Tour - 1/16/97
YESCAP - Teammates For Life @ Binghamton Mets Stadium - 6/30/97
BCC Day Care Center - Tours and On-site & Off-site programs - started 1996 thru 2003
1st Presbyterian Endicott Nursery School - 12/15/99
Brownie Tour - 12/14/99
Front Street Days in Vestal
Benjamin Franklin After School Program - 5/9/01
Amber's last program was on April 9, 2003 at Boulevard Preschool with Assistant Manager Debra Bryan and a 10 week old puppy. She was, as always, a shining example of how wonderful a mixed breed dog could be! Her passing is not just a loss to the Shelter and the staff who loved her, but also our community's children and adults with whom she had shared her life.
While the shelter staff takes solace knowing that Amber is reunited with her friend Betsy, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge two months earlier, we find ourselves struggling with deep sadness at the emptiness left by two such special companions. I would like to thank everyone for their understanding and support during this difficult time. Those wishing to honor Amber may do so just by being kind to all animals, or by spending time with their own pets or donate a toy, blanket, dog biscuits or a dollar to a shelter animal.
