Speaker Carl Heastie this week continued his annual statewide tour in Suffolk County with Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, where they toured Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter, announcing a total of $300,000 in funding for the organization, and the Port Jefferson Fire District, announcing $65,000 for a feasibility study for relocating facilities in the district.
“My annual statewide tour allows me to see first hand the different challenges our communities are facing and the ways they come together to problem solve and support each other,” Speaker Heastie said. “The funding Assemblywoman Kassay and I announced will help the Port Jefferson Fire District to move to facilities on higher ground so they can continue their lifesaving work, and help Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter to continue to find loving homes for pets.”
“Our incredible first responders here in Port Jefferson are dedicated to protecting our community, but currently are operating out of a facility that makes their life-saving work extremely challenging during storms – a time when many people need them most,” Assemblywoman Kassay said. “Thank you to Speaker Heastie for coming to see to members of the Port Jefferson Fire District, and to see the wonderful heartwarming job that Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter is doing.”
Pictured with Speaker Heastie at Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter is Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay and Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter President Dori Scofield.
Speaker Heastie and Assemblywoman Kassay visited Save-A-Pet Animal Shelter in Port Jefferson Station, announcing $250,000 in operations funding for the animal shelter and $50,000 to replace the roof on their main building and veterinary clinic. They were joined by Save-A-Pet President Dori Scofield, as well as volunteers, the shelter team, and veterinary staff. The nonprofit works to improve the lives of abused, abandoned, and homeless animals by providing medical treatment and connecting them with permanent homes. Their team educates the community on the importance of pet sterilization and humane treatment of animals. In addition to sheltering adoptable dogs, cats, and other animals at the Port Jefferson Station facility, they offer low-cost spaying and neutering.
Together, Speaker Heastie and Assemblywoman Kassay also toured the Port Jefferson Fire District with Chairman of the Port Jefferson Board of Fire Commissioners David Okst, Commissioners David Gumbus and Thomas Meehan, Second Assistant Chief Christian Neubert, District Manager Craig Brozio, members of the Fire District and Port Jefferson Junior Fire Fighters. There, they announced $65,000 in funding for the district to conduct a feasibility study after discussing the need for the facility to move to a location on higher ground. The fire district has experienced devastating flooding of their facilities three times in the last six years as a result of sudden heavy rainstorms. During each of these unpredicted severe weather events, firefighters were forced to evacuate rescue vehicles and equipment to higher ground because of flooding in the station in order to serve the communities, and had to spend significant amounts of time and money to repair and clean equipment and facilities once the floodwaters subsided.