Since last fall, Super Heroes in Ripped Jeans (SHIRJ), a grassroots non-profit organization with a mission that concentrates on helping people with challenging situations be able to keep their pets has been working hard to raise funds to support a renovation project for their new shelter located at 160 Pony Farm Road in Oneonta. The fundraising goal for this campaign called "Super PAWSabilities" is $200,000 and so far,  $82,654.35 has been raised.

Below is a rendering of the new shelter from architects BBL Construction Services.

Credit: Super Heroes In Ripped Jeans, Facebook
Credit: Super Heroes In Ripped Jeans, Facebook
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To further the mission of helping homeless cats and dogs in the community, SHIRJ has an upcoming fundraiser "Spring Cleanout and Rummage Sale" at the shelter at Pony Farm Road in Oneonta on April 9 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Organizers are taking in donations of new or gently used items (no clothing please) for this sale. Anyone wishing to donate items can drop them off at that location on April 2 and 3 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Follow news from Super Heroes In Ripped Jeans on their Facebook page and you can learn more about their mission and about adopting or fostering a pet at superheroesirj.org. SHIRJ can be contacted also by email at info@superheroesirj.org or by calling (607) 441-3227.

DOG LOVERS: 5 Tips On Introducing Your Dog To A Dog Park

We all want to be responsible dog owners and create a wonderful experience for our dogs at a dog park. If you have a dog that you think would love a chance at playing with other furry friends at a public park, here is some very practical and simple advice from certified dog trainer Sarah Cummings who has a lot of experience as a staff member of the Susquehanna SPCA.

Here's what Sarah has to say to us dog parents...

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To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

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