A World of Difference

“The canal and street-car horses, animals attached to over-loaded stone wagons,
the breaking up of chicken and dog fights, cleansing and ventilating of cow and
horse stables, recovery of lost children…”

A meeting of Citizens was held in the Common Council Chamber to organize a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

William H. Griffin is appointed as the first enforcement agent to act in any case of
animal cruelty. He opened the society’s first
office at number 57 in the old Reynolds Arcade.

A disturbing report of child abuse involving a girl named Mary Ellen Wilson is reported to Etta Wheeler, a social worker in NYC. At the time, there were no laws to protect children from abuse. Wheeler recruited Henry Bergh, lawyer, and founder of the ASPCA, to represent Mary Ellen.

Mary Ellen moved and lived out the remainder of her life in Rochester, NY. One of Mary Ellen’s daughters, Florence Brasser, was a career schoolteacher whose outstanding work was memorialized by the Gates-Chili School District, which named a school after her.

The Bergh Association and the previously established Rochester Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children vote on a formal merger. A new name is chosen: The Humane Society of Rochester, New York for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Animals.

Efforts in the late 1880s helped raise funds to obtain the Society’s first animal ambulance and a permanent shelter at 90 Sophia Street (Plymouth Avenue North). Today, this historic building is the headquarters for the Open Door Mission.

With the growing demand for services, limited bandwidth, and ultimately friction over an expanding mission, the two halves of the Humane Society agree on a de-merger. This created two independent organizations:

• The Humane Society of Rochester for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• The Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Moved to a new location at 723 Powers Building.

New programs to educate children in school on the care of animals begin including a Junior Membership Program. 

The Humane Society focused many of its early efforts on preventing and seeking justice for work horses and cattle.

The Humane Society acquired new facilities at 103 St. Paul Street.

Humane Society officers seek justice for roosters used in cock fighting and seize them from the inhumane conditions in which they are kept. 

The Humane Society moves to new location at 263 Central Avenue.

As part of efforts by the Humane Society the Animal Defense Council and Pet Brigade were established. These efforts included tagging pets to ensure they could be returned to their owners in case of air raid during the war.

The Humane Society opposed the passage of the Hatch-Metcalf animals-for-research law under which unlicensed, unwanted, stray dogs must be surrendered for medical research.

As a result, the Humane Society got out of the dog-pound business and continued to operate as an animal adoption service. The shelter opened a temporary residence at 1900 South Clinton Avenue. 

During the 1950s Humane Society director Ray Naramore, a former teacher, placed great emphasis on building our organization’s humane education programs. Naramore believed that the best and most efficient means of promoting kindness and pet owner responsibility was to make learning about animals fun. 

Former teacher Raymond C. Naramore led the society for seventeen years through a period of tremendous change marked by the establishment of Lollypop Farm on West Henrietta Road using a renovated apartment house on seven acres across from what is now Marketplace Mall. The Lollypop Farm petting zoo and adjoining animal shelter marked a starting point for Naramore’s vision of an organization devoted to promoting humane education and kindness to all creatures.

Scout merit badge classes begin under the instruction of Carolyn Ahern.

Naramore was a regular contributor to the Democrat & Chronicle, keeping humane treatment of animals top of mind for the public. 

Mr. Hiram Marks, a Rochester businessman, donates 140 acres of land in Perinton, N.Y. to the Humane Society.

The Henrietta facility is closed in April 1966 and a new animal shelter opens in Perinton. It’s current location.

Under the direction of Frank M. Rogers a new policy requiring the spay and neuter of all dogs and cats for adoption in put in place to address animal population control. This policy is still in place today. 

The DeBurrs Wholesale Meat Company donates a Plaster of Paris bull to Lollypop Farm. Lovingly named Elmer, the bull resides on the farmyard today and remains a landmark and photo-op for friends and family visiting the farm. 

Monroe County Veterinarians and The Humane Society embark on a campaign to offer low cost spay/neuter assistance for cats and dogs.

Hatch-Metcalf Act is repealed and the Humane Society of Rochester resumes control of Rochester Animal Services through 2000.

Lollypop Farm filed a lawsuit against the USDA to discontinue the requirement that cattle are branded on their face with a hot iron, as part of the USDA dairy buyout program. The Humane Society of Rochester argued that the practice is “barbarous” and in violation of laws against cruelty to animals, and US District Judge Michael A. Telesca agreed. His ruling stopped the requirement of hot face branding, ended the federal buyout program, and prompted future legislative change on behalf of animals. 

The first Tails of Hope Telethon is broadcasted live showcasing stories from the shelter and programs in the community. Currently aired on 13WHAM this is the largest annual fundraiser to help pets in the Rochester community.

Lollypop Farm dedicates new, state-of-the-art animal care facility in Fairport with a surgery clinic, climate-controlled barn, and extensive education facilities.

Lollypop Farm confiscates 321 animals from the Gilfus Farm’s petting zoo in Port Byron. Having found the animals under severe neglect, this was the beginning of a yearlong cruelty case ending with the conviction of four members of the Gilfus family. Lollypop Farm had spent $750,000 in veterinary and daily animal care before the end of the case allowing them to find new homes for the animals. 

The Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest is the largest pet-friendly festival to help animals in the Rochester community. First held in 2003, the event now raises enough money to help thousands of animals every year. 

The organization sent staff and volunteers to Louisiana to help the 700 animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina. 

In an effort to provide the west side of Rochester a convenient option for adoption, a satellite adoption location is opened at the Mall at Greece Ridge.

The Animal Crimes Intervention Program is a three-month psychoeducational learning course designed for those convicted of animal crimes to learn accountability and understand prior motivations around animal abuse or neglect. Ultimately, the program’s goal is to make communities safer for animals and people.

Lollypop Farm remained open to the public providing vital services like adoptions, virtual education programs, animal care, and humane law enforcement.  

Lollypop Farm Humane Law Enforcement and shelter staff come to the aid of firefighters when over 100 cats are discovered during a house fire in Perinton. The shelter took in the cats providing care and aiding in finding them new homes. 

New program is launched allowing community members to take pets out for time away from the shelter. 

Working in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) police officers, Lollypop Farm Humane Law Enforcement Department investigators discovered hundreds of animals, both domesticated and exotic, living in inhumane conditions. Reaves has been charged with failure to provide proper food and drink under Section 356. Nearly 800 animals, including rats, mice, guinea pigs, degus, ferrets, and rabbits, were seized from the facility.