A team of shelter staff from the Animal Shelter in Sterling is preparing to deploy Friday Nov. 9, 2012, to Staten Island, N.Y. to provide much needed supplies and care for the animals that were lost or separated from their homes and families.

“We are asking the community to help us fill a van and truck with much needed pet supplies to help the countless shelters and rescues in the areas that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy,” states Leigh Grady, Executive Director of Animal Shelter Inc.

“It’s tragic to think such a horrible disaster can happen only 3 hours from our home and we were so lucky that we weren’t affected when it happened pretty much in our own backyard!  I’ve been deployed to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Charley and I can only imagine what destruction awaits us,” Grady continues.

Directions to the shelter located in Sterling can be found on its website, and donations can be dropped off any time the shelter is open or can be left at the shelter gates.

Supplies can also be dropped off at any Especially for Pets store, including those in Wayland and Sudbury by Thursday, Nov. 8 at noon. Items purchased for donation at any Especially for Pets location will be discounted by 10 percent. See www.especiallyforpets.com for directions.

DONATIONS NEEDED: The most critical items needed are: wet and dry dog and cat food, treats, cases of bottled water, mops, buckets, brooms, cat litter, toys, blankets, towels, plastic grocery bags, cleaning supplies such as paper towels.