“For over fifty years North Fork Animal Welfare League has sheltered, nourished, and saved animals, and rescued them from euthanasia. We strive to save as many animals as possible.”
Our Vision
To return lost animals to their homes
Find suitable homes for homeless animals throughout Long Island
Provide shelter and humane care for animals in need
Relieve the suffering among animals
Reduce unwanted births of animals
Provide humane education to prevent cruelty to animals
Advocate for the enforcement of laws pertaining to Dog Control
Rescue animals from euthanasia
Mission Statement
North Fork Animal Welfare League’s mission is to inspire compassion for all living things, to provide shelter to animals in need, and to promote adoptions, animal welfare, and responsible pet ownership in our community.
Who We Are
North Fork Animal Welfare League is a 501c3 non for profit no-kill animal shelter with two locations on the east end of Long Island in both Southold and Riverhead Townships. Founded in 1963. The League welcomes animals of all kinds, but at our core, is people like you, who care about their own animals and the animals in our community.
The League has managed and operated Southold Animal Shelter since 1980. Under the League’s direction, Southold’s animal care and control and sheltering program has become one of the top-rated in the country, offering comprehensive services for the animals in the community and their caretakers. In March 2013, The League took over the management and operation of the same program for the town of Riverhead and built a new state-of-the-art location.
Back in the early 1960s, the Southold Dog Pound could be found at the Town Dump. It was a small, dirty, cinder-block building the size of a tool shed with no air conditioning and a very sad place for an animal to end up.
Along came a very small group of animal lovers who wanted to help the homeless strays in our community and thus formed the North Fork Animal Welfare League (NFAWL). With no funds and no shelter, they began their long, slow journey to provide a decent, temporary home for unwanted animals until their forever home was found. Fifty years later we continue to strive toward this mission to adopt out all of our community’s strays and surrenders.
By the 1970s, the League’s presence had grown bigger. More people became members and embraced the mission, and along with them came donations. The League and the people who supported it began to put pressure on Southold Town. These efforts provoked the Town to build a six-run dog kennel in Peconic, and a dog warden was hired. Unfortunately, due to uncaring wardens and substandard building construction, the animals still received very poor care, and the building deteriorated. Something needed to be done.
In the late 1970s, New York State enacted a new Dog Control Law and for the first time, Humane Societies such as ours were given the right to contract with a Town to help enforce dog control laws and run the Town’s dog pounds.
In 1980, NFAWL was one of the first not-for-profit organizations in the state of New York and the first Humane Organization on Long Island to contract with a town. Now, the League operates animal shelters for two towns — Southold and Riverhead.
What We Do
The funds provided to us through our municipal contracts barely cover our employees’ salaries. We still rely heavily on public support, and without donations and sponsors, we could not continue our mission. We are extremely grateful for the generous contributions we receive and appreciate the many volunteers who donate their time, energy, and expertise.
We have dog control officers on hand 24 hours a day. They are called out at any time to pick up lost or escaped dogs and pick up lost companion animals. We also assist in rescuing wildlife.
We have an open-door policy for our community’s dogs and cats without homes.
We provide immediate veterinary care for the sick, and every dog and cat is vaccinated and gets a complete checkup. No companion animal is ever killed because it is homeless. Ever.
We have many programs available to the public including spay and neuter clinics, microchip clinics, and Feral cat spay and Neuter programs. We help local families keep their companion animals in their homes when they experience hardships. We also offer our community educational clinics such as humane education, bite prevention, dog training, dog therapy visits, etc.
Board of Directors
Leslie Benway
President
Leslie joined the North Fork Animal Welfare League Board of Directors hoping to utilize her 22 years of marketing and event experience to promote the work of the organization. As a North Fork resident, animal advocate, and dog rescuer (with a special affinity for Border Collies), Leslie knew of the League’s work operating Southold and Riverhead shelters. When a close friend of Leslie’s became a League volunteer, Leslie began to hear about the many ways the League was working to improve the lives of the animals in our community and their owners. She decided to get involved and help spread the word.
Leslie has been Director of Worldwide Events for IBM Systems and Technology since 2000. She is a proven collaborative leader with demonstrated successes in event creation, marketing, and promotion. She is an expert in brand and messaging development. She is a forward thinker with a passion for perfection and a love of a good challenge.
Leslie has a home in Mattituck NY which she shares with her four rescued Border Collies.
Karen J. Hagen
Secretary
Karen has been a practicing real estate attorney since 1988, both here and in Pennsylvania. Karen first came to the shelter in Southold in 1998 to adopt a cat, she was told that her chosen feline, Anastasia, was bossy and would be the house leader. She was right, and Anastasia spent sixteen happy (and bossy) years as a member of the family.
Since moving back to the North Fork in 2014, Karen had been looking for an opportunity to serve the community in some form. In 2018, she was asked to represent the North Fork Animal Welfare League in its purchase of the Church Lane property, now the League’s Riverhead shelter. In working with the Board members, Karen realized that she needed to inquire about how she could do more. Becoming a board member has merged her love for animals, her desire to contribute to the community, work as a team, and put her organizational and analytical skills to use for a common goal.
Karen resides in Jamesport with her menagerie of cats and Australian Shepherds.
Patti Sinclair
Treasurer
Patti joined the North Fork Animal Welfare League Board of Directors in December 2022. She moved to the North Fork in 2020, relocating from New Hampshire. Patti is a CPA, working remotely for a firm in Manchester, New Hampshire. She found the league through social media, which was how she saw there was an opening on the board for a financial individual. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to contribute to her local community and put her professional background to use for a cause she passionately believes in.
Patti has been a CPA for over 20 years, working for large firms in Boston, MA, and Portsmouth and Manchester, NH. She has a Masters Degree in Taxation from Bentley University. She works with a wide range of clients in both for-profit and non-profit industries.
Patti grew up in New Hampshire with four siblings, a horse, a pony and many dogs. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors. Her hobbies include hiking, kayaking, traveling, and also collecting vintage clothing and participating in vintage themed events. She currently lives with her boyfriend in Greenport.
Joann Waski
Joann is a lifelong resident of Riverhead with a passion for serving the community and its residents, especially the furry ones. Together with her husband, three children and her one-year-old Cavapoo puppy, Josey, they call Jamesport their home.
When Joann is not home playing and snuggling with Josey or cooking for her family (she LOVES to cook), she can be found enjoying her career. Joann is the president of a family owned and operated title insurance company in Riverhead. She currently serves as Chairwoman to The Planning Board as well as The Board of Assessment Review for the Town of Riverhead. Joann is also the Vice President of Heidi’s Helping Angels. She may now add serving on the board for the North Fork Animal Welfare League as her latest accomplishment.
Joann began a greater interest in the North Fork Animal Welfare League when the league opened their shelter on Church Lane in Aquebogue. Joann knew that there was a great need for a shelter in the Riverhead area, and was happy to learn of the wonderful happenings within the new shelter. Joann has said that she is “honored to be a part of this amazing organization.”
Happy Pet Owners
have a lot to say about us!
“Incredible organization. Fiscally responsible, they stand behind the pets they adopt out. Animals are very well cared for and an extremely caring nonprofit organization. Without question, consider donating.
— KELLY C.
“We saw him and we felt connected,” Adi told Southhold Local. “It was meant to be.”
The people are great and the place is spotless. Want to adopt an animal?
Go there.— Seymour B.
“The most caring, compassionate, bunch of people that deeply love their animals. Don't shop, adopt. Adopt at NFAWL. They deserve your support.
— PATRICIA L.
The people are great and the place is spotless. Want to adopt an animal?
Go there.— Seymour B.
“They go the extra mile for animals in need. That's especially important as they hold two municipal shelter contracts (Riverhead & Southold). They are as good as it gets!
— DENISE L.
Greatest place to adopt from 🙂
- Katherine W.
“I love my Charlie and I’m so thankful for NFAWL
— VICTORIA G.