"It's a terrific example of public-private cooperation to make a positive change," said Supervisor May Newburger, describing the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter's ambitious new "Have a Heart" public awareness project. During "Be Kind to Animals Week," May 2-9, town officials and a band of dedicated community volunteers will unveil a new logo on attractive new signs on roadways leading to the shelter as a first step toward a higher profile for the well-regarded facility.

"Have a Heart" began as the brainchild of Port Washington businessman Richard Schefer, whose family recently adopted a 10-year-old beagle, Dana, from the shelter, after it was found abandoned by town animal control officers. Mr. Schefer, a longtime dog enthusiast who has also helped fund important veterinary research at Texas A&M University, approached Community Services Commissioner Anne Croce and Animal Shelter Director Susan Hasset to offer his assistance on the local scene. Enlisting the help of friends and business acquaintances, Mr. Schefer met with town officials and outlined a number of short range and long range ideas they had to increase awareness about the shelter and the benefits of pet adoption. Beautiful new magenta, white and blue signs with shelter information will begin appearing around town as a first step in the plan now being implemented by town departments.

Dog and cat owners and their pets who attend the town's free rabies vaccine clinic on Saturday, May 9 will see the new signs and will also meet some of the shelter's new volunteers, who'll be offering encouragement to prospective pet owners in attendance. The free rabies vaccines will be given from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and are offered free with the help of the North Shore Animal League. For more information about the clinic, residents are asked to call the shelter at 944-8820.

"Project Have a Heart is a model project developed as an alliance between our local government, community residents, schools and concerned businesses," said Mr. Schefer. "Our goal is to increase the number of adoptions from our Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter, and to save the lives of abandoned, lost and homeless animals."

Commissioner Croce, who oversees shelter operations, pointed out that "Our shelter consistently maintains a 55 percent adoption rate among dogs staying with us, the highest success rate of Long Island's 12 publicly-owned animal shelters. But we can do even better, and we will through Project Have a Heart."

The first Have a Heart signs, designed by volunteer Ray Stuart of the Stuart Group, will be constructed by the expert staff in the town's own highway division sign shop. With the approval of state officials, signs will be strategically placed on Port Washington Boulevard leading to Marino Avenue, at the foot of which sits the North Hempstead Animal Shelter amidst five scenic, wooded acres.

Other plans being considered include aesthetic enhancements to the shelter facility, many new adoption incentives, aggressive education and outreach programs through schools and possible expansion of the shelter's mission to protect more types of local animals.

Organizations can arrange to have Officer Hassett and her staff visit and discuss the shelter and its work by calling 944-8820. She will usually be accompanied by the shelter's friendly mascot, Cooter, a mixed breed who was found and nursed back to health by town wardens in one of the shelter's most inspirational success stories. The Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter is located at 75 Marino Avenue, Port Washington and is open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.