SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE
Brooklyn, NY ~ (917)734-0442

SEAN CASEY, FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Sean Casey is a New York City native who has had an interest in animals his whole life. His childhood home in Brooklyn was teeming with children and a variety of animals as far back as he can remember. Besides the typical dogs, cats and turtles, he grew up watching his mother take in and care for baby birds who had fallen from their nests, injured squirrels and rabbits hit by cars, and lost dogs or cats who would later be joyfully reunited with their owners through his mother's efforts. Even now his mother still takes in stray dogs and cats around their neighborhood, has them spayed or neutered at her own expense, and returns them. As Sean got older he assisted his mother in her "nursing" endeavors, and eventually started taking in "patients" of his own. Through these experiences, he developed a deep sympathy for injured and displaced creatures, as well as practical experience in how to safely handle injured or otherwise stressed-out animals.

At the age of twelve he bought his first reptile, a senegal chameleon, and joined the New York Herpetological Society for reptile and amphibian enthusiasts. His interest in reptiles grew and soon he was adopting unwanted pets from other NYHS members. Sean had to do a lot of homework during these times as each new animal had unique needs which required research and individual consideration. In the years following he became known as a willing source of information and assistance to anyone who needed help with their reptiles or other exotic animals.

Sean eventually went to work for a Manhattan "animal rescue" operation, a natural vocational choice for someone of his nature and experience. It was not at all what Sean thought a "rescue" would be like, and he was terribly disenheartened by the poor treatment the rescued animals were receiving. He finally quit the rescue and went back to just taking in unwanted animals from people he knew. Sean's reputation for a high recovery rate and genuine concern for the welfare of his animals did not go unnoticed. Before long, unwanted or injured animals were coming in from other sources as well. The numbers were growing and Sean turned his attention to developing an environment condusive to the comfort and care of these creatures. He also started actively looking for suitable homes for many animals, and soon had placement resources all over the country.

One day it occurred to Sean that he no longer had a little hobby helping animals...

He was running a rescue.

Though still in its infancy, the rescue is well established. Besides Sean's expertise in the care and recovery of the animals, the placement success rate has increased significantly. Interested adoption candidates are carefully screened, educated about any special needs their adopted animal may have, then they are asked fill out an adoption form stating that the animal will be returned to Sean if for any reason the adopter can no longer care for it. Sean has also recently started the process for official "not-for-profit" status.

In addition to managing the rescue, Sean assists local shelters with the handling, housing and placement of problematic or unusual animals, has authored "care sheets" for a vast variety of animals, and has even consulted for the NYPD regarding animal cases. Every spring he is inundated with post-Easter ducks, chickens, and rabbits having lost their holiday novelty value, whom he finds homes for at vegan (totally vegetarian) farms in upstate New York. He has also worked with aggressive and problematic cats and dogs, focusing on pit bulls, with much success transforming them into friendly, manageable pets. Current projects include co-designing the Biophilia Children's Zoo in Pennsylvania, working as an animal handler for an internationally-known photographer, and has been approached by the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department for assistance on a breeding project for the conservation of local populations of American Bullfrogs and Painted Turtles, as well as a relocation effort which will involve safely trapping and relocating a non-native species of turtle that is overrunning the local habitats.

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