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Arts & Culture

SHELTER ME: Partners For Life

Nikita, adopted from a Massachusetts animal shelter, stars in “Partners For Life,” an upcoming episode of the PBS series SHELTER ME. Worcester County Sheriff's Department in central Massachusetts turned to Sterling Animal Shelter when there wasn't enough money in the budget to replace its retiring tracking dogs. The department covers 60 towns, a prison and a million people. With drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts rising, including 1,200 last year, the department needed a good drug detection dog. Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis sent Lt. Tom Chabot to find a shelter dog that was young, friendly, enthusiastic, smart and free. Chabot came back with Nikita.
Courtesy of ShelterMe.TV
Nikita, adopted from a Massachusetts animal shelter, stars in “Partners For Life,” an upcoming episode of the PBS series SHELTER ME. Worcester County Sheriff's Department in central Massachusetts turned to Sterling Animal Shelter when there wasn't enough money in the budget to replace its retiring tracking dogs. The department covers 60 towns, a prison and a million people. With drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts rising, including 1,200 last year, the department needed a good drug detection dog. Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis sent Lt. Tom Chabot to find a shelter dog that was young, friendly, enthusiastic, smart and free. Chabot came back with Nikita.

Airs Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 1 p.m. on KPBS TV

SHELTER ME: Partners For Life: Preview

SHELTER ME “Partners For Life” is hosted by Jon Hamm, and features country music icon Emmylou Harris and the incredible work she's doing to help homeless pets and disadvantaged youth in Nashville. There’s also a moving segment about fostering pets and a story about law enforcement agencies that recruit shelter dogs for their prestigious K9 units.

Each year 6-8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters in the United States. Half of them will be euthanized. This situation can be improved if communities get more involved with their local shelters.

SHELTER ME believes that change comes from inspiration, not desperation. By focusing on positive stories, we are addressing misconceptions about shelter pets and helping get more adopted into loving homes.

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We will be supporting the broadcasts with a comprehensive media and social media campaign, including outreach by local shelters, rescues and national animal welfare organizations. SHELTER ME does not focus on the doom-and-gloom. We tell upbeat stories that will lift viewers' spirits and fill them with hope.

SHELTER ME is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @ShelterMeTV on Twitter.