<h3>Recent Press:</h3>
<strong>The Neighborhood Newspapers</strong> - Sept. 23, 2009 <a href="http://www.theneighbornewspapers.com/editions/ISBK.pdf">http://www.theneighbornewspapers.com/editions/ISBK.pdf</a>  - Page 14

<strong>News from the Town of Islip:</strong>
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<td width="100%">Town of Islip Town Board Honors Leader of Dog Education Class</td>
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<a href="http://www.townofislip-ny.gov/index.php/news/40-office-of-the-supervisor/815-town-board-honors-leader-of-dog-education-class"><img class="alignnone" title="toi" src="http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae304/Nancy1272/hassel20citation.jpg" alt="" width="455" height="241" /></a>
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<td colspan="2" valign="top"><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman;">Islip, NY<strong><em> –</em></strong> Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan (center) and the Town Board presented Nancy Hassel of the Dog Federation of New York with an official citation at a recent Town Board Meeting in Islip.<span>  </span>Nancy has led the Town’s Free Dog Education Class since its inception in March of 2008.  </span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman;">The free class, the first of its kind in New York State, is held twice a month and features commentary and training tips from professional trainers and veterinarians. In the past year alone, the class has hosted over 500 participants from all walks of life and from the ages of 5 to 85.  </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nancy’s work with the program has helped decrease the turn-in rate at the Islip Animal Shelter <span>by encouraging owners to work through their pet problems, as well as prompting new pet owners to adopt from the Animal Shelter.  </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-family: Times New Roman;">Pictured are (left to right) Councilman Chris Bodkin; Councilman Steve Flotteron; Councilman Gene Parrington; Mrs. Maynard, mother; Supervisor Nolan; Nancy Hassel; Mr. Maynard, step-father; Town Clerk Regina Duffy; and Councilman John Edwards.</span></td>
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<h3>Bio:</h3>
Nancy E. Hassel,<em> </em>Founder of<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-196" title="me" src="http://www.longislandpetprofessionals.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/me-273x300.jpg" alt="me" width="176" height="186" />
Long Island Pet Professionals, is a Long Island native who grew up in Babylon and relocated to the East End in 2005.  Working with pets has always come naturally to Nancy, whether it is taking in the small stray kitten, helping an injured bird, learning to ride horses in Denmark at the age of 5, to training and pet sitting dogs from every size and breed to teaching people how to work with their pets. Although she has had a wonderful career as a television producer &amp; coordinator, and in the world of trade shows and public relations (currently pet PR) - Nancy always felt there was a huge disconnect with pet professionals on Long Island.  After years of networking with other really great organizations, she decided to start a group solely for pet professionals -  alas Long Island Pet Professionals was born. 

Although, Long Island Pet Professionals was started on a whim and Nancy didn’t know what to expect, it has now morphed into a full blown networking group with many extras. A way to honor those working so hard every day in animal rescues, every month there is a featured Long Island non-profit animal rescue on the home page. Reaching out to the pet loving public, there is a free weekly email offered with all pet events happening across Long Island.  Nancy is planning more events and other exciting additions for the pet professionals and pet loving community on Long Island!  

Nancy is also a Founding Member of the Dog Federation of New York and has created and teaches Free! Responsible Dog Ownership Classes (education and training) in the Towns of Islip and Huntington since 2008.  Working with dogs for over 20 years, she is dedicated to educating and teaching people about dogs!  In June of 2009, she was awarded an “Outstanding Citizen” award by Supervisor Phil Nolan of the Town of Islip for her work with the Responsible Dog Ownership Classes.  She is also a committee member for Special Needs Dobermans and consultant with Uniting Against Lung Cancer and has worked on both "Kites for a Cure" events in Southampton and Babylon for the past 2 years.

Nancy has been featured in: Newsday, Long Island Press, News12.com, The Long-Islander, Suffolk Life, HuntingtonLife.com, Pet Product News, Daily News, Queens Chronicle, LIParentSource.com and Pet Age. 

As a 1994 graduate of New York Institute of Technology, Nancy received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Arts with a concentration in Television Production. While there she received the NYIT Academic Achievement Award and scholarship and was on the Dean’s List.

Nancy owns an awesome American Pit Bull Terrier, Max, who she adopted as a puppy from Out of The Pits.  Max is now 8 years old.