Changes afoot in a busy year for the SPCA
NORWICH – With new programs, changes to its municipal contract, and the continuing search for a new executive director, the Chenango SPCA is looking this year to move forward with its mission of providing and promoting care, compassion and respect for animals and the community.
“We’ve had a really busy year,” said acting director Courtney Sullivan. Since last fall, Sullivan, who also serves as the CSPCA board president, has taken the reigns of director at the shelter. The CSPCA board is currently in the search process for a new director, which Sullivan hopes to have filled by the first of the year. “We have a few who are going to come in for a second interview, but it’s important that we find the right person for the job,” Sullivan said. “The board and the staff here are phenomenal. They’ve really stepped up to the plate in the meantime.”
Recently, the CSPCA has taken steps it says are critical in protecting its community reputation and avoiding legal discord wherever possible. The board made changes in its municipality contract – a contract entered by Chenango County municipalities to use services of the CSPCA – that prevent good-will samaritans from dropping off abandoned dogs. Under new stipulations, civilians who see a stray dog within their township, village or in the City of Norwich, must contact the dog control officer of that municipality to seize the dog.
“Any dog brought in by a good samaritan is considered an illegal seizure,” explained CSPCA Director of Operations Lisa Teller. “And it’s not safe for a good samaritan to pick up a dog,” she added, citing the potential for dogs to carry disease and safety risk involved in handling any animal. “Even a good animal can turn on you,” she said.
“We’re trying to simplify our contract, but also making sure our ‘t’s’ are crossed and our ‘i’s’ are dotted,” added Sullivan.
The CSPCA is also taking new measures to increase adoption opportunities at the shelter. In the last year, the organization began off-site adoptions in hopes of increasing its presence in local communities. The ten part-time employees working at the shelter have cared for a total 747 dogs and cats so far this year; 117 in September alone. To help, the shelter also began an animal foster care program and its opened more networking opportunities with other nearby shelters and dog rescues to take in dogs from the CSPCA. “Not all dogs adapt to shelter life easily,” Teller said. “These programs help them to adapt. It helps us to free up space at the shelter too so we can take more animals in.”
As part of a growing effort to reach out to pet owners, the CSPCA has started several new programs designed to assist people and their animals, especially when so many pet owners have relinquished their pets because they are yet another expense in rocky economic times.
The Spay Neuter Outreach Opportunity for Pets (SNOOP) program offers financial assistance to qualifying pet owners to have their pet spayed or neutered. Funding for SNOOP is based solely on free will donations from collection sites across the county, as well as money from a bottle return site at the shelter, and is a vital part in controlling the local pet population, said Teller. In addition, the organization is promoting its Kerby Program, also designed for qualifying pet owners who live on assistance. Kerby – funded by a private donor – offers flea treatment for dogs and cats with only a $2 recommended donation from the pet owner.
Of course, the CSPCA pet food pantry is ongoing too, noted Teller. The “Full Bellies Food Pantry” is always collecting donations. “If someone has a situation that comes up, we would rather they keep their pet and we give them food until they get back on their feet,” Teller said. “We’ve really worked a lot to expand on these programs ... We are here for the animals and we want people to know that.”
Currently, the coordinators and volunteers of the CSPCA are planning one of the shelter’s largest yearly fundraisers, the 5th annual “Woofstock,” which will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Blarney Stone Pub. The event features live music, food and opportunities for the community to donate for the cause of the CSPCA.
For additional information about the CSPCA or any of its programs and upcoming events, visit the organization’s website, www.cspca.org.
“We’ve had a really busy year,” said acting director Courtney Sullivan. Since last fall, Sullivan, who also serves as the CSPCA board president, has taken the reigns of director at the shelter. The CSPCA board is currently in the search process for a new director, which Sullivan hopes to have filled by the first of the year. “We have a few who are going to come in for a second interview, but it’s important that we find the right person for the job,” Sullivan said. “The board and the staff here are phenomenal. They’ve really stepped up to the plate in the meantime.”
Recently, the CSPCA has taken steps it says are critical in protecting its community reputation and avoiding legal discord wherever possible. The board made changes in its municipality contract – a contract entered by Chenango County municipalities to use services of the CSPCA – that prevent good-will samaritans from dropping off abandoned dogs. Under new stipulations, civilians who see a stray dog within their township, village or in the City of Norwich, must contact the dog control officer of that municipality to seize the dog.
“Any dog brought in by a good samaritan is considered an illegal seizure,” explained CSPCA Director of Operations Lisa Teller. “And it’s not safe for a good samaritan to pick up a dog,” she added, citing the potential for dogs to carry disease and safety risk involved in handling any animal. “Even a good animal can turn on you,” she said.
“We’re trying to simplify our contract, but also making sure our ‘t’s’ are crossed and our ‘i’s’ are dotted,” added Sullivan.
The CSPCA is also taking new measures to increase adoption opportunities at the shelter. In the last year, the organization began off-site adoptions in hopes of increasing its presence in local communities. The ten part-time employees working at the shelter have cared for a total 747 dogs and cats so far this year; 117 in September alone. To help, the shelter also began an animal foster care program and its opened more networking opportunities with other nearby shelters and dog rescues to take in dogs from the CSPCA. “Not all dogs adapt to shelter life easily,” Teller said. “These programs help them to adapt. It helps us to free up space at the shelter too so we can take more animals in.”
As part of a growing effort to reach out to pet owners, the CSPCA has started several new programs designed to assist people and their animals, especially when so many pet owners have relinquished their pets because they are yet another expense in rocky economic times.
The Spay Neuter Outreach Opportunity for Pets (SNOOP) program offers financial assistance to qualifying pet owners to have their pet spayed or neutered. Funding for SNOOP is based solely on free will donations from collection sites across the county, as well as money from a bottle return site at the shelter, and is a vital part in controlling the local pet population, said Teller. In addition, the organization is promoting its Kerby Program, also designed for qualifying pet owners who live on assistance. Kerby – funded by a private donor – offers flea treatment for dogs and cats with only a $2 recommended donation from the pet owner.
Of course, the CSPCA pet food pantry is ongoing too, noted Teller. The “Full Bellies Food Pantry” is always collecting donations. “If someone has a situation that comes up, we would rather they keep their pet and we give them food until they get back on their feet,” Teller said. “We’ve really worked a lot to expand on these programs ... We are here for the animals and we want people to know that.”
Currently, the coordinators and volunteers of the CSPCA are planning one of the shelter’s largest yearly fundraisers, the 5th annual “Woofstock,” which will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the Blarney Stone Pub. The event features live music, food and opportunities for the community to donate for the cause of the CSPCA.
For additional information about the CSPCA or any of its programs and upcoming events, visit the organization’s website, www.cspca.org.
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