SPCA installs Little Free Libraries
One of the Little Free Library units at the Chenango SPCA facility. The libraries offer children, teen, and adult books, and guests are welcome to take and leave books as they please. (Submitted photo)
NORWICH — The Chenango SPCA recently installed Little Free Libraries at their facility on County Road 32 in Norwich. The units are located under the trees next to the sidewalk leading in to the SPCA facility, and guests are welcome to take and leave books of their choosing.
"Little Free Libraries is a nation-wide thing where people can put up these small libraries. They probably hold, you know, 18 books or so, and people can come and take a book or they can leave a book, and we will restock this periodically," said Chenango SPCA Executive Director Annette Clarke. "We have an adult one and one for children. When I say adult, it's adults and teens. You know, it's just typical novels, but there's also some novels with animals in it."
The libraries were made possible by grant funding through the Otis Thompson Foundation, according to Clarke.
"It was a grant, and I wrote it for the Little Libraries, and we sent them pictures, and what we would do with it, and then where we'd put it. And so, yeah, they were very good about it," said Clarke. "They donated money for both the unit, the actual little library units, as well as some money towards books."
Clarke added that she chose Little Free Libraries because they could be done in coordination with the SPCA's Book Buddies program, where children can come to the shelter and read books to the animals.
"Especially with children, they may feel hesitant and a little intimidated by reading to an adult. But reading to an animal is very relaxing, because the animal is non-judgmental and won't worry if they stumble over a word," Clarke explained. "What they have found nationally is, students who do this, who have trouble reading but come and read to animals, that their reading improves tremendously."
The Book Buddies program has been a part of the Chenango SPCA for several years. Clarke said the shelter provides books of many reading levels for children, but said adults are also welcome to stop in with their own book to read to the animals as well.
"Usually we have books in the room of different levels. Or, we encourage adults to come, bring their own book and come sit in the cat room, let the cats crawl on them and sit with them while they read," said Clarke. "It's kind of a win-win for both the cats and for the people."
Currently, those wishing to participate in the Book Buddies program must contact the Chenango SPCA to make an appointment.
As of October 26, the Chenango SPCA is home to 179 cats and 12 dogs, putting them over capacity.
"We adopt them out, and then we get more in. So, I think so far, I know we've adopted out over 31 animals for the month of October so far. But we're still, you know, we have a total of 191 at the shelter," Clarke explained. "We have, comfortably, room for about 110."
To help with the cost of caring for the animals, Clarke said the SPCA is participating in the Save a Life Campaign through Staffworks, which aims to raise money for nonprofits relating to animals and their care.
Community members can donate to the SPCA through November 30 and December 31, and the Save a Life Campaign will match up to $10,000, according to Clarke.
"Coming up, our Save a Life Foundation through Staffworks is doing, again, the up to $10,000 match on our appeal, and that's starting November 30," she said. "Last year we raised 92,000 [dollars], and we got a match of 26 [thousand dollars]. So we're hoping to do better this year. Even better, you know, to see if we can beat our record."
The Chenango SPCA also recently participated in the Tractor Supply Rescue Your Rescue event, and is currently participating in the Subaru Love Your Pet Program, which ends on Sunday, October 31.
"We thank Subaru, Bill Rapp Subaru, for coordinating with us on the Subaru Challenge, and Tractor Supply for working with us," said Clarke. "We're waiting to hear, we did a Tractor Supply [contest] where people had to vote for us. And we put it out there and we hope that enough people voted."
According to the Chenango SPCA, they are a no-kill animal shelter serving the Chenango County area and surrounding communities.
"Chenango SPCA (CSPCA) is a no-kill animal shelter that provides care for lost and homeless pets, adopts pets to new homes, and educates families and the community about the needs of companion animals ... The mission of the Chenango SPCA is to provide and promote care, compassion, and respect for our animals and our community."
"Little Free Libraries is a nation-wide thing where people can put up these small libraries. They probably hold, you know, 18 books or so, and people can come and take a book or they can leave a book, and we will restock this periodically," said Chenango SPCA Executive Director Annette Clarke. "We have an adult one and one for children. When I say adult, it's adults and teens. You know, it's just typical novels, but there's also some novels with animals in it."
The libraries were made possible by grant funding through the Otis Thompson Foundation, according to Clarke.
"It was a grant, and I wrote it for the Little Libraries, and we sent them pictures, and what we would do with it, and then where we'd put it. And so, yeah, they were very good about it," said Clarke. "They donated money for both the unit, the actual little library units, as well as some money towards books."
Clarke added that she chose Little Free Libraries because they could be done in coordination with the SPCA's Book Buddies program, where children can come to the shelter and read books to the animals.
"Especially with children, they may feel hesitant and a little intimidated by reading to an adult. But reading to an animal is very relaxing, because the animal is non-judgmental and won't worry if they stumble over a word," Clarke explained. "What they have found nationally is, students who do this, who have trouble reading but come and read to animals, that their reading improves tremendously."
The Book Buddies program has been a part of the Chenango SPCA for several years. Clarke said the shelter provides books of many reading levels for children, but said adults are also welcome to stop in with their own book to read to the animals as well.
"Usually we have books in the room of different levels. Or, we encourage adults to come, bring their own book and come sit in the cat room, let the cats crawl on them and sit with them while they read," said Clarke. "It's kind of a win-win for both the cats and for the people."
Currently, those wishing to participate in the Book Buddies program must contact the Chenango SPCA to make an appointment.
As of October 26, the Chenango SPCA is home to 179 cats and 12 dogs, putting them over capacity.
"We adopt them out, and then we get more in. So, I think so far, I know we've adopted out over 31 animals for the month of October so far. But we're still, you know, we have a total of 191 at the shelter," Clarke explained. "We have, comfortably, room for about 110."
To help with the cost of caring for the animals, Clarke said the SPCA is participating in the Save a Life Campaign through Staffworks, which aims to raise money for nonprofits relating to animals and their care.
Community members can donate to the SPCA through November 30 and December 31, and the Save a Life Campaign will match up to $10,000, according to Clarke.
"Coming up, our Save a Life Foundation through Staffworks is doing, again, the up to $10,000 match on our appeal, and that's starting November 30," she said. "Last year we raised 92,000 [dollars], and we got a match of 26 [thousand dollars]. So we're hoping to do better this year. Even better, you know, to see if we can beat our record."
The Chenango SPCA also recently participated in the Tractor Supply Rescue Your Rescue event, and is currently participating in the Subaru Love Your Pet Program, which ends on Sunday, October 31.
"We thank Subaru, Bill Rapp Subaru, for coordinating with us on the Subaru Challenge, and Tractor Supply for working with us," said Clarke. "We're waiting to hear, we did a Tractor Supply [contest] where people had to vote for us. And we put it out there and we hope that enough people voted."
According to the Chenango SPCA, they are a no-kill animal shelter serving the Chenango County area and surrounding communities.
"Chenango SPCA (CSPCA) is a no-kill animal shelter that provides care for lost and homeless pets, adopts pets to new homes, and educates families and the community about the needs of companion animals ... The mission of the Chenango SPCA is to provide and promote care, compassion, and respect for our animals and our community."
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