Local SPCA Needs Community Support

A Cape Charles family poses with their SPCA bundle of Joy: Brendan, Reegan, Penny the beagle, Erilyn, and mom Kathryn.

A Cape Charles family poses with their SPCA bundle of Joy: Brendan, Reegan, Penny the beagle, Erilyn, and mom Kathryn.

By WAYNE CREED
Cape Charles Wave

February 16, 2015

The Shore SPCA was founded in 1970, and began its mission here by providing the shelter used for Animal Control Operations. During the past decade, SPCAs around the state were re-evaluating their operations and returning to their roots by providing food, shelter, and medical care to homeless pets and attempting to find them homes. In 2005, the Shore SPCA Board decided to take on that mission and became a no-kill limited intake shelter. Currently, Shore SPCA shelters, treats, rehabilitates, and finds homes for household companion animals in hopes of reducing some of the burden on the Regional Animal Shelter in Accomack.

Although sheltering and adoption are a key function, the need for affordable spay/neuter services as a humane way to manage the overall population is also a big concern. According to Maureen Lawrence, president of the Shore SPCA, since 2008, “we have raised close to $95,000” which went toward a low cost spay/neuter program aimed at lower-income residents. Much of this came in the form of grants ($2,500) from Accomack and Northampton counties. These funds allowed them to qualify for a matching grant. Since then, they have been able to spay or neuter 375 dogs, 990 cats, as well as 502 feral cats. The cost for the surgeries was a low $25 for dogs, and $15 for cats.

As successful as this may sound, as many non-profit organizations will testify, funds from government and foundations have become very hard to come by. Things are beginning to look up, but due to the downturn of the last few years, funds for the spay/neuter program have become so low that the program has had to be temporarily suspended. Ms. Lawrence asserts, “Foundations are increasingly reluctant” to fund spay/neuter programs “without buy-in from the community” and unless they can show a means to sustain the program.

Ms. Lawrence remains optimistic, “We’ve asked Northampton for $3,500, and Accomack for $9,000.” The hope is to amass $12,500, hoping to get a matching grant.

It takes close to $25,000 per year to operate a program that services 500 animals. There has been some criticism that the SPCA has not been doing enough relative to gathering funds, as well as leveraging more from the volunteer community. Ms. Lawrence understands the criticism, and admits the last few years have been tough (not just for the SPCA), but adds that they are constantly re-evaluating the process. “The good news is we have a wonderful grant writer” that will be working hard to get the program back to where it was.

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Currently, the SPCA shelter is located at 26528 Lankford Hwy. in Onley, and its staff is made up of two full time employees – a shelter manager and a kennel manager – and three part time kennel attendants.

Lawrence added that the Shore SPCA has always had a great relationship with the Regional Shelter, and hopes to continue to partner with them in the future. A great example of this was when, after the hoarding incident when Accomack county animal control had to seize 15 dogs, the SPCA was able to handle the overflow at the Regional shelter caused by the addition of the confiscated animals.

Most would agree euthanasia of companion animals should be a last resort as a form of population control. For animals whose medical or behavioral conditions cannot be rehabilitated, euthanasia may still be the most humane alternative, yet with adequate space, time, and resources, all adoptable and treatable animals should be able to find a home. In and around the Shore, especially in places like Cape Charles, healthy feral cats should be allowed to live in their neighborhoods, rather than be euthanized because they are deemed non-adoptable.

That said, the success of any non-profit endeavor, especially for no-kill sheltering organizations like the SPCA, depends upon the partnership of animal welfare groups and the community. Through more powerful networking, social and educational outreach, political activism (a positive, optimistic and genuine interest), and additional funding from a variety of revenue streams, the plight of all our animals (that means chickens, cows and pigs too) may slowly begin to improve.

In his book The Tipping Point, author Malcom Gladwell describes the phenomenon as the “moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” He mentions a quality he calls “the Stickiness Factor,” where the “specific content of a message renders its impact memorable.” One has to think that the events of last few months involving the cruelty of dog theft and animal hoarding that we have witnessed in the news might just have a stickiness factor and may lead to a tipping point in how we treat our animals.

The best way to learn more about the Shore SPCA is to become a member and receive the quarterly newsletter. Dues are $30/year. They also take applications for volunteers which are frequently called upon to help support them at events. The website is www.shorespca.com and on Facebook at SPCA Eastern Shore Virginia. If you are looking for a pet, you can find those available for adoption on their pet finder website at www.petfinder.com. The SPCA is open for visitation Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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One Response to “Local SPCA Needs Community Support”

  1. Susan Bauer on February 20th, 2015 9:15 am

    Wayne, does this mean you will be giving up your cheeseburgers? Your reference to Gladwell’s book is so appropriate to this issue. Only when we take responsibility for and denounce the barbaric and unnecessary torture of farmed animals, will we reach that tipping point where, as a society, we reject the exploitation and abuse of all species.