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| Esmae, Esau, and Parker reading to cats |
It’s
impressive. It’s always impressive when a small group of people works out a way
to knock down problems, find grants and form committees that end up pushing not
paper but progress as they turn an empty lot into hope. More impressive – this group has been working
for abused and neglected animals since it was founded in Cuba in 1911.
The new
facility at 5440 State Route 19 in Belmont has been gearing up for a few weeks
to open to the public this month. It will be open 7 days a week from noon till
4. They have the same phone number (585-593-2299) and mailing address (P O Box
381, Wellsville 14895) to make reaching them easier.
Linda Pruski,
President of the Board of Directors, talked about the design of the building
and credited Andrew Harris of Wellsville. When the SPCA started raising money
for a new, undefined facility, Harris was the owner of Better Days in Wellsville.
For a time, he dedicated a dollar from every order of chicken wings to the SPCA
building fund and, eventually, that amounted to $6500.
That
chicken wing fundraiser paid for the services of Animal Arts, a design firm
that focuses on the architecture of veterinary and animal shelter facilities.
They design so that staff and volunteers who care for animals work smarter and
better. The money was well spent, said Pruski, “It was the smartest thing we
did.”
At the
direction of Animal Arts, the new SPCA has a large foyer with room for a
receptionist, lots of people and a store. There are items made for resale such
as shirts and magnets but also locally made items from by Fetching Fashions by
Dawn in Wellsville and J & J Animal Products in Olean. You can find
jackets, doggy diapers, neck scarves, and other items, with animal themed
fabric or for animal use in a variety of sizes and colors with a portion of all
sales going to the SPCA.
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| Esmae explaining a blue horse to a cat. |
There
are a few cages moved from the old facility for temporary housing for cats
needing to be kept quiet or isolated while healing from surgery or injury. When
they can manage it, the cages will be replaced with a cat patio – a catio.
There is
a room for rodents. Are you aware of how popular rats are? These are called fancy
rats and apparently college students like them to ride in their hoodies or in a
sweatshirt pouch. Rats train easily, are social, and like to bond with people
so offer a lot of company in a small package earning the title of pocket pals.
The male
and female rats at the SPCA are separated early in their lives since their
interest in breeding begins early and American veterinarians discourage spaying
for rodents though the surgery is done in the UK, should anyone ask.
Female
rats stay with female pups and the moms co-parent all pups. Rats are happier
with company so they recommend adopting rats in pairs. A while ago someone in
Niagara County was found to have 400 rats in poor circumstances and the Allegany
County SPCA answered a call for help finding homes for 40 rats at first but
having continued demands, they brought more to the shelter.
There
is a surgery area as well as an isolation area with its own dish washer and
clothes washer and dryer to keep any contagions in check and there are laundry
facilities and store rooms for feed and supplies.
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| Locally made items for sale |
There’s
a meet and greet room for adopting families and animal to have a visit and see
if they are meant to be together and the whole thing is heated with a geo
thermal system to keep costs down.
The
facility still has 10 full time staff members as it did at the old facility and
accepts the help of many volunteers, all necessary to make the shelter work. One
thing that is making demands on the SPCA now is the fact that so many farm
animals (goats, chickens, ducks, horses, cows, and a number of pregnant ewes)
were rescued. The animals had to be held for some time to give them medical
care but also were held as evidence. Now these animals are starting to go to
homes.
Some of
these farm animals are at the old facility in Wellsville and others are at a
borrowed barn in Scio where all feed and care has to be provided by the SPCA so
there is a staff member on the road to tend them since the new building has no
space for farm animals.
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| Parker and a rat |
The
wish list also includes solar panels on the roof, a barn on site and outdoor
play areas for dogs and one might not predict what else. Forever homes are always needed and adopting
an animal requires payment of a set fee to help with the costs. Each animal is
spayed or neutered (when appropriate) and is given vet care including shots as
well has having a micro chip inserted.
A lot
of the care for animals comes from the Alfred State College Vet Tech program and
Dr. Doug Pierson who stops by weekly to check the animals. Some animals spend
time at the college where students learn to care for them. The Vet Tech program
is an essential part of the Allegany County SPCA and defines the quality of
care given to animals.
Volunteers
are always needed at the shelter but they also ask for these things to fill
their store rooms: wood pellets for
litter box use, blankets, paper towels, bleach for disinfecting, laundry soap, hay for farm animals, Purina cat food, Purina
kitten chow, and 4 Health dog food sold at Tractor Supply.
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| magnets for sale |
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| Locally made cat toys |
