Where LOVE is a 4-Legged Word

Esmae, Esau, and Parker reading to cats

BELMONT: The new SPCA, where LOVE is a 4-legged word, is a huge, energy efficient building full of cuddly, fancy rats; snugly, active kittens; and dogs of all ages and sizes ready to lick your face.

                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.

Esmae explaining a blue horse to a cat.

                An entire wing is for cats. Several rooms have groups of cats, all named, cute, and looking for homes. Each room has a window to the outer world, a cat gym and a covered litter box. If you would like to donate things to help them out, please note that they use wood pellets, the kind burned in stoves, in the litter boxes and not clay or corn based litter.

                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.

Locally made items for sale

                 On the dog-side of the building each animal has its own room with bed and bowls and sometimes run in an indoor play area.  The play area was funded in memory of the late Pat O’Brien of Alfred, a lifelong friend of dogs. Dog rooms have windows into the hall,  not the outdoors as in the cat wing.

                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.

Parker and a rat 

                Caring for all these animals takes resources.  Of course, money is always needed since they run on donations and fundraisers and no government money. It’s a no kill shelter so some animals stay long term and they need someone to talk with or walk with but they also need food.

                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.

magnets for sale

Locally made cat toys

                Donations are always welcome. Send a check to P O Box 381 Wellsville, 14895 or donate by credit card at 585-593-2200 between noon and 4 pm any day. You may donate online with PayPal at www.spcaallegany.org. Your help will keep the SPCA going for another 100 years.