the scoop - Pennsylvania SPCA

PENNSYLVANIA
THE SCOOP
www.pspca.org
How a Once Abandoned Dog Saved a Life
IN THIS ISSUE
Rocky was abandoned.
w Letter from Our CEO
He and another Pit Bull mix were
found in a makeshift plywood
trailer, surrounded by metal
shards and splinters. Chained
to the inside, Rocky’s little head
was popping out. The staff at
our Central Pennsylvania Center
at Danville quickly found additional
kennel space for the two
breeding dogs.
w Santa Paws
w Republic Bank Investing
in Humane Education
w The Purr-fect Makeover
w Ask the Experts
w What’s the Scoop?
Army veteran Darren Troup has
served in various capacities
including deployments to Baghdad
and Kuwait. After being diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD), Darren was strongly advised by his doctor to get a service dog.
At the PSPCA, he instantly connected with his soon-to-be “battle buddy,”
Rocky. Training dogs has long been part of Darren’s life, and Rocky easily
passed his certification test.
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As a service dog, Rocky is always by Darren’s side, joining him at
restaurants, the library, the doctor’s office, and one of his favorites – the dog
park. “He keeps me grounded,” Darren says. “I have a lot of nightmares. He
lies on the bed with me, with his head on my chest, until I wake up and they
go away. He’s helping me. If it wasn’t for [Rocky], I don’t think I’d be here
right now.”
Adopting a shelter pet can clearly have an even greater impact than the
blessing of saving the animal’s life; sometimes, it can turn around the
adopter’s life as well. Thank you, Darren, and thank you, Rocky!
A Message from CEO, Jerry Buckley
PENNSYLVANIA
Dear Friends,
Two years ago, we embarked on a strategic plan to
strengthen our mission to improve the welfare of animals
in our region, and we have seen the truly life-changing
results of our work. We have expanded Humane Law
Enforcement into 23 counties and more where we see
the need. We have added our Humane Education
department to proactively prevent animal cruelty.
Together, we are making Pennsylvania a safer place
for pets.
The Pennsylvania SPCA is
dedicated to protecting
animals, preventing cruelty
and improving the health
and quality of life for animals
in Pennsylvania.
Indeed, during the last two years, you have helped us:
w Investigate more than 20,000 reports of animal cruelty;
w Realize 191 convictions through the establishment of the Humane Litigation
department and the addition of a staff attorney;
w Find loving homes for more than 11,000 animals;
Central PA Center
2801 Bloom Road
Danville, PA 17821
570-275-0340
w Treat more than 46,000 animals in our outpatient clinics;
w Spay and neuter more than 16,000 pets;
w Expand and strengthen our Behavior and Training department; and
w Launch our Humane Education department, which kicked off with 86 programs and
presentations and reaching almost 3,500 people.
These milestones are possible because you are on our team of animal advocates. As you read
about our news, events, and initiatives in the following pages, I hope you will be inspired to
continue saving lives with us as adopters, as fosters, as volunteers, and as donors. Thank you.
Jerry Buckley, CEO
Pennsylvania SPCA
Elizabeth Romaine,
Director of Communications and Marketing
We’re pleased that Elizabeth Romaine joined the PSPCA
in January. Liz has more than 15 years of extensive
marketing and public relations experience. For almost
a decade she helped high-growth retailer Five Below
expand its store base from 20 to more than 350 stores.
Additionally, she volunteered for five years at the
Delaware County SPCA participating on event
committees, working with animal programs, and
serving as a cat and kitten foster mom.
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Locations
Headquarters:
350 E. Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19134
215-426-6300
Liz’s family includes her husband and two rescue cats,
Burlington, the Maine Coon, and Meow Meow, a
special-needs tortie.
To Donate
Visit www.pspca.org/donation
or email
[email protected]
To Volunteer
Visit www.pspca.org/volunteer
or email
[email protected]
Cruelty Hotline
Call 866-601-SPCA
Chief Executive Officer
Jerry Buckley
Chief Operating Officer
Mary Jo Bernardo
Financial Controller
Jennifer Green
Director of Humane
Law Enforcement
George Bengal
Executive Director
of Development
Jennifer Welsh
Visit us online at:
www.pspca.org
Given a Second Chance
L
ast year, the Pennsylvania SPCA investigated more than 8,900
cases of cruelty and neglect across 23 counties in Pennsylvania. Every day, lives are saved and animals are given a second
chance. Thanks to the support of our donors, volunteers, fosters
and adopters, thousands of animals are now happy and safe in
new homes. Here are updates on a few of our cases from 2014:
Dog Fighting Case Set for Trial
How could anyone forget the adorable dogs and puppies rescued from the
alleged dog fighting ring in South Philly? We certainly can’t! The good news
is that our preliminary hearing was successful, and we are now waiting for the court to set a trial date for this felony
case. Fortunately, all of the dogs were surrendered, and they quickly found their forever homes.
241 Cats – Now Safe
Last March 241 cats were rescued from a self-proclaimed “Crazy Cat Lady”
in Philadelphia by our Humane Law Enforcement department. Though the
courts gave a disappointing not-guilty verdict, we were able to negotiate the
safety of each cat into our care. Today, all but 9 cats have been placed in
new forever homes. We will continue to find the perfect fit for the remaining
cats, until they are all home.
Parrots and Cockatiels
and Parakeets, Oh My!
One house, more than 30 birds! The owner pled guilty to 12 animal
cruelty charges for neglecting more than 30 birds and three Huskies.
He was also ordered to pay $9,157 in restitution. Most of the birds fully
recovered after the PSPCA delivered necessary medical treatment. As part
of the plea agreement, the birds were placed with rescue groups to find
permanent homes. The Huskies were returned to their owner on the
condition they were spayed and neutered, which we did, and that the
PSPCA has inspection rights for the next three years to ensure the dogs’
health and well-being.
The 62 Dogs of Christmas, Rescued in Lancaster County
Large-scale rescues are becoming increasingly necessary. Just
before the holidays, we rescued 62 dogs and puppies from a house
in Lancaster County. All of our furry friends have been adopted
through the PSPCA’s main shelter in North Philadelphia, our Central
Pennsylvania Center in Danville, and our satellite adoption locations
in Pets Plus Natural stores, as well as through our rescue partners.
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Thank You to our Corporate Supporters
Many of our corporate sponsors provided much needed financial support, in-kind items and contributed
professional services in 2014. We would like to thank our corporate supporters for being animal advocates.
AC Moore
Americraft
Anthropologie
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Bissell Pet Foundation
Black & Poole
Blackney Hayes Architects
Boomerang
CAB SpA
CBS Radio
Concord Pet Foods & Supplies
Cozen O’Connor
FBD Partnership, LP
Flyers Charities
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
Holt’s Cigar Company
Humane Society of the United States
J & J Snack Foods Corp.
Lumber Liquidators, Inc.
Marguerite Rodgers, LTD
Marsh USA
Mercer Health & Benefits LLC
Meridian Bank
Microsoft Software Donation Program
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Natural Animal Nutrition
Neiman Marcus
Penn Veterinary Supply
Pepper Hamilton LLP
Pet360
Petmoir, LLC
PetSmart Charities
PetValu
Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies Charities
Piazza Auto Group
Republic Bank
Saks Fifth Avenue
Smokin’ Betty’s
Society Hill Veterinary Hospital
Stanton Health, LLC
Subaru Of America, Inc.
Supper Restaurant
The Coca-Cola Company
The Law Office of Michael S. Connor, Esq.
The McDevitt Company
Tory Burch, LLC
Universal Solutions, Inc.
Vacationwired.com
Vault Communications
Wines ‘Til Sold Out
*We are deeply appreciative of support at every level. However, due to space restrictions, we are only able to list corporate sponsors in
this edition of The Scoop that contributed $1,500 or more in 2014. If we missed your corporation in error, please contact Kathy Giles at
(267) 463-2313.
Here Comes Santa Paws
Before
Jolly Santa Claus may be a welcome visitor coming down
the chimney, but lonely Santa Paws was found discarded in a
Northeast Philadelphia basement. On December 23, our Humane
Law Enforcement officers rescued this weak young Pit Bull mix,
gently carrying him out of his heartache and into our Shelter
Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
After a month of continuous care, our veterinary staff members
checked their list twice, and put him on the list of good boys with
a clean bill of health.
Today, Santa Paws is eagerly watching for that perfect person to
take him home. Because the PSPCA works under a no-kill
philosophy, he has all time he needs.
Thank you to all of our supporters who provide the resources
needed to help these animals heal, physically and emotionally,
and make their wishes come true, at the holidays and year-round.
After
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Republic Bank
investing in
Humane Education
The Purr-fect
Makeover
Republic Bank has donated $10,000 to
support the PSPCA’s Humane Education
efforts. This gift was made possible
through Pennsylvania’s Educational
Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.
Republic Bank turned tax dollars into
Jerry Buckley with Republic
Bank’s Randy Wolfe
educational funds to help us teach kids
and adults at schools, youth programs, and
community organizations about animal cruelty, animal safety, and
responsible pet ownership. Through our Humane Education program,
we strive to prevent animal cruelty by promoting care, compassion, and
respect for all animals. Our goal is to change the perceptions of animals in
our community and teach people to develop empathy – first with animals,
and eventually with other people. In 2014, we reached more than 3,400
community members, and thanks to Republic Bank’s support, in 2015 we
are confident we can expand even further.
To learn more about how to support Humane Education through EITC, please contact
Jennifer Welsh, Executive Director of Development, by telephone at (267) 463-2312 or
through e-mail at [email protected].
Thanks to a generous gift of $50,000 from
an anonymous donor, our feline residents
will soon be living in new, more spacious
and more comfortable housing. The donation will enable us to provide an enriched
environment to promote happier, healthier
more adoptable cats.
The PSPCA plans to refresh two of our cat
adoption rooms with softer lighting, a sound
system for melodic music, a fresh coat of
paint and upgraded housing. We will transform the housing from small, industrialized
metal cages to customizable cat towers
which feature larger, more open areas as
well as multiple levels of play area and living
space, including hiding areas to ensure cats
can retreat to de-stress when necessary. The
tower is designed to feel like high rise apartment living for cats while maximizing facility
space and can be customized with a divider
to accommodate an unexpected increase in
the shelter’s cat intake.
Best practices suggest that our environment
and housing meet the animals’ behavioral
needs, be welcoming to the community, as
well as functional for the shelter, staff and
volunteers. By upgrading our environment
and housing we will increase our cats comfort and health and reduce the amount of
time between rescue and adoption.
Stay tuned!
5
Ask the Experts
Springing into Action
With spring in the air, outdoor fun calls us all – dogs and humans alike! Outdoor activity is
essential to any exercise regimen, giving your dog a mentally stimulating change of scenery,
as well as burning physical energy. Please consult your vet about any exercises you should
avoid because of your dog’s physical limitations.
Here’s how to turn your dog’s exercise into a real canine work-out:
Digging
Some dogs are unabashed diggers. It’s not good for your garden, but it’s a great workout
for the forelimbs. Rather than trying to inhibit this instinctive behavior, give your dog a
designated digging area or sandbox. Dig a shallow hole, and bury a plastic baggy of
treats. As his digging reveals the baggy, open it up and deliver a treat with lots of praise.
Progressively plant the baggy slightly deeper in the dirt. Just remember to supervise so
you can discourage your dog’s wandering paws from other parts of the lawn.
Fetch
Playing a hearty game of fetch has always been great exercise. Throw the ball or toy uphill, or get your dog in the water
for a full-body endurance workout.
Walkies!
To get cardiovascular benefit from a walk, your dog needs to trot. Start your walk at a clip fast enough
that your dog needs to trot to keep up. After he’s settled into this gait, you can often slow your own
speed, and he should continue on at his lively pace.
Canine Sports
Depending on your pet’s natural abilities, agility sports, tricks, and nosework games are great
sources of exercise for dogs and humans alike.
For more information on our training programs, work those finger muscles and contact
Laura Garber, Manager of Behavior and Enrichment, by telephone at (215) 426-6300, extension 260,
or by e-mail at [email protected].
Laura Garber, Certified Professional Dog Trainer Knowledge Assessed® Manager of Behavior and Enrichment
We are very happy that Laura Garber joined the PSPCA in January. We’re confident Laura will
significantly enhance our behavior and enrichment program to help rehabilitate our animals and
reduce their length of stay in the shelter.
Laura relocated from Long Island, N.Y., where she had run the Hempstead Animal Shelter
behavior department since 2012. For the past decade, Laura has also held behavior counseling
roles with the ASPCA, Forgotten Friends of Long Island, Last Hope, Liberty Humane Society,
Cornerstone Pets, and WoofGang, which she also owned.
Laura believes strongly in strengthening the bond between human and companion animal.
She regards training as an exercise in relationship-building rather than obedience. Her approach
promises greater understanding and symbiosis within our family packs.
Her own pack includes rescued German Shepherd Dog Trista, her loving canine companion, and
an unruly herd of three black kitties.
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What’s the Scoop?
Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening at the
Pennsylvania SPCA!
Blossom Blooms
Blossom was rescued from a life of animal fighting in 2011 by our Humane Law
Enforcement department. After four years without finding her forever family at our
Philadelphia shelter, this playful Pit Bull mix journeyed to our Central Pennsylvania
Center at Danville to meet new potential adopters. And it worked. Within days,
she found her new family. Thank you to Luke and Jessica Gaverick for opening
up your home and hearts to this amazing girl!
Doctor’s Orders: A little TLC
Some animals need a little extra help to ensure their health and happiness. This
means they are extra special. Papi, is one of these special needs animals. This 7
year-old tabby has a history of Bladder Stones, which have been removed, but
he needs a specific diet for the rest of his life and regular veterinary check-ups.
But other than this, he is just like every other cat and is looking for a lap to lounge
on and some regular chin rubs. Animals with special needs just need a little extra
TLC and may be easier to care for than you think. Please consider adopting one
of these special pets.
Time Well-Spent
It’s been more than 8,000 hours since Renee Ragno began volunteering with our
team in April 2014, and she has given more than 350 of those hours to helping
the animals in our care. Her passion is in doggie behavior, enrichment, and
socialization, and she has quickly become one of our volunteer leaders, also
helping train new volunteers.
Renee and all of our volunteers are vital to our life-saving work. We can’t do
it without them, and we can’t thank them enough! To learn how you can get
involved, please visit www.PSPCA.org.
Turning Lemonade into Blankets, Treats, and Toys
Last summer, Pierce, a 12-year-old from Haverford, custom-built a lemonade
stand. He and his cousins sold enough lemonade to purchase dozens of cozy
blankets, toys, and treats for our shelter animals.
Pierce, his sister, Marielle, and mom, Pam, also a PSPCA Board Member,
recently dropped off the goodies and donated $74, the balance of his proceeds.
What started out as a lemonade stand to support animals has turned into part
of this generous young man’s bar mitzvah project. Mazel tov, Pierce!
Have an idea to support animals? Please contact Amanda Rossi, Development
and Special Events Coordinator, at [email protected].
Piazza Pet of the Week
Tune into The Chris Stigall Show on Talk Radio WPHT 1210 AM every Wednesday
at 8:50 a.m. to hear about our Piazza Pet of the Week. We thank our partners at
the Piazza Auto Group and CBS Radio for the opportunity to highlight one of our
adoptable animals each week.
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Charitable Gift Annuity:
The Gift that Pays you Income
When 87-year-old Deb Marsteller reflects on her life, she humbly recalls her
good fortune. Deb and her husband, Walter, now deceased, had many
passions. Together they traveled to photograph both hemispheres
while they managed a small business, built a planetarium, unearthed
350-million-year-old plant fossils, and rescued dozens of animals, including
cats Chips, Susie, and Toby, and a beloved Sheltie, Heidi.
When Walter died at 61 in 1975, Deb, a homemaker, took stock of her life
and turned her attention to helping others.
“I’ve always been a saver,” she says. “I don’t need the money, but other
people and organizations do. I care about humanity, education, animals,
and the environment. We are all connected.”
As a donor for 24 years, Deb understands the need to protect animals and save lives. She has zero tolerance and harsh words
for people who abuse innocent animals.
Last year, Deb made her commitment more permanent with a generous charitable gift annuity, transferring cash or stock to the
PSPCA in return for fixed quarterly payments that continue each year for life. Through such a gift annuity, the donor benefits
from a substantial income tax deduction and, if appreciated securities are contributed, minimizes and defers capital gains tax
that would otherwise apply at the time the asset is sold. When the annuitant dies, the remaining principal becomes a gift to the
organization.
Deb never remarried after Walter’s death because she said she already had the “best husband ever.” Today, she sings in her
church choir, watches her favorite Philly sports teams, and visits with friends. She appreciates the enhanced security her gift
annuity provides: she can count on receiving quarterly annuity payments from PSPCA like clockwork, and rest easy knowing
that her annuity investment is backed by PSPCA.
“I get up every morning with a purpose, and that keeps me going,” says Deb. But she admits with a smile, “I am finally ready
to take it easy.” These days, the income from the gift annuity comes in especially handy, and Deb enjoys knowing she is
supporting PSPCA and the animals.
To learn more about how to make a charitable gift annuity, please contact Patti Mecca, Director of Planned Giving, at
(267) 463-2317, or e-mail her at [email protected].
How you can help!
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Your gift today will help us continue our mission
of protecting and improving the lives of animals.
To make a gift:
Online: www.pspca.org/donate
Phone: 215-426-6304 Ext. 272
Mail: The Pennsylvania SPCA
Attention: Development
350 E. Erie Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19134
The PSPCA is not affiliated with the ASPCA or any other animal welfare organization.
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