If you Witness Abuse

If you witness the abuse of animals call your local shelter, even if you are not sure.  The Lycoming County SPCA Humane Society Police Officers investigate every call we receive.  Some of our investigations involve simple counseling when people don't understand the needs of an animal.  Other cases require that we remove the animal(s) for their health and well being.

The Lycoming County SPCA can only investigate cruelty, abuse, and neglect in Lycoming County.  Our officers petition the court for their appointments and must participate in continuing education every two years.

People often say, 'I could never do your job.'  my response is, 'I do it because it is very satisfying to see the animals go to a wonderful home.' 

Help us keep animals in wonderful homes.  Report the abusers and help us make a difference.

Help for Injured Animals

We receive phone calls every week from people whose pets have a sudden illness or accident and can't find veterinary care.  I can understand a veterinarian's point of view.  They are self employed and have expenses to pay and earn a living.  If they have people who come to them all of a sudden with no established baseline, they ask for payment up front.  The pet owner will swear that they will pet the veterinarian, but once the pet recovers, they forget the promise.  So a veterinarian gets stiffed several times and then develops a policy of not treating unknown clients without payment first.  Is it right?

I, unfortunately see many, many pet owners who do not provide any vet care.  We receive animals with half their fur missing; flea infestations, parasite infestations, limps, lumps, injuries, emaciation, etc.  It is extremely frustrating for shelter workers and the Humane Officers to see this on a daily basis.

I believe that every pet owner should establish a relationship with a veterinarian.  That way, a pet will receive necessary vet care and, should it be injured; the vet will be more willing to let pet owners make payments.

What I would like to see is a free to low cost vet clinic where people pay based on their income.  I can dream can't I?

DNA Test for Dogs

I have a mutt.  She looks a little like a Chihuahua and a Corgi.  Some think she has Jack Russell or Dachshund in her.  Do you have a dog that you just can't figure out?

Well now you can test your dog's DNA.  I just ordered kits that we will sell for $64 plus tax.   So if you are curious, or you have a friend or family member that needs a unique Christmas gift, consider a doggie DNA kit. Sounds like fun to me!

Ten Things a Shelter Worker Should NOT Say

10.  WTF!  You are giving up your pet because it sheds?
9.  OMG.  You haven't taken your 3 year old pet to the vet since it was a pup and now that it has no fur left you want to DONATE it to us?
8.  Do you know how much money I make?
7.  So, you have a cat in your yard and you want us to pick it up.....if you had cockroaches in your kitchen would you expect  an exterminator to get rid of them for no charge?
6.  You tie the dog to a dog house, she is not spayed, and you wonder why she keeps having puppies!
5.  If you didn't let your cat out it wouldn't be lost.
4.  You lost your cat a week ago and you are just now calling to look for it?
3. Do you really think your child would take care of a pet without your supervision?  Do you expect him to do his own laundry too?
2.  Your dog is too big? Did you think your Saint Bernard would stay puppy size all its life?
1.  You should be euthanized.

So Touching!

One of our volunteers asked if the Lycoming County SPCA would donate a dog to TADSAW (Train a dog save a warrior).  It is an effort to help our service men by providing them with a companion.  Below is an email we received from a recipient.  Situations like this is why we come to work every day.

"We are the recipients of the dog you knew as Atlas (now named Alistair).  He was the dog you donated to TADSAW (Train a dog save a warrior a division of Penny’s from heaven).  Iohanna was the one that you dealt with and she said you would like to have an update.  So I have attached two photos of my husband and Alistair.  His training is still in progress to become a full service animal, but for the first time in over a year my husband was able to stay in a grocery store long enough to complete my whole list.  This may not seem like much to many, but because of his PTSD for him it is huge.  My husband served in Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia and has not been the same since.  We would like to say thank you to each and everyone one of your employees and volunteers.  Without your generous donation of sweet Alistair my husband would not be making the progress that he is.  So, thank you does not seem nearly enough and we wish we could do so much more.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Can't Sleep

I wake up in the middle of the night and immediately start thinking of all the work on my desk.  November is a particularly busy time because we have our Sweet Temptations event.  Tickets are selling like hot cakes.  (Pun intended)  It's always a lot of fun with our celebrity emcee.   This year Stef Davis of WBRE will emcee our event.

Since it is the 10th anniversary we will have ten dessert vendors. YUM! 

There are 100 auction items and the majority can be seen through our link on our website on the events page.  There are some very special items;  a signed and numbered Armstrong print, a football signed by Joe Paterno, and more......

And don't forget our wonderful adopted dogs.  You will be surprised by some of their stories.

Shelter Closings

All across Pennsylvania shelters are closing their doors.  What does that mean for us?  It means more animals, more stress, more phone calls, more people needing help.  Lycoming County is in North central PA.  Tioga, Potter, Union, Northumberland, Montour and Sullivan Counties do not have shelters.  Bradford county SPCA called today asking if we had room for their overflow.  Unfortunately we did not.  It is just wild crazy that the State of Pennsylvania, and many of the townships and boroughs rely on SPCA's for animal control.  What will the municipalities do if the all SPCA's decide that they will be limited admission?  Where will all the animals go?  The Lycoming County commissioners withdrew $25,000 in funding for our SPCA.  I think that they should decide what to do with all the excess animals.