(STAY TUNED! More on the SPCA’s involvement with HASS coming soon! You won’t want to miss it!)
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
— Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
June 7, 2022 — What happens when elementary school students take on the task of creating posters, newscasts, and essays helping animals find new love? ANIMALS FIND NEW LOVE! Thanks to the third-grade students of Amy Fakterowtiz, Shannon DeMarco, and Sue Strefeler at Windermere Elementary School in Amherst, new people in the community are taking notice of the need to adopt or foster animals from the SPCA Serving Erie County!
The students took part in a persuasive writing project in an effort to find more families to adopt or foster SPCA animals. A June 6 ceremony at the SPCA to celebrate the students’ work included a check presentation (the children did a coin drive and collected more than $400 for SPCA animals!) and some Tale for Two reading to the animals. In fact, this program sparked the creativity of the SPCA’s Humane Education team members, who plan to expand on this concept and bring it to more schools in Erie County during the ’22-’23 school year! Below, find links to photos of the fun, student newscasts, stories that aired on local stations, and an article from the Amherst Bee!
VIDEO: Windermere Student Newscast, Animal Fostering
See this story in the Amherst Bee >>
By EMILY MILLER, Reporter
Two third grade classes at Windermere Elementary School have teamed up with the SPCA Serving Erie Country for a special project. The classes of Amy Fakterowtiz, Shannon DeMarco and Sue Strefeler, along with their students, organized a persuasive writing pilot program to help animals at the SPCA find their fur-ever homes.
Fakterowitz said she was inspired by an article in the Washington Post about a class project to help shelter animals get adopted. “A class in Virginia wrote letters from the perspective of the animals that were not getting adopted, and they were hung on the cages at a shelter and I thought that was a great idea.”
Fakterowitz said she proposed the project when the students started their persuasive writing unit. “This is the first time we’ve done this and we’re hoping for a really long relationship with the SPCA because they do outstanding work and have been so wonderful with us and easy to work with.”
Persuasive writing is a type of writing in which the author tries to convince the reader of their viewpoint. “Our project is about the SPCA and how to adopt and to foster animals,” said student Shruthi Kannan.
Fakterowitz said the project came to life after several meetings and discussions with the SPCA and putting their own “spin” on the project to meet their needs. “I reached out to the SPCA and they got back to us in one hour; they were so excited to do this [with us].” As part of the project, students were asked to write about why people should adopt one of the animals at the SPCA, why people should foster animals and how the animals need to be cared for.
Student Natalie Sheaks said that they were able to pick which animal to write about and learn how to take care of them for the project. “There’s so many animals at the SPCA because they’re not taken care of [by owners], and they’re just not getting adopted.”
Fakterowitz said the students were given the option of which of five animals to write about.
The SPCA invited all the students and their families to an open house celebration when their writings will be displayed on the adoptable animals’ cages.
The open house will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 6, at the SPCA, 300 Harlem Road, West Seneca.
Students and attendees “will be able to read to the dogs that are there,” said Fakterowitz. “They can tour the facility and, who knows, even walk out with a best friend.”
While this is the first year for the project, Fakterowitz is hoping to hold it again.
“All year, these kids have been learning how to be community activists and how they can make a difference,” said Fakterowitz. “Even though they are children, this [project] is helping them to learn that with hands-on experiences.”
For more information on the SPCA Serving Erie County, visit yourspca.org.
Student Josie Yates said the project is important because the SPCA has a lot of animals. “It’s helping animals get adopted,” she said.
Natalie pointed out that the project “is important because people need to know how to take care of animals and that you’re not just saving the lives of the animals you’re adopting, you’re leaving room for an empty cage for another animal that needs help.” — EMILY MILLER, Reporter
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
On June 6, WGRZ – Channel 2 Buffalo allowed us to share some information on what a puppy mill could look like, and why it’s important that the “Stop the Puppy Mill Pipeline” bill is signed into law by Governor Hochul. Watch here >>
June 2, 2022
By: NYS Animal Protection Federation’s Libby Post, (518) 857-6788
The Companion Animal Care Standards Act for Shelters and Rescues was passed by a vote of 149-0 in the State Assembly on Tuesday, May 31st after it passed by a similar margin of 61-0 in the State Senate on Wednesday, May 25th. The bill, A6245c/S6870b, provides comprehensive, uniform facility and animal care standards for shelters and rescue organizations.
The basis for much of the provisions related to such standards is the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ (ASV) 2010 Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters. The bill covers all aspects of shelter and rescue operations including training requirements, recordkeeping, facilities standards, housing, sanitation, management protocols, animal husbandry, veterinary care, behavior and transportation.
The effective date of the bill is three years after the bill is signed by the Governor. “This time frame will give shelters and rescues the time they need to meet these standards,” said Libby Post, Executive Director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation. “Our sister organization, the Federation’s Education Fund, will receive $147,000 in grant funding to provide low cost/no cost consulting to help these organizations reach and maintain these standards. We’re not leaving folks out in the cold—we’ll be with them every step of the way to help them provide the best care for homeless companion animals. It is essential that we raise the standard of care for homeless companion animals. We hope that Governor Hochul agrees on this point and urge her to sign this important bill.”
“The Federation began working on this bill over 10 years ago,” said Stacie Haynes, the Federation’s president and Executive Director of the Susquehanna SPCA. “This is one of the most consequential pieces of legislation for animal shelters and rescues. The Federation’s Companion Animal Capital Fund initiative which has now brought $28M in state funding to capital projects at shelters across the state will be integral in helping both shelters and rescues reach these standards.”
Under the bill, all shelters and rescues would be licensed as animal shelters because the bill creates a licensing and inspection program that will be administered by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Animal Industry.
Get the full action pack here >>
“I’m thrilled that the Companion Animal Care Standards Act (A.6246C/S.6870B) has passed in the Legislature! This legislation, which provides comprehensive standards of care for animal shelters and rescues, seeks to protect and improve the lives of animals in these organizations throughout New York State,” said Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin (D-Westchester). “I thank my sponsor in the New York State Senate Joseph Addabbo, Jr., the New York State Animal Protection Federation, and the many other advocates who worked relentlessly to bring this bill to passage. So many of our homes and families have been blessed by the companionship of a loving animal. It’s wonderful to now be one step closer to ensuring that they’ll receive the high degree of care they deserve.”
“We have made tremendous strides on behalf of homeless companion animals across New York. Since not all facilities are monitored by the state, this legislation will require all shelters and rescues to be licensed by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, to ensure safe and humane conditions, with proper cleaning, nourishment, and veterinary care,” said Senate sponsor Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens). “By creating a universal system for training personnel, recordkeeping, and a written outline of practices and responsibilities, we are addressing ineffective and unenforceable laws while further protecting innocent animals.”
“The passage of this long-awaited measure marks the beginning of a new era in animal sheltering and rescue in New York State,” said Bill Ketzer, senior director of state legislation for the ASPCA. “Conceived and championed by shelter directors, veterinarians, behaviorists and other welfare professionals, these uniform facilities standards will directly support and enhance the lifesaving work of all organizations serving homeless and abused animals in communities statewide. We greatly appreciate the hard work of Assemblymember Paulin and Senator Addabbo in passing this bill, and urge Governor Hochul to sign it into law.”
New York’s animal shelters are committed to saving lives and making a difference in the towns, cities and villages they serve,” said Brian Shapiro, New York State director for the Humane Society of the United States. “This legislation is based on standards established by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) guidelines, which were developed to raise the standards of care throughout the sheltering community. The HSUS applauds the work of Assemblymember Amy Paulin and Senator Joe Addabbo for bringing this important legislation over the finish line. We respectfully urge Governor Kathy Hochul to sign this bill into law.”
The New York State Animal Protection Federation is the advocacy voice of New York’s network of animal shelters. Founded in 2010, the Federation now has over 100 members comprised of municipal and nonprofit shelters, brick and mortar rescues, local and national animal welfare organizations.
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
It’s only appropriate that, during our Summer of Love, the SPCA Serving Erie County has a big, ol’ hunk of burning love for the WNY Elvis Appreciation Society [WNYEAS]!
In April, the WNYEAS held a fundraiser featuring Buffalo Music Hall of Fame member Terry Buchwald 
to benefit our hound dogs and other animals! Last night, WNYEAS President Kevin Kedzierski, Secretary/Treasurer Sylvia Walworth, and other members of the group were taking care of business, presenting a check for more than $3000 to the SPCA Serving Erie County’s Gina Lattuca!
Sylvia says, “Many people don’t realize that Elvis Presley gave so much of his money away. Donations, taking care of others…this was very important to Elvis. Part of the reason our group is in existence is to honor that caring quality, which was a big part of who this remarkable man was.”
To date, the WNYEAS has donated more than $10,000 to the SPCA Serving Erie County, and we couldn’t be more shook up!
Thank you, WNYEAS! Thank you very much!
-Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer