–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
At this time, SPCA Paws for Love therapy teams will be assisting:
~Tops Markets associates: visits started May 18 and will be made all week, expected to continue next week;
~Buffalo Academy of Science Middle School: visits begin this week, possible future dates to be added;
~Crisis Services: a series of visits begin next week;
~Grand Island Elementary Schools: dates currently being scheduled;
~Winning Smiles Dental Care located in the Jefferson Ave. area: visits begin next week for employees who were directly and indirectly impacted by Saturday’s shooting;
~WKBW-TV Channel 7: after station representatives learned of SPCA therapy services during our appearances on the station (see those stories here >>), management recognized the need for therapy visits to station staff, which begin tomorrow;
~Build Community Schools: Paws for Love teams will visit multiple classrooms and schools in the Jefferson Ave. area throughout the month, while school is still in session;
~Erie County, NY: Working with the County Executive’s Office, providing Paws for Love therapy teams at the Johnnie B. Wiley Sports Pavilion this weekend. Coming: neighborhood strolls with Buffalo Peacekeepers, stress-relief events for first responders at the scene of Saturday’s shooting, and stress-relief events with Erie County and City of Buffalo employees.
Please see image above to learn how to receiving therapy visits or become an SPCA Paws for Love volunteer.
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
May 17, 2022
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
To thank the men and women of the armed services this Memorial Day, the SPCA Serving Erie County offers “Vets & Pets,” waiving adoption fees on most animals for individuals and immediate families of individuals on active duty, reserves, and honorable discharge, along with service-disabled veterans and those retired from military service. This program, a longtime SPCA tradition, is proudly brought to our community by philanthropist and SPCA supporter Nancy Gacioch of Buffalo!
Vets & Pets begins Monday, May 23 and runs through Monday, May 30* at the SPCA’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter and all SPCA off-site adoption locations.
Photos of all adoptable animals can be found here >>.
See a list of our off-site locations here >>.
Military ID or DD214 will need to be presented. If an individual is currently serving outside of New York State, that individual’s spouse can adopt during Vets & Pets if a military spouse identification card is presented. Adopters can apply the Vets & Pets waived adoption fee promotion toward a total of two animals.
Please contact SPCA Adoptions Supervisor Krissi Miranda with any questions: (716) 875-7360, ext. 233.
*Please note: The SPCA’s West Seneca shelter is closed on Sunday and Monday, May 29 and 30, but many of the SPCA’s off-site adoption locations are open those two days! See a list of our off-site locations and photos of the animals available here. To be pre-approved to adopt an off-site pet, please call the SPCA’s Offsite Adoptions Department at (716) 875-7360, ext. 235, or visit the 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
May 16, 2022
Dear SPCA Friends & Family:
On Saturday morning May 14, members of our SPCA’s Humane Education Department embarked on a visit to Buffalo Public School #99, the Stanley M. Makowski Early Childhood Center, 1095 Jefferson Ave. in Buffalo. We were participants in an event teaching children about the different ways to safely express themselves and their feelings through art, words, music, and more.
Mere hours later, less than one mile away, ten lives were taken in a barbaric act of violence, rage, and racism.
The people we lost to this hatred, members of our community, were exceptional individuals who, we have learned, truly made the world a better place for those in their lives and for so many they didn’t even know. Our hearts go out to the victims, to their families, to all the people in our towns and cities and counties who are suffering from this hateful brutality.
The violence inflicted upon these individuals, and the violence that affects community members every single day in our neighborhoods, is something we must continue to fight together. With one voice. As one community.
The SPCA Serving Erie County stands committed to its work of putting an end to such violence. Our specific efforts in response to this weekend’s killings are slowly unfolding, but we are ready to bring our existing programs where they are needed most. Our Paws for Love therapy pet visitation teams are on notice, ready to step in at counseling events, therapy sessions, stress-relief events, and more to help suffering individuals cope with their feelings, fears, and emotions. Our Humane Education team is ready to bring our important message of anti-violence, inclusion, empathy, respect, compassion, and love to our community’s children. Our pet food pantry is already in the process of delivering pet food and litter to neighborhoods filled with pet owners who may have difficulty acquiring these items at this time.
We are certain there will be more opportunities for our humane society to assist in efforts designed to not only help with what happened this weekend, but to fill the needs that arise in Erie County every day.
Our SPCA has and will remain diligent in its contribution to the creation of a society more humane, more inclusive, more accepting, and more loving. This can only be accomplished when our entire community works together in solidarity against acts of bigotry, racism, hatred, and violence.
As always, we remain honored to serve the people of Erie County and beyond.
Committed to Kindness,
Cait Daly
President & CEO
SPCA Serving Erie County
CaitD@yourspca.org
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
From the office of Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn:
BRANT WOMAN ARRAIGNED ON 49 MISDEMEANOR COUNTS FOR FAILING TO PROPERLY CARE FOR CATS, DOGS, CHICKENS AND HORSES
May 13, 2022 — Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 49-year-old Jesika S. Bristol-Glor of Town of Brant was arraigned yesterday evening before Brant Town Justice Jeffrey Gier on nine counts of Overdriving, Torturing and Injuring Animals; Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance and 40 counts of Failure to Provide Proper Food and Drink to Impounded Animal (misdemeanors under New York Agriculture and Markets Law).
The investigation began after the SPCA Serving Erie County received a report of animal neglect. It is alleged that on April 4, 2022, SPCA investigators conducted a welfare check of the animals at the defendant’s home on Brant Farnham Road in the Town of Brant and provided recommendations on how to improve upon care for the animals. It is further alleged that on April 20, 2022, SPCA investigators conducted a second welfare check and found that care for the animals had not improved. A search warrant was obtained for the property.
The defendant is accused of failing to provide necessary food, water and care to the animals confined to her property. It is alleged that on April 22, 2022, at approximately 10:00 a.m., investigators executed the search warrant and found three cats, eight dogs, three horses and 32 chickens living in unsanitary conditions without access to food and water. Nine of the chickens were severely emaciated. All of the animals were seized and remain in the custody of the SPCA.
Bristol-Glor is scheduled to return on Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. for further proceedings. She was released on her own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail. Judge Gier issued an order that prevents that defendant from owning any animals while the case is pending.
If convicted of all charges, Bristol-Glor faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
Judge Gier issued an arrest warrant for the defendant’s husband who has also been charged in this case.
“I want the residents of Erie County to know that my office is committed to protecting the welfare of all animals. This defendant is accused of failing to provide food and water to more than 40 animals living on her property. Animal neglect is a crime. When you bring an animal into your home, you are responsible for their care. I want to thank our partners at the SPCA for their work in this investigation and the many services that they provide to help animals in our community,” said Erie County DA John Flynn.
“The SPCA Serving Erie County works together with the community to ensure all animals are treated humanely, with respect, and that includes farm animals,” said SPCA President/CEO Cait Daly. “The fact that District Attorney Flynn and his team stand behind ending cruelty to animals of all types reminds us once again of why we are so proud to serve this county. This particular instance involved work and assistance from various organizations and individuals, and it’s inspiring to witness this community working together as a team, expressing zero tolerance for any form of animal cruelty.”
DA Flynn commends the SPCA Serving Erie County and SPCA Investigator Lindsey Wood for their work in this investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Richard K. Barney, III of the Justice Courts Bureau.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For more information, contact the Erie County District Attorney’s Office at (716) 858-2529.
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Serving Erie County Chief Communications Officer
May 13, 2022
By: SPCA Vice President of Veterinary Services Melanie Rushforth
The SPCA Serving Erie County has been accepted into the Maddie’s Fund We Foster Challenge!
The We Foster Challenge is meant to help shelter and rescue organizations create or expand community-based foster programs that will get community members involved and proudly saying, “We foster! So can you!” As we shift towards a more community-centric model of animal welfare, it’s important to get everyone in the Western NY area involved. After all, fostering is a job just about anyone can do. Pet owners know the incredible bond that humans and animals have and the importance of keeping families together. Foster care is a powerful way to achieve that. That’s what the We Foster Challenge is all about!
Throughout the month of May, the SPCA Serving Erie County will be highlighting Shadow Cats as our We Foster Challenge project. Shadow Cats is a new initiative which works to meet shy or fearful cats where they are behaviorally to assist them in navigating the journey to becoming adoptable pets living out the rest of their lives in long-term homes. We are seeing a positive response regarding the acceptance of these shy cats just the way they are, so we are expanding the adoption opportunities and housing of these cats to colony settings within the SPCA’s physical shelter as well. While some Shadow Cats need to get out of the shelter to showcase their personalities, some are best kept with their buddies in the colony rooms that we have in our modern shelter. We let the cats help us understand what they need.
Shadow Cats are the best friend you don’t yet have. They are quiet, stealth, and maybe just need a little extra time to acclimate into your home before they settle into being a lap cat. Or perhaps they’ll remain the quiet and polite roommate that is grateful for your companionship and company….from a distance. Shadow Cats offer the benefit of companionship without the burden of constant attention. They’re great pets for individuals that work from home, or individuals who might work nontraditional shifts. They’d be great roommates in apartments (they don’t need too much space!)
Pets are like people in so many ways, so why wouldn’t some of them be a little shyer than others?
This exciting Challenge is funded by Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Maddie’s Fund® and Cuddly in collaboration with Adopt-A-Pet.com, Adoptimize, American Pets Alive!, ASPCA, The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, Best Friends Animal Society, Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE), Community Cats Podcast, Greater Good Charities, HeARTS Speak, Humane Society of the United States, National Animal Care and Control Association, Petco Love, and PetSmart Charities. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this important shift in the work of animal welfare.
Want to get involved with fostering (or even adopting) your own Shadow Cat? Please contact the SPCA Serving Erie County’s Foster Care Department via email at FosterCare@YourSPCA.org.
From the office of Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn:
DEPEW MAN TO SERVE JAIL TIME FOR BEATING HIS CAT TO DEATH WITH A BASEBALL BAT
May 12, 2022 — Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 52-year-old Boyd C. Baker of Depew was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to 6 months in jail followed by 5 years of probation.
On February 14, 2021, at approximately 10:48 p.m., Depew Police officers responded to a residence on Penora Street after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor. The defendant is accused of hitting his cat, “Roxy,” multiple times with a baseball bat in the driveway outside of his home. The severely injured cat suffered for a few hours before it was found by police. The cat died a short time later. A necropsy determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. (Read the original story here >>)
Baker pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Class “E” felony) on February 28, 2022. The defendant pleaded guilty to the only charge in the indictment against him two days before testimony was scheduled to begin in his non-jury trial.
As part of his sentence, Judge DiTullio ordered that the defendant undergo anger management counseling and issued a lifetime ban that prohibits him from owning any animals in the future.
DA Flynn commends the Depew Police Department, SPCA Investigator Bill Heine and the SPCA Serving Erie County for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Megan E. Mahoney and Christine M. Garvey of the Felony Trials Bureau.
For more information, contact the Erie County District Attorney’s Office at (716) 858-2529.
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Serving Erie County Chief Communications Officer
We’re hearing from more creative kids in Buffalo!
From SPCA Humane Educator Katherine: “We had two groups of students from the Charter School of Applied Technology (CSAT) visit us in March for their visual arts class. They took photos of the animals and made them into posters promoting adoption!”
Thank you to Digital Arts Teacher Lauren at CSAT for sharing this impressive work, and thanks to the students for helping us picture our beautiful animals in such a unique, contemporary way!
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
Open interviews May 12 will include the following positions*:
Animal Care
Adoptions Counselor
Facilities Attendant
Humane Educator
Seasonal Camp Counselor
Veterinary Assistant
*This list is regularly updated; please check back for additional positions listed. There are other employment opportunities at the SPCA that may not be interviewed for on Thursday; to see all openings including those that will be interviewed for May 12, please click here >>
See this story on Newsradio930 WBEN >>
See this story on Buffalo Scoop >>
