October’s Subaru Loves Pets Campaign at Northtown Will Benefit Animals at the SPCA Serving Erie County
October 3, 2022
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
Northtown Subaru in Amherst is celebrating Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month this October in a different way…in about 3,100 different ways, to be exact! Plus, they’re letting 
the cats join in the celebration.
For every dog or cat adopted at the SPCA Serving Erie County this October, Northtown Subaru will donate $100 to the SPCA as part of the Subaru Loves Pets campaign! The donation will be made for up to 31 animals, one for each day of the month!
Subaru is a long-standing partner of a national animal cruelty prevention society, and since 2008 has helped to support more than 1500 adoption events that helped approximately 57,000 animal nationwide.
This year, Northtown Subaru, located at 
3930 Sheridan Dr. in Amherst, will keep Subaru’s donation local, and by donating to the SPCA Serving Erie County, Northtown Subaru will be assisting homeless animals right here in our community.
“Partnering with the Northtown Subaru team is always an absolute pleasure and we are so grateful for their continued commitment in helping the animals in our community,” says SPCA Annual Giving Manager Phillip Weiss. “This promotion will not only help more animals get adopted but it will also earn more funds to help the animals who are in need of medical attention, food, shelter, and comfort when they have nowhere else to turn. Northtown Subaru is a true friend of animals and the SPCA Serving Erie County!”
See adoptable animals at the SPCA >>
HAUNTED WOODS WALK BENEFITS SPCA SERVING ERIE COUNTY
Join the 5th Annual Haunted Woods Walk to benefit the SPCA Serving Erie County!
Bring the entire family on this 1-hour guided tour and bonfire (weather permitting) happening October 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29 at 1660 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca. Tours begin at 7 p.m.
Presale tickets only are available for $5; just call 716-826-4133 to reserve your space(s) now!
One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the SPCA Serving Erie County!
We’ll see you in the woods for a mysteriously-marvelous time!
(Please, no costumes, masks, or alcoholic beverages.)
SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR SWEET, FOUR-FOOTED FARM FRIEND
September 29, 2022 — We said sad goodbyes this morning to a sweet, gentle friend not only loved by SPCA staff members and volunteers, but loved by thousands throughout the community.
Even those folks just passing the SPCA on the I-90 East grew fond of looking for Newman the goat, grazing the pastures of our Educational Farm.
Newman, a 10-year-old Nubian goat, was brought to us by one of our animal cruelty investigation officers after being rescued from a neglectful owner/caretaker in January, 2014. Newman, 
almost 2 at the time, was tested for and was suffering from a permanent condition most likely acquired at a very young age, Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis (CAE); he was receiving no care for the condition. Newman was also emaciated and suffered from pneumonia. After months of loving care and veterinary treatment, Newman rebounded beautifully from the emaciation and pneumonia, and became a permanent resident of the Educational Farm, helping to teach thousands of children and adults about goats and farm animal care while serving as best friend to Xylord, the SPCA’s resident miniature horse.
Newman’s CAE started to progress at an increased rate last year, and SPCA Educational Farm Manager Sheila Foss and her team went to work monitoring Newman, keeping him as comfortable as possible. By late summer, Sheila noticed Newman slowing down significantly; he was having more difficulty getting up and down, walking more slowly, and she noticed he didn’t want to stay out in the pasture as long as he usually did in the past. The SPCA’s Patti Burg, then-assistant farm manager who originally helped in bringing Newman to the SPCA and worked alongside Newman throughout his 9-year residence at the SPCA, also saw changes in him.
Earlier this month, local large animal veterinarian Dr. Jean Feldman, who has treated SPCA farm animals for decades and was Newman’s veterinarian, visited as part of an instructional presentation to veterinary students at the SPCA. When she observed Newman’s continuing decline, Dr. Feldman knew some tough choices had to be made. After discussing the situation with Dr. Feldman, Sheila, Patti, and new Educational Farm Associate Raeleigh May made the heartbreaking choice to say goodbye to Newman this morning.
We know so many of you in the community share our sorrow in bidding farewell to this amazing soul who has brightened so many of our lives just by his presence.
-Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer & Sheila Foss, SPCA Educational Farm Manager
Click the image below for the full story by WGRZ-TV’s Kevin O’Neill:
TOUCHDOWN!
Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane and Wife Hayley Continue “Bills Muttfia” for SPCA Serving Erie County Animals
September 19, 2022
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
Give in honor of the Beanes and their Bills Muttfia HERE! >>
Hayley & Rob Lucas Talk Muttfia on Star 102.5 >>
The Beane Family
It’s official! For the third year in a row, Buffalo Bills’ General Manager Brandon Beane and wife Hayley will continue the Bills Muttfia program at the SPCA Serving Erie County!
For every home game touchdown scored by the Buffalo Bills, the Beanes will pay the adoption fee of one SPCA animal!
Dogs, cats, small animals, birds, reptiles, even farm animals will be drafted into the Bills Muttfia depending on the SPCA’s population on game day. New Muttfia team members will be announced on the SPCA’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) at noon the next business day following each home game.
“No matter what happens at work, good day, bad day, you win 40 to nothing, lose 40 to nothing, your dogs are fired up to see you when you come in the door, and that’s a cool feeling, the love and nurturing that they bring to the family,” Brandon Beane says in a BuffaloBills.com video focused on the Beanes and the importance of pet adoption.
“Brandon and I are so excited to start another season of Bills Muttfia!” says Hayley. “We love rescues, and have two of our own. Plus, it is heartwarming and inspiring to see the wonderful work done by the SPCA Serving Erie County. ”
The Bills Muttfia program, conceived by the Beanes, picks up where Hauschpups left off.
Two years ago, the Beanes, staunch supporters of pet adoption and owners of two rescue dogs (Bodie and Peanut Beane, pictured here), immediately jumped at the chance to reimagine a program originated by former Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka and his wife, Lindsey, who paid the adoption fee of one dog, or “Hauschpup,” for every home field goal kicked.
Bills Muttfia meets the goal originated by Hauschpups: help the SPCA Serving Erie County place animals with loving families more quickly.
To date, approximately $9000 in adoption fees have been paid by the Beanes, and more than 102 animals have been adopted through the Bills Muttfia program. In fact, one Muttfia draft pick, a guinea pig named Sherman, now sports the last name “Beane” after Hayley adopted him in December of 2021!
“I think adopting is so important because you have shelters that are just full,” added Hayley, who joined the SPCA Board of Directors last year. “We’re hoping for LOTS of touchdowns this season! GO, BILLS!”
This season’s Bills Muttfia draft will begin with the Buffalo Bills’ first home game Monday night, September 19, against the Tennessee Titans.
For more on Bills Muttfia, watch this BuffaloBills.com video or read Vic Carucci’s article in the Buffalo News.
See adoptable animals at the SPCA Serving Erie County >>
Bills Muttfia Recipient of Bar Bill Golf Tournament >> >>
Bills Muttfia Included in Bills’ Community Honors >>
Make a $150 donation to 2022’s PAWS IN THE PARK and you’ll be entered to win Buffalo Bills General Manager Brandon Beane’s one-of-a-kind Bills Muttfia cleats, part of the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats program!
No promotion code necessary! Just donate $150 or more to help animals at the SPCA Serving Erie County and you’ll be entered….but hurry! This game ends at 9 p.m. Tuesday, September 20! Score for SPCA animals and DONATE TODAY!
Winner will be notified at the email address provided on Wednesday, September 21! Good luck, and GO, BILLS!
YES, I want to ENTER with a $150 donation >>
SPCA Takes Part in Maddie’s Fund We Foster Challenge
By Melanie Rushforth, Vice President of Veterinary Services
The SPCA Serving Erie County has been awarded funding for demonstrating success through the Maddie’s Fund We Foster Challenge! The SPCA Serving Erie County has not been awarded funding from Maddie’s Fund since 2019, so this is extra exciting for us.
The We Foster Challenge was designed to help shelter and rescue organizations create or expand community-based foster programs that inspire community members to get involved by 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 was all about. The process from start to finish involved an initial pitch of an innovative idea; selection to move onto the working portion of the challenge; reporting out on the results of the challenge; waiting while the experts at Maddie’s Fund evaluate our outcomes…and AWARD!
Throughout the month of May, the SPCA Serving Erie County highlighted Shadow Cats as our We Foster Challenge project. Shadow Cats is an ongoing internal 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 expanded the adoption opportunities and housing of these cats to colony settings within the SPCA’s physical shelter as well. If you come to the SPCA, you’ll notice that one of our beautiful colony rooms is dedicated to a group of gorgeous Shadow Cats. 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 was 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 recognition of our part in this important shift in the work of animal welfare. This funding will allow the SPCA to continue to support animals needing a soft place to land outside of the shelter walls, and the supplies required of their loving foster families.
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 or visit their page!
Bar Bill Tavern Charity Golf Tournament for #BillsMuttfia and SPCA a Soaking Success!
Thank you to Bar Bill Tavern, for selecting Brandon & Hayley Beane’s #BillsMuttfia and the SPCA Serving Erie County as the beneficiaries of its third annual Charity Golf Tournament on Tuesday!
A non-stop rainy day did not stop the dedicated golfers, volunteers, and 
SPCA Paws for Love participants from enjoying the festivities!
We were thrilled to be a part of this exciting event, and we know it’s a sign of an exciting #BillsMuttfia season to come! Thank you to the golfers who participated and made the
event a soaking success!
Find additional photos here >>>
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Serving Erie County Chief Communications Officer
