Category: News

PAROLEE ARRAIGNED ON DRUG AND ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES

October 13, 2020
By: Erie County District Attorney’s Office Public Information Officer Kait Munro

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 43-year-old Douglas D. Williams of Buffalo has been arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Amy C. Martoche on the following felony charges:

• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class “B” felonies
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony
• One count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a Class “E” felony
• One count of Permitting Animal Fighting on One’s Premises, a Class “E” felony
• Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor

The defendant was arraigned on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

The defendant was the subject of an investigation led by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. It is alleged that on the evening of Friday, October 9, 2020, the defendant was arrested during a traffic stop in the Town of Clarence and a search warrant was executed at his residence on the 2000 block of Bailey Avenue in the City of Buffalo. Inside the house, investigators allegedly found an illegal firearm, a scale as well as a quantity of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Five pit bull terriers, believed to be used for dog fighting, were also allegedly found in inadequate conditions inside the home. Two other dogs were allegedly in the vehicle with the defendant at the time of his arrest.

The dogs are in the care and custody of the SPCA Serving Erie County.

Williams is scheduled to return on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at a felony hearing. He was released on $40,000 bail posted in Buffalo City Court.

If convicted on all charges, Williams faces up to 25 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, the Buffalo Police Department Intel Unit, and the SPCA Serving Erie County for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rachel Kranitz McPhee of the DA’s Animal Cruelty Unit.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Read the original story >>

DOG FIGHTING RINGLEADER AND DRUG DEALER ARRESTED

October 12, 2020
By: Erie County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Scott Zylka

Defendant is on Parole and has a Conviction for Similar Cruelty Charges

UPDATE Oct. 13: Williams Arraigned >>

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports the arrest of 43-year-old Douglas Williams of Buffalo on October 9 for drug and animal cruelty charges following a month-long investigation led by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics and Intelligence Unit initiated an investigation after receiving reports of armed drug dealing and dog fighting occurring at a Bailey Avenue residence. The investigation culminated in the defendant’s arrest following a traffic stop in Clarence and the execution of a search warrant at Williams’ home.

During the traffic stop on Friday, Deputies rescued two American Bull Terriers believed to be en route to Williams’ residence for dog fighting activities.

In the afternoon and following the traffic stop, the ECSO SWAT Team executed a search warrant at his dwelling where five additional dogs were rescued. The dogs showed signs of severe abuse. Also recovered in the raid was a loaded 9mm handgun, cocaine, fentanyl, as well as drug paraphernalia.

Williams was arrested and charged with felony counts of:
• Criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell;
• Criminal possession of a controlled substance; and
• Criminal possession of a loaded firearm.

He was also charged with felony counts of:
• Aggravated cruelty to animals; and
• Permitting animal fighting on one’s premises.

In addition to the felony counts, he is charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

The defendant was taken to the Erie County Holding Center and was released on October 10, following his arraignment and posting $40,000.00 bail/bond.

Williams is currently on parole for his involvement in a violent home invasion. He has a previous conviction for aggravated cruelty to animals and two separate federal convictions for firearm possession.

The SPCA Serving Erie County is treating and caring for the terriers.

Williams’ arrest resulted from an investigation conducted by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, the Buffalo Police Department’s Intel Unit, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, and The SPCA Serving Erie County.

 

SPCA-To-Go Backpacks

SPCA-To-Go Backpacks let kids ages five through 16 bring the fun of the SPCA home with them in an engaging, screen-free way!

Six different backpacks include a minimum of five activities, art projects and the opportunity to explore. Materials required for all the activities are included in the backpacks, along with an activity guide with step-by-step instructions and ideas for continued exploring once backpack activities are complete.

Backpacks include:

ART AND ANIMALS
Ages 5 – 12
$30.00
This is a self-paced activity backpack for animal lovers who have a creative side. Kids will have the opportunity to express themselves creatively through fun and impactful crafts and activities. Craft materials and instruction will be included in each backpack.

BACK TO NATURE: EXPLORING YOUR BACKYARD
Ages 5 – 12
$30.00
Discover the natural beauty that surrounds us! This is a self-paced activity backpack that will surely let children walk on the wild side. Kids will have the opportunity to explore, learn, help, and appreciate the beauty of nature and our wild neighbors right in our own backyards.

SERVICE PROJECT
Ages 9 – 16
$30.00
There are many ways to help animals. Now, kids can help animals and earn service hours for the school year! This backpack is for kids who would enjoy creating enrichment items for the animals at the SPCA as they wait for their new families to find them.

MEDIA MUTTS MINI-CAMP
Ages 9 – 14
$30.00
This backpack offers a variety of multimedia fun for kids who enjoy art and theater. Participants will create animal-themed videos and take part in a variety of other fun projects and media camp challenges! This is for kids who love to create!

ANIMAL HELPERS
Ages 6 – 10
$30.00
Kids will learn and practice the five elements of care and responsible pet ownership by caring for their very own pet plushie for the week. Each day, they will explore a different component of care through hands-on activities, crafts, and experiments.

INTRO TO VETERINARY SCIENCE
Ages 8 – 14
$40.00
Does your child want to be a veterinarian? This backpack provides a wonderful, age-appropriate introduction to veterinary medicine. Through interactive STEM activities, crafts, and experiments, children learn the importance of proper care and disease prevention. They’ll be educated on how proper nutrition helps keep dogs and cats healthy, and what foods might be harmful for our pets. They will also practice appropriate actions to take if a pet gets hurt, and learn safety rules when working with animals.

The health and safety of our participants are our primary concerns, so all backpack materials have been disinfected and handled by healthy staff members wearing masks and gloves.

Backpacks will be available via curbside pickup, or can be delivered within Erie County at an additional cost. Backpacks can also be shipped at an additional cost.

CURBSIDE PICKUP
Curbside pickup will be available at the SPCA’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter Monday – Saturday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

DELIVERY
Delivery is only offered for locations within Erie County, NY.

SHIPPING
If you live inside or outside of Erie County, NY,  and  you are unable to pick up your backpack at the SPCA, you may wish to have your backpack shipped to you. Backpacks are shipped at an additional fee to be determined.

Register for your child’s backpack here . For more information, contact SPCA Director of Humane Education Christine Davis: 716-875-7360, ext. 262 or ChristineD@yourspca.org . 

GET YOUR BACKPACK(S) HERE!
 

From the SPCA’s Humane Education Department regarding the safety of your children:
“The SPCA Serving Erie County has and always has had strict cleaning and safety policies in place due to the nature of animal sheltering and the potential for zoonotic disease exposure. During the age of COVID-19, we will follow all CDC guidelines and recommendations, require masks, require social distancing, and will temperature-check and screen for COVID prior to entry. In addition, extensive sanitizing protocols are in place, including sanitizing areas before and after use, to keep our participants and staff safe and healthy while participating in any in-person program.”

September 16, 2020

A NOTE FROM LIPSEY CLINIC MANAGER SHAUNA GREENE:

We’ve missed you and your fur children! The entire world has been through a LOT in the last 6 months, and the Lipsey Clinic is no exception.

We are delighted to announce our return to serving the community’s pet wellness needs with a limited opening! We have a new doctor and some fresh new faces behind the counter to greet you! You’ve become accustomed to practicing safe social-distancing out in the world, and the same will be expected here. We will have the following protocols in place:

-The clinic will not be open for walk-in medication pickups. Anyone arriving for an appointment or pickup must stay in his/her vehicle and call the clinic upon arrival. We will check you in over the phone and provide further instruction.

-Anyone entering the clinic must be wearing a mask. Only one human allowed inside per appointment. If you cannot meet these requirements, please call the clinic to see if other accommodations can be made.

-Appointments will be made on a very limited basis. Please understand that at the moment we can only book appointments for routine wellness exams and vaccination updates. This means you will likely need to leave a message on our answering machine and we will take your calls in the order they were received. It is not necessary to leave more than one message. You may end up waiting some time for confirmation of your call, so we ask that you have patience with us.

We will slowly phase our opening to include more treatment options and more appointment availability, so be on the lookout for future communications from the clinic.

AT THIS TIME, WE ARE OPEN TO PROVIDE VACCINATIONS, WELLNESS EXAMS, AND ROUTINE CHECK-UPS ONLY! Please understand that, at the moment, we are unable to see ill or injured patients. If your pet is ill or injured, you will need to contact a full-service veterinary clinic or proceed to an animal emergency hospital.

Please reach out to the clinic to schedule vaccine updates, yearly wellness exams and routine appointments. You can call the clinic at (716)531-4700 or email lipseyclinic@yourspca.org . If you have feedback about your experience, or what you would like to see offered at the clinic in the future, please email Shauna Greene, Lipsey Clinic manager, at shaunag@yourspca.org .

Thank you! We look forward to seeing you and your pets soon!

The Lipsey Clinic Staff

The Erie County Department of Health has released information on this month’s free rabies vaccine clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets three months of age and older. The September 19 and September 29 clinics will be held in Orchard Park and Williamsville. REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY. Find more information and registration information here >>

*IMPORTANT NOTE:
PLEASE DISREGARD ANY SUBMISSION DEADLINES YOU SEE IN THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS LINKED BELOW! THANK YOU!

Click one of the images below for more information on the following employment opportunities at the SPCA Serving Erie County:

   

DOMESTIC MALE RATS ADDED TO NEUTER LIST AT SPCA SERVING ERIE COUNTY

August 24, 2020
By: SPCA Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Allison Kean; Vice President of Veterinary Services Melanie Rushforth; Director of Behavior and Research Miranda K. Workman 

The SPCA Serving Erie County is now neutering male rats prior to adoption. Neutering male rats can have several benefits that result in improved welfare for the rats, their cagemates, and their humans.

Males can be neutered as early as eight to 12 weeks of age. A neuter is a less- risky procedure than a spay (ovariohysterectomy) for females, which is why the SPCA is limiting sterilization surgeries to males.

Benefits of neutering male rats include the following:

-The risk for testicular cancer is eliminated after neutering. Reproductive cancers are very common in rats; neutering can potentially increase their lifespan. The greatest increase in average lifespan for male rats is associated with early neuter (eight to 12 weeks old).

-Neutered rats can be housed with female rats (spayed or intact) without the risk of impregnating the females. This increases their potential adoption opportunities as they are not restricted to housing with males only. (Research indicates that most males are sterile by one week post-neuter, although introductions to females may be safest after two weeks post-neuter to ensure the males have completely healed from the procedure and are no longer experiencing post-operative pain.)

-Neutered rats are significantly less likely to exhibit aggressive behavior toward their cage mates, behavior that may result in injury and/or death. At sexual maturity, due to increased testosterone, it is common for male rats to display increased aggressive behavior.

-It is also easier to introduce new rats to neutered rats than intact males who are more likely to attack “intruders” to their housing space. Introducing new rats to adult, intact males resulted in death for 21% of the introduced rats in one study* (Flannelly & Thor, 1978).

-Neutered males urine mark much less often than intact males. This can help keep their housing units cleaner than if they are urine marking more frequently.

-Neutered males are also more prosocial with humans and are easier to handle due to the decreased influence of hormones on their behavior. The risk of aggressive behavior toward humans is decreased with neutering.

With all the benefits above, there is one small downside:

-Neutered males are at a slightly higher risk of obesity, which is why we encourage a good quality diet and regular exercise and enrichment.

Given the evidence provided by research combined with the experience of the SPCA’s Director of Behavior and Research Miranda K. Workman and Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Allison Kean, we can confidently say that neutering male rats increases the welfare of each individual rat, their cage mates, and their human companions. Thus, in line with the SPCA Serving Erie County’s mission, we are now neutering all male rats prior to adoption. The adoption fee for domestic rats is $15.00, and this fee includes the males’ neuter surgeries.

Web references for information above include:

*http://www.ratbehavior.org/Neutering.htm

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/neutering-in-rats

https://ratcentral.com/should-i-neuter-my-male-rat/

Read the entire article by clicking on the image below:

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