Can you assist ill family members or friends by caring for the household pet(s) if someone becomes ill? If so, please copy and share one of these infographics, courtesy of Animalsheltering.org:
SPCA Serving Erie County: CONTINUING TO SERVE
April 28, 2020 — The SPCA Serving Erie County is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to assist The Belle Center, a community partner of Buffalo Public Schools, by sharing with them several boxes of books, notebooks, pens, pencils, soccer balls, food, and drawstring bags. Center representatives will use these items in care packages they’re assembling for local families in need!
The mission of The Belle Center is to offer innovative educational, social and community building services for children, youth, senior citizens and families living in Western New York. Learn more about the center here.
SPCA Serving Erie County: CONTINUING TO SERVE
April 27, 2020 — The SPCA Serving Erie County’s Officer Jennifer Maleskis rescued these baby weasels from Wegmans on Sheridan Drive in Williamsville April 25 and brought them to our wildlife hospital at our 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter.
Jimmy in the SPCA’s Wildlife Department worked with them to ensure they were healthy enough to be transferred to a local wildlife rehabilitator for a somewhat “extended” stay until old enough to release!
To see what services the SPCA Serving Erie County is offering the community during its COVID-19 response phase, please visit https://YourSPCA.org/COVIDResponse.
The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) state in a recent document concerning COVID-19’s transmission between humans and animals, “CDC is aware of a small number of pets, including dogs and cats, to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after close contact with people with COVID-19. Only a few of the animals reported to be positive showed signs of illness.” Read that entire document from the CDC by clicking the image below.
SPCA Busy with Wildlife Rescues!
April 24, 2020
By: SPCA Communications Manager Bethany Kloc
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SPCA’s Wildlife Department is asking community members with wildlife concerns to call them before bringing an animal in to help determine if what they’re seeing is an emergency. Information can be found on our COVID-19 Response page.
WOOD DUCK RESCUE
On April 21, the SPCA’s Wildlife Department received a call about a Wood Duck who had been hit by a car in Tonawanda. “Wood ducks are a very sensitive species that are easily stressed, so we have to be especially careful with this bird,” said Wildlife Department Director Barb Haney. “When he was brought in, we took an X-ray and found that he had a broken radius, a wing bone. We’re caring for him now and we’re hopeful that he’ll make a quick recovery so we can release him back to the wild as soon as possible.”
CROW RESCUE
On April 22, a crow was admitted to the Wildlife Department after a good Samaritan found the bird tangled in fishing line and stuck in water. When admitted, the crow was tired and very wet, and luckily, none of his bones were broken. The fishing line was immediately cut off, and he was given pain medicine and food. He rested over night in the Wildlife Department. After an examination the next morning, the crow was cleared to be released and SPCA Officers Maleskis and Wlodarczyk had the privilege of releasing him back to the wild!
LOON RESCUE
On April 23, the SPCA’s Wildlife Department Director Barbara Haney received a call from a Buffalo citizen who was surprised to find a bird, who the caller thought was possibly a goose with a broken leg, on the caller’s second-floor balcony. “I asked him to text me a picture and immediately I knew it was a Common Loon — a species of special concern in New York State. The gentleman thought the bird looked like it had a broken leg because of the loon’s anatomy.” Common Loons spend most of their lives in water and walk clumsily on land, because their legs are located far on the rear of their bodies.
Because this is a very special bird, SPCA Officers Maleskis and Wlodarczyk went on the rescue call. Wearing PPE, they walked through the man’s apartment to the balcony and rescued the loon. They brought the loon to Dr. Karen Slote, the SPCA’s wildlife veterinarian and local expert on this very delicate species. “Migrating loons don’t breed in Buffalo and my guess is that he was on his way to Canada. If you see loons in area lakes, they’re just stopping by for food. I don’t know how in the world he got stuck on a balcony but once he was there, he probably had difficulty taking off. He was dirty and exhausted when I got him. Currently I’m caring for him around the clock,” said Dr. Slote.
The American Veterinary Medical Association has released a statement regarding the confirmation of COVID in two New York State cats. Read that statement and find more information on testing pets here.
April 22, 2020
The USDA has released a document regarding the confirmation of COVID in two cats residing in separate parts of New York State.
Included in this document is the following statement: “Public health officials are still learning about SARS-CoV-2, but there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading the virus in the United States. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals, including pets, could be affected.”
Read the full USDA document here.
April 22, 2020
Today is the 50th Anniversary of #EarthDay!
Visit the SPCA’s Facebook page at 9:50 a.m., 10:50 a.m., 
11:50 a.m.,
12:50 p.m., 1:50 p.m., and 2:50 p.m. for live videos from our Wildlife Director Barbara Haney and her team at the SPCA Serving Erie County! They’ll tell you about why Earth Day is so important not only on a global scale, but why it matters to us (and our wildlife) right here in Western New York!
And we’re not forgetting the kids at home; during the 12:50 p.m. video children will learn how to make a bird house, and at 2:50 p.m. there will be a book read especially for kids to help them learn the importance of every living thing on earth! You won’t want your kids to miss these Earth Day edition videos!
Find the SPCA’s Facebook page right here >>
Couldn’t tune in?
-Find Video 1 from 8:50 a.m. here >>
-Find Video 2 from 9:50 a.m. here >>
-Find Video 3 from 10:50 a.m. (includes a behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening in various departments of the SPCA) here >>
-Find Video 4 from 11:50 a.m. here >>
-Find Video 5 from 12:50 p.m. here >>
-Find Video 6 from 1:50 p.m. here >>
-Find Video 7 from 2:50 p.m. here >>
SPCA Premieres #bestwithmom Campaign
Baby season is in full swing. It’s the time of year for baby animals of all types, including kittens, squirrels, and rabbits.
Due to the current health crisis, the SPCA Serving Erie County has been forced to temporarily change its admission policies when it comes to these animals. In an effort to educate community members on what’s best for these young animals during this COVID-19 Response phase, the SPCA has premiered the #bestwithmom campaign.
Wondering what to do with that baby bunny or squirrel you found in the yard? Did your cat have kittens, or did you find an unowned mom cat and kittens outdoors? The SPCA is only able to admit injured or ill animals in emergency situations at this time, but the good news is the animal you see may not need our intervention at all. Find the appropriate image below to learn what to do next in your specific situation:
