SPCA Admissions/Adoptions Counselor Job Opening. Learn more.
Read the full press release by clicking on the image below.
*PLEASE NOTE: This law applies to dogs left outdoors in extreme hot AND cold weather conditions. For the SPCA’s hot weather pet tips, click here >>
From WBEN-AM Radio: Buffalo Common Council passes law to protect dogs.
From WGRZ-TV: New Buffalo law makes it illegal to leave dogs outside in extreme heat or cold.
From WIVB-TV: City of Buffalo passes dog tethering ordinance.
From WKBW-TV: Law protecting dogs in extreme weather passes in Buffalo.
From Spectrum News: Dog protection ordinance passes Buffalo Common Council.
BUFFALO SABRES GOALTENDER TEAMS UP WITH SPCA FOR ‘ULLMARK’S BARKS!’
December 10, 2018
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Browning
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark has teamed up with the SPCA Serving Erie County to give more dogs a “home advantage!”
ULLMARK’S BARKS, designed to help more SPCA dogs find homes, will kick off Thursday, December 13. Through the end of the Buffalo Sabres hockey season, Ullmark and the Buffalo Sabres will share information on some of the temporary canine residents at the SPCA in the hopes of encouraging community members to draft the dogs and bring them into their homes.
“I’m excited to be helping the SPCA in this way,” Ullmark said last week when he visited the SPCA’s new West Seneca shelter for the first time. “I love dogs, and I’m looking forward to helping the dogs at the shelter. Together, we hope to find more homes more quickly.”
“This program is incredibly exciting because it allows us to put a unique spotlight on our extraordinary canine residents,” says SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Browning. “With the help of Linus and the Buffalo Sabres, we’ll be able to tell an entirely different audience how remarkable these dogs are and hopefully encourage them to add our dogs to their family teams!”
Those who cannot adopt but still want to be a part of Ullmark’s Barks and help the SPCA care for homeless dogs can donate toward the Ullmark’s Barks Fund.
Photos of the most recent Ullmark draft, more information, and a link to the Ullmark’s Barks Fund are available here!
See photos of Linus’ 12/7/18 tour of the SPCA Serving Erie County here!
Christmastime causes many people to think about how much they have to be thankful for. But did you ever think about what our community would look like if the SPCA Serving Erie County didn’t exist?
December 1 – 12, 2018, get a glimpse of how the lives of those pictured above were changed by the SPCA and our animals, leading up to the 15th annual RADIOTHON with NewsRadio 930 WBEN and Star 102.5 FM Radio, and presented by GEICO!
The 12 Days of SPCA will highlight our Radiothon theme: You Never Know When You’ll Need the SPCA. See why the SPCA matters to those who never knew they’d need us…until they needed us.
Then on December 13, 6 am – 6 pm, both radio stations will be broadcasting LIVE from the SPCA’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter! It’s an all-out open house at the SPCA, with half-off adoption specials, shopping deals in the Petique, Lights of Love, an SPCA expo in our Education Center, and more!
Have you or those you love been impacted by the SPCA and our animals in some way? Have you needed us to make your family…your home…your life…more complete?
Then make your Radiothon gift today…or become an Angel for the Animals…at YourSPCA.org/2018Radiothon, or text the word “Donation” to 80077!
$44.99:
3 Super Kiss Car Washes & Applebee’s Dinner*
(Remember, with 5-day return on each wash, you’ll get 6 washes!)
$64.99:
Full Synthetic Oil Change & Applebee’s Dinner*
(Includes up to 5 quarts of oil!)**
PURCHASE THROUGH THE SPCA, AND PROCEEDS BENEFIT OUR ANIMALS!
Available through December 30, 2018 in the
SPCA Petique, 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca, NY 14224
For more information, call the Petique:
716-875-7360, ext. 237
*Dinner certificate includes two menu items up to a $20 value. Does not include tax, beverages, or gratuity, and expires March 31, 2019.
**Does not include dexos.
SPCA LIGHTS OF LOVE RETURNS, MEMORIALIZING AND HONORING SPECIAL PEOPLE AND PETS
November 6, 2018
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Browning
After a hiatus, the SPCA Serving Erie County brings back its Lights of Love program for the 2018 holiday season.
Now through December 13, those wishing to purchase a labeled Christmas tree light in honor of or in memory of people or pets who have touched their lives can do so through the SPCA. The lights will adorn trees in the organization’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter Adoptions Lobby that will remain lit through the end of the year.
“In Memory Of” white lights and “In Honor Of” colored lights are available for a $20 donation. A string of 12 lights is available for $180. All donations will help give shelter animals a second chance at happy, healthy lives filled with light and love.
Lights of Love is sponsored by Adams Nursery and Garden Center.
To purchase one or more lights, click here or call Colleen at the SPCA: 716-875-7360, ext. 227.
SPCA BEGINS CHILDREN’S READING-TO-ANIMALS PROGRAM & VACATION DAY CAMPS
November 1, 2018
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Browning
**UPDATE, JANUARY 3, 2019: Please note…since this story was posted, “Tale for Two” dates and days of the week have changed. For information on current program dates and times, please download our Tale for Two 2019 flier or contact SPCA Director of Humane Education Christine Davis, 716-875-7360, ext. 262.
This month, the SPCA Serving Erie County will begin two new programs for area children.
“Tale For Two” encourages children ages 6 – 15 to read aloud to adoptable animals at the SPCA. Animals will benefit from the increased socialization and reduced stress levels, while children will work on their literacy and reading skills, building their self-esteem and confidence.
For a $40 registration fee, parents/guardians can register children for six-week sessions that take place at the SPCA’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter Wednesday evenings, 5:00 pm –
6:00 pm. Children can bring their favorite books to the SPCA or select one at the shelter.
The first Tale for Two session begins Wednesday, November 14. Future Wednesday start dates are December 26 and, in 2019, February 6, March 20, May 1, June 12, July 24, September 4, October 9, and November 20. A parent or guardian must remain with each registered child. **UPDATE, JANUARY 3, 2019: Please note…since this story was posted, “Tale for Two” dates and days of the week have changed. For information on current program dates and times, please download our Tale for Two 2019 flier or contact SPCA Director of Humane Education Christine Davis, 716-875-7360, ext. 262.
To register your child, please send an email to SPCA Director of Humane Education Christine Davis at HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.
Also new: due to the popularity of the Summer Camp program, the SPCA has added Vacation Day and School Break Camps to the calendar. All camps are available to children ages 5 – 10, and are held
9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the SPCA’s West Seneca shelter. Before and after care will be available for all camps.
Vacation Day Camps are available for a $50/day registration fee. Monday, November 12 will be the first Vacation Day Camp, themed “All About Cats & Dogs.” Monday, January 21, 2019, Vacation Day Camp will feature an “Animal Advocates” theme.
School Break Camps are available for a $210.00/week registration fee with single-day registration options available. February 18 – 22, 2019 offers a “Critter Camp” theme, and “Animal Adventure Camp” will take place April 22 – 26, 2019.
Registration for all camp sessions is available online only; visit https://yourspca.org/newsevents/camp/ to register children for camp.
More information on Tale for Two is available here. To learn more about Vacation Day/School Break Camps, click here.
PHOTOS, 11/14/18: See photos from our first Tale for Two session here!
BUFFALO MAN SENTENCED IN ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE
October 22, 2018
John J. Flynn, District Attorney
Erie County District Attorney’s Office
Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 35-year-old Joshua Mack of Buffalo was sentenced today by State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to an indeterminate sentence of 1-3 years in state prison for his conviction to one felony count of Prohibition of Animal Fighting.
On March 22, 2018, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s home on Roma Avenue in the City of Buffalo. During the search, seven dogs and one puppy with varying levels of injuries and scarring consistent with dog fighting were rescued from the home. In addition, dog fighting paraphernalia was removed from the property.
The dogs were brought to the SPCA’s on-site infirmary on Harlem Road in West Seneca for immediate care and treatment.
Read the full story here.
“Animal cruelty in any form is unacceptable and is something that I take very seriously” says District Attorney Flynn, “these poor dogs are brought up in an environment of abuse and pain and I am happy to see justice done.”
DA Flynn commends the outstanding investigative work of NYS Peace Officers and SPCA Serving Erie County Animal Cruelty Investigators Tyler Robertson and William Heine.
Assistant District Attorney Erin E. Hart of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau prosecuted the case.
Dr. Kathleen Makolinski Named LMU Clinical Instructor and Shelter Veterinarian
July 10, 2018
By: Gina Browning, Chief Communications Officer
The SPCA Serving Erie County welcomes longtime associate and supporter Kathleen Makolinski, DVM, DABVP (shelter medicine practice) as Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) College of Veterinary Medicine clinical instructor and shelter veterinarian.
Dr. Makolinski will oversee fourth-year LMU veterinary students on their shelter medicine rotation at the SPCA’s West Seneca, NY location. The SPCA announced a five-year partnership with the university earlier this spring (see the full story on the partnership between LMU and the SPCA here).
“It’s very exciting to work with veterinary students on their journey to become better veterinarians,” said Dr. Makolinski. “I believe this is a wonderful opportunity to share shelter medicine concepts and to help the students improve their surgical skills while increasing their empathy and compassion towards animals in our shelters.”
This is not the first time Dr. Makolinski has worked with the SPCA. She has been associated with the humane society for decades working as a relief veterinarian and helping to establish various animal programs in our community.
“This seemed like a logical next step, working with students who will soon be the ones caring for our animals, helping them to understand the differences between shelter medicine and a general practice,” Dr. Makolinski added. “Even if shelter medicine isn’t ultimately a chosen career, they’ll have a better understanding of the challenges of shelter medicine and will hopefully assist shelters in facing those challenges in the future.”
SPCA MEMORIALIZES SPECIAL CHEEKTOWAGA POLICE K9 WAZI WITH PAWSWAY BRICK, TRIBUTE
June 22, 2018
By: Gina Browning, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
Today at 11:00 am on the SPCA Serving Erie County’s West Seneca site PawsWay, the SPCA will take a moment to memorialize a special dog who spent 6 years protecting the people of our community.
Cheektowaga K9 Wazi started working with Cheektowaga Police Department Officer and handler John Doskocz in August of 2011. Wazi was trained in narcotics detection and patrol utility dog functions, which included criminal apprehension, tracking, evidence recovery, and more. (Read Wazi’s full biography detailing his extensive, significant work here .)
Cheektowaga Police kindly allowed Wazi and Officer Doskocz to appear at many SPCA events, including Paws in the Park (see video of Wazi at Paws in the Park here) and, just last May, at our grand opening here in West Seneca.
Wazi’s impact was huge, not just on the children who watched him in action but on the adults as well; each year during Paws in the Park planning stages, the SPCA received phone calls from people wondering if Wazi would be appearing at the walk! In fact, many children and other young family members of staff and volunteers became Wazi “groupies,” sporting Wazi trading cards and watching him at various community appearances throughout the year. (Wazi’s final television appearance was on WIVB-TV and can be seen here.)
Wazi’s life was unexpectedly cut short due to an irreversible, inoperable, degenerative heart condition. He passed away while in Officer Doskocz’s arms in the early morning hours of June 23, 2017. (See the Cheektowaga Chronicle’s article on Wazi’s passing here.)
In his unique, brave way, Wazi taught our staff, volunteers, event participants, and everyone who saw him in action so much more about what dogs are truly capable of when it comes to the human/animal bond, something the SPCA is trying to further every single day. We are eternally grateful to the Cheektowaga Police, Officer Doskocz, and especially wonderful Wazi, for living a life dedicated to protecting the people he loved, and thousands more who would never be able to thank him.
