SPCA Rescues Farm Animals, Dogs from Orchard Park Property; Police Say Many Farm Animals Were In One Trailer
August 8, 2022
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
UPDATE, August 12: Orchard Park Police have released further details and photos on this cruelty case. On August 11, the Orchard Park Police posted the following on their Facebook page:
“On 8/7/22 Officers responded to a trespass complaint in the area of 2799 Southwestern Blvd. Upon arrival officers located a vehicle on the property to the southeast of 2799 Southwestern Blvd. Along with the vehicle, a makeshift trailer was also located on the property that was housing two sheep, a cow, and a horse in deplorable conditions. There was no food or water present and the animals could not lie down due to the confined space. The animals were living in their own waste, and appeared emaciated. The animals were left unattended in the enclosed trailer in close to 90 degree weather.
The owner of the property was contacted and advised this department that no one should be on the property nor should any animals be present. Officers contacted the Erie County SPCA who responded to assist with seizing the animals and getting them medical attention. Shawn Hirschbine, age 48, and his girlfriend Deanna Huff, age 62 did appear on scene in an attempt to take possession of the animals. After refusing officer’s commands, Shawn Hirschbine began physically resisting officers and was taken into custody. In total, a cow, horse, chicken, two sheep, and four dogs were seized by the SPCA.
Shawn Hirschbine was arrested and charged with:
Trespass Penal Law 140.05
Obstruction of Governmental Administration 2nd; Penal Law 195.05
Resisting Arrest; Penal Law 205.30
Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree; Penal Law 145.00-03
Confinement of a companion animal in extreme heat; Agriculture and Markets 353D
Neglect of an Animal; Agriculture and Markets 356
Failure to Provide Sustenance for Animals; Agriculture and Markets 353
Deanna Huff was arrested and charged with:
Confinement of a companion animal in extreme heat; Agriculture and Markets 353D
Neglect of an Animal; Agriculture and Markets 356
Both defendants were released on appearance tickets with a future court date of August 25th, 2022 at 5 p.m.
The Orchard Park Police Department would like to thank The SPCA Serving Erie County, NY and Erie County Sheriff’s Mounted Unit for their help in this case.”
SPCA Serving Erie County officers were called by Orchard Park Police to a property in Orchard Park Sunday afternoon, where dogs, sheep, a chicken, a cow, and a horse were found. Police informed SPCA officers that most of the animals were found inside of a cramped trailer (the animals had been removed from the trailer upon the SPCA’s arrival).
The SPCA is working with Orchard Park Police on pending animal cruelty charges. At the time of this writing, none of the nine animals have been surrendered to the SPCA.
The SPCA extends its thanks to Orchard Park Police and to the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Reserve Division for their work and their commitment to assisting in the rescue of these animals, who were examined and are being assessed and cared for at an undisclosed location.
Because this is an open investigation, further details are not available at this time. Please keep watching YourSPCA.org for further updates.
SPCA Rescues Juvenile Bald Eagle from Angola; Bird is the Second Eagle in Critical Condition Brought to SPCA Since Friday
August 1, 2022
By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca and SPCA Communications Manager Bethany Kloc
UPDATE, August 9 — Sad news was just shared by Barbara Haney. Unfortunately, both eagles have passed. On Thursday, August 4, Wildlife Department staff arrived in the morning to find that the Angola eagle had passed during the night. On Sunday, August 7, again staff arrived to find the eagle that was brought to us by the DEC had passed during the night. Haney states that, despite the best efforts and expert care on the part of the team, the health of both eagles was extremely compromised, and despite the very poor prognosis, everything possible was done to save their lives.
She adds, “We never really understood what was making them sick. Eagles are often the ‘canaries in the coal mine’ when it comes to the health of our environment. They are susceptible to toxins in the environment because of their ability to be opportunistic and often acting like scavengers. They’ll eat morsels of garbage and roadkill. These were both young birds too and they probably got into trouble in that way. Our environment is ripe with chemicals that can cause some issues with these sensitive birds. Pesticides, dyes, gasoline, plastic, lead, heavy metals, and bromine-based herbicides can all cause serious illness to eagles. National Audubon has stated that we’ve lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970 and, going forward, it looks like [there will be more] birds dying from unknown causes, just like these two eagles, as we continue to lose more birds due to anthropomorphic causes. In addition, our warming climate has the potential to increase the prevalence of insect born diseases like Avian Malaria and West Nile Virus. We will be sending their carcasses to DEC for further testing so that their lives can continue to teach us and help us to save our precious birds of WNY.”
UPDATE, August 2 — Wildlife Director Barbara Haney states that the prognosis for both eagles is extremely poor. In fact, the eagle found in Angola has aspergillosis and elevated lead levels. We will continue to update this page with further developments.
Late this afternoon, SPCA Serving Erie County Officer Lindsey Wood rescued a juvenile bald eagle from Angola, NY and rushed it to the SPCA’s Wildlife Department, where it is currently receiving a preliminary exam by staff there.
Earlier today, SPCA officers received a call from Town of Evans Dog Control Officer Michael Franey. He said there 
was an eagle down in the woods at the end of his street, and was concerned because he was able to walk up to the bird without the bird flying away. Franey asked that SPCA officers assess the situation.
Officer Wood, with invaluable assistance by Franey and Drew Supon, a resident at the property, was able to safely confine the eagle.
A preliminary assessment by SPCA Wildlife Department staff states the bird is extremely thin with burns on its feet. A full examination is happening at this time, and we will update this page with additional information this week.
At the time of this writing, information was shared on another bald eagle already under the care of the SPCA Wildlife Department. That bird was brought to the SPCA Serving Erie County Friday morning, July 29.
Moments ago, SPCA Wildlife Director Barbara Haney shared with us information on a call that was received late last week by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). DEC representatives told members of the SPCA Wildlife Department that they received a call to pick up a deceased eagle. Upon arrival, they realized the eagle was very ill, but breathing, and they rushed the eagle to our Wildlife hospital Friday morning. (That eagle is pictured here with SPCA Veterinarian Dr. Karen Slote.)
Haney states, “Although the bird is still in critical condition, we are cautiously optimistic as he has made it through the weekend. He was so weak that he couldn’t stand, lift his head, or open his eyes. There have been minor improvements and he is a bit feistier! 
That is good news. What we know is that there are no fractures of any bones and the lead levels are normal. We are treating the eagle for head trauma and an [IV solution] should help draw out any swelling of the brain. Although we have seen some improvement, this eagle is still also very much in critical condition.”
This page will be updated this week with the progress of the eagle brought to the SPCA by the DEC Friday, in addition to the eagle rescued by the SPCA’s Officer Wood today.
We’re having a ball with this program and right now, this page is a diamond in the ruff! But we don’t want to leave you high and dry, so here’s some preliminary information!
Q: WHAT’S DOGGIE ENTOURAGE?
A: It’s a program to get dogs out of the SPCA for a few hours (or the whole day!) so people out in the public meet our adoptable dogs!
Q: HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?
A: SPCA dogs will be out and about with their entourage of staff members and volunteers! You’ll see them at places like farmers’ markets, stores, ice cream stands, popular outdoor hang outs — all kinds of safe places where fun people and potential, new adopters gather!
Q: DO YOU HAVE ANY DOGGIE ENTOURAGE EVENTS SCHEDULED RIGHT NOW?
A: We sure do!
Elmwood Village Farmers Market
– Saturday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Seneca One Summer Jam Series
– Wednesday, Aug. 3 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
– Wednesday, Aug. 24 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Old Scotland Road Distillery Cruise Night
– Friday, Aug. 19 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
More Entourage Dates/Locations/Info >>
Q: HOW WILL I KNOW WHERE THE DOGGIE ENTOURAGE WILL BE NEXT?
A: We’ll be sharing that information on our social media platforms and on this page!
Q: WHAT IF I MISS THE DOGGIE ENTOURAGE? HOW WILL I KNOW ABOUT THE DOG?
A: A couple days after the entourage, look at our social media platforms! You’ll find an excerpt from each’s dog’s travel journal detailing the entourage experience!
Q: I WANT TO BE AN ENTOURAGE VOLUNTEER? WHAT DO I DO?
A: Right now the entourage is full with volunteers, but as the program grows, we’ll let you know!
We’ll definitely need you soon as the program grows, so please keep your eye on this page and on our social media platforms for updates and announcements!
Q: I WANT TO BE VISITED BY THE DOGGIE ENTOURAGE! WHAT DO I DO?
A: When there are new openings for Doggie Entourage visits, we’ll be sure to post instructions on how to request an entourage on this page and on our social media platforms!
Q: IT SEEMS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE OTHER ELEMENTS TO THE PROGRAM? CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THEM?
A: Whoa, it sounds like you’re as excited as we are about this program! To answer your questions, there will definitely be more elements! We’ve launched Doggie Entourage with our neighborhood doggie visits, but there’s more to come…MUCH more! (Have we told you how much we love your enthusiasm?!)
Keep watching YourSPCA.org/Entourage for updates and information!
Don’t Get Sick! Check for Ticks!
July 6, 2022
By: SPCA Vice President of Veterinary Services Melanie Rushforth
There is a universal belief that there is no better place to be in the summertime than Western NY. There are so many fun, recreational things to do, and the weather couldn’t be better. There are picnics and festivals and hiking opportunities galore.
And there are also ticks. And with ticks, there is the threat of Lyme disease.
There’s no reason for these pests to keep anyone inside during these warm months. Know what to do to avoid ticks, and you can set yourself up to keep enjoying summer as planned.
According to Cornell.edu, “Ticks are arachnids closely related to mites and spiders. They have four life stages: egg, larvae, nymph, and adult. All stages of ticks (except eggs) feed on blood for energy to grow and later to reproduce. Larval ticks have six legs, while nymph and adult ticks have eight legs. Three tick species are a human health concern in New York: the blacklegged tick, the lone star tick, and the American dog tick.”
The most common tick in WNY is the blacklegged, or deer tick. Cornell.edu tells us, “The blacklegged tick requires high humidity or moisture to survive. Therefore, this tick is most often found in the forest and at the forest edge where tree cover, dense vegetation and leaf litter provide a moist environment. This tick will search for hosts typically below adult knee-height by holding onto vegetation with their front legs out as hosts pass by, a behavior known as questing.”
A unique characteristic with ticks is that they don’t die in the cold winter months that are common in the WNY region. They merely demonstrate a behavior closely resembling hibernation. The question “Do ticks die in the winter?” is answered this way by Cornell.edu: “Ticks are adapted to the Northeast climate, having lived here for thousands of years. Therefore, they have behavioral and physiological adaptations that allow them to survive adverse conditions including winter cold and summer heat.”
During the cold winter months, there have been cases that describe just the heat from one’s body being enough to “wake up” the ticks on a forest floor should someone decide to sit to rest if out on a hike in the cold weather. Tick checks should just become as common as checking to see if your keys are in your pocket. Make it a habit and it will become one!
So, instead of burrowing in your home for the rest of the summer, let’s talk about some ways to make sure you and your furry friends don’t become the next home for a tick. Or, if that does happen, what you can do to stay safe and not get sick.
First, apply tick repellent to your skin and clothing, especially your shoes and socks. Wear long pants and pull your socks over your pant leg. When you’re out hiking or adventuring, stay on a trail. Ticks don’t jump or fly, but they will latch onto you from tall grasses by way of questing as mentioned earlier. All of those awesome smells your dog is finding when he runs off of the trail? There very well may be a tick lurking and waiting for the perfect furry host to grab onto.
When you come home, make sure you do a thorough tick check, focusing on your thighs, groin area and the back of your head. Then shower. Also, put the clothing you wore outside in the dryer at high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks that may be hiding. As far as searching for these little predators on your dog, check all over, but spend a little extra time on the warmer, darker parts of the dog, like the “armpits” and areas between toes. Feel for small bumps and look for little blacks dots.
Since dogs are much less likely to stay on the trail, ticks can hide in long hair and thick fur. Make sure you talk to your veterinarian about vaccines and other prevention methods. If you treat fleas and ticks as year-round issues, which they are, preventing the negative effects can be a breeze.
If you find a tick on yourself or your pet, use tweezers to pull it straight out. Position the tweezers directly under the spot where the tick is attached to the skin and pull upward with steady pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick. Upon removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite site with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. Should this sound too intimidating, contact your veterinarian immediately upon finding a tick. Time is important, because ticks get busy quickly.
While we encourage all cat owners to keep their cats indoors at all times because of all of the hazards that cats can encounter outside, should you have a cat that does go outside (or your share your home with a dog that gets along with the cat), you should be checking for ticks on your cat as well. Lyme disease is not as big a concern for cat owners as it is for humans and dog owners. Cornell.edu says, “Although the bacteria that cause Lyme disease is capable of infecting cats, the disease has never been seen in a cat outside of a laboratory setting.”
In short, don’t let ticks ruin your fun at any point in the year. Just begin a preventative regime with your pets (talk to your veterinarian about what would be best for you, because there are a lot of great options!) and be aware of where to look once you get back from an outdoor adventure.
An unsuspecting ally in the war on ticks is also our friend the opossum. Should you see these little guys in your yard, don’t fret! In fact, celebrate them. Opossum are slow-moving and attract ticks that cling to their fur. The opossum then eat the ticks, along with just about anything else. Given the low body temperature of the opossum, these animals are very unlikely to carry rabies. Next time you see an opossum moving through your yard, just give him a nod. He’s there to help.
Stay safe out there!
More on the SPCA’s PAWS FOR LOVE Program >>
Kenmore Farmers Market: 2919 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, NY.
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
Click on the image below to read the full article and to see an interview with our own President/CEO Cait Daly!
(STAY TUNED! More on the SPCA’s involvement with HASS coming soon! You won’t want to miss it!)
–Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
Western New York Elvis Appreciation Society’s Donation of $3000 Brings Four-Year Total to $10,000+
It’s only appropriate that, during our Summer of Love, the SPCA Serving Erie County has a big, ol’ hunk of burning love for the WNY Elvis Appreciation Society [WNYEAS]!
In April, the WNYEAS held a fundraiser featuring Buffalo Music Hall of Fame member Terry Buchwald 
to benefit our hound dogs and other animals! Last night, WNYEAS President Kevin Kedzierski, Secretary/Treasurer Sylvia Walworth, and other members of the group were taking care of business, presenting a check for more than $3000 to the SPCA Serving Erie County’s Gina Lattuca!
Sylvia says, “Many people don’t realize that Elvis Presley gave so much of his money away. Donations, taking care of others…this was very important to Elvis. Part of the reason our group is in existence is to honor that caring quality, which was a big part of who this remarkable man was.”
To date, the WNYEAS has donated more than $10,000 to the SPCA Serving Erie County, and we couldn’t be more shook up!
Thank you, WNYEAS! Thank you very much!
-Gina Lattuca, SPCA Chief Communications Officer
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
