July 11, 2019 By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
The SPCA Serving Erie County will offer its third Pet First Aid Class of the year Saturday, August 3, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at its 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca location.
Instructors will cover the symptoms of serious emergencies that require immediate treatment, hands-on animal CPR with CPR mannequin resusci-dog Spot, muzzling demonstrations, bandaging demonstrations, and will offer a comprehensive lecture portion on recognizing and appropriately handling life-threatening emergencies.
Included in the $20.00 registration fee is a take-home booklet for easy reference, and contact information for area emergency veterinarians.
Kitty Crew Member Returned to Tall Ship After Brief Port of Call in Buffalo
July 8, 2019 By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
All hands were on deck at the the SPCA Serving Erie County’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca site late Friday night and early Saturday morning.
When a good Samaritan brought a stray kitty to the SPCA at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 5, she was certain the cat had an owner somewhere. After all, the young cat was wearing a harness, and her ID tag said Fiji.
To ensure the four-legged visitor found on Erie Street in Buffalo didn’t require critical veterinary care, SPCA Veterinary Technician Lana Bilger immediately examined the friendly feline, who appeared unharmed, unhurt, and in excellent condition. But after scanning the cat, the SPCA crew realized she clearly had no microchip identification, and further examination of the ID tag on the cat’s harness raised questions; on the back of that tag, Lana noticed the words ‘Picton Castle.’
The SPCA;s Lana examines Fiji, brought in as a stray late Friday evening, July 5
Unaware of whether this was the name of the cat’s owner, the name of the cat’s hometown, or even, possibly, the name of the cat, SPCA representatives did a quick internet search of the words “Fiji,” “Picton Castle,” and “cat”…and within seconds, it became clear that this cat was a crew member of one of the tall ships, the Picton Castle, currently visiting Buffalo, NY!
Fiji’s bio on the Picton Castle’s ‘Ship and Crew’ page at https://www.picton-castle.com/ship-and-crew/the-crew.html
Understanding that the ship’s departure was scheduled for the weekend, Lana and SPCA Veterinary Assistant Chelsea knew that it was critical a reunion happen in a short period of time. SPCA Cruelty Investigations Officer Jay Ivory made a call to the ship’s headquarters in Nova Scotia at approximately 12 a.m. EST Saturday morning, Lana sent an email to the address provided on the ship’s website, Fiji was set up in her own personal suite with refreshments and blankets, and the wait began.
Chelsea and Fiji
By Saturday afternoon, SPCA reps still had not heard back from the Picton Castle and started to create an alternate plan, when SPCA volunteer and AdvoCAT Cary Munschauer heard the cat’s tale and remembered that another SPCA volunteer, Donna Camp, was also volunteering to work the Tall Ships Port of Call: Buffalo.
As a volunteer, Donna was given a list of ship contact names and personal phone numbers. One call from the SPCA to one of those numbers led to three response calls from ship representatives in less than thirty minutes!
Fiji was, indeed, the ship’s four-year-old cat, has traveled the world twice over, and often disembarks the Picton Castle to explore the locations being visited before heading back to the ship when the engines start.
By the time the SPCA was contacted, Picton Castle crew members were already on their way to the West Seneca shelter to retrieve their little stowaway (who was actually adopted onto the ship at six weeks of age in 2014, during a Fiji port of call).
Fiji was microchipped by the SPCA. Staff members also worked with crew members on identification information and contact numbers to ensure that, should Fiji’s visit to a future port of call be extended, she will always be returned before the ship shoves off!
Lana caring for Fiji in the SPCA infirmaryLet’s microchip Fiji
An ardent “Ahoy” goes out to the SPCA’s Lana, Chelsea, Cary, Donna, Jay, along with Hilary Lemperle, Aaron Kandefer, and visiting Lincoln Memorial University veterinary student Marissa, who made sure Fiji was cared for, cuddled, properly identified, and prepped for her vessel’s next voyage!
Learn more about Fiji and keep up on her adventures by visiting the Barque Picton Castle!
Summer 2020 Navigating Animal Welfare During COVID-19
Winter 2020 Annual Report Fiscal Year October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2019
August 8, 2019:
DOG YOGA AT THE SPCA HAS BEEN CANCELED. THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED WILL BE RECEIVING A FULL REFUND. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST, AND PLEASE KEEP WATCHING YourSPCA.org FOR UPCOMING PROGRAMS!
NEW PRICE! $20 per participant!
REGISTER FOR AUGUST 17’S CLASS BY CLICKING THE IMAGE BELOW!
See the latest canine guest on WNLO’s ‘MEL’S MUTTS‘ segment by clicking the image below!
(Pssssst: each Thursday morning it’s a dog from our very own SPCA!)
SPCA LAUNCHES ‘TALE FOR TWO’ SUMMER READING CHALLENGE SCHEDULE; PROGRAM ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO READ TO SHELTER PETS
May 28, 2019 By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
(6/10/19: Tale for Two summer orientation dates have passed, but you can register children any time for the challenge! Just contact Humane Education Director Christine Davis: HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.)
The SPCA Serving Erie County will present its first annual Tale for Two Summer Reading Challenge this year, with prizes for children who read multiple books!
Tale For Two encourages children ages 6 – 15 to read aloud to adoptable animals at the SPCA. Animals benefit from the increased socialization and reduced stress levels, while children work on their literacy and reading skills, building their self-esteem and confidence.
This summer’s reading challenge sessions, available in groups of 6 (program cost $40) or 12 (program cost $70), are available on Tuesdays, June 18 – September 3, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the SPCA’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter. Reading sessions are 30 minutes in length.
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade who read three books will receive a certificate of achievement, an SPCA pencil, and a wristband; five books earn the certificate, pencil, and humane-themed book; seven books earn the certificate, book, and an SPCA
T-shirt.
Children in grades six through 11 who read two books receive the certificate, pencil, and wristband; three books earn the certificate, book, and T-shirt; and five books earn the certificate, book, and an SPCA sweatshirt.
Children can bring their own reading materials, or make a selection from the SPCA’s library.
Readers and parents/guardians are required to attend one hour-long orientation session at the SPCA either Thursday, May 30,
5 p.m. or Saturday,
June 8, 3 p.m. (Please see below for information on how to register children for the challenge after June 8.)
Register for the Tale for Two Summer Reading Challenge and one orientation session right here >> (orientation dates have passed, but you can still register children for the challenge! Just contact Humane Education Director Christine Davis: HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.)
Please contact SPCA Humane Education Director Christine Davis with questions: HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.
SPCA Serving Erie County Offers Free Adoptions to Current and Past Military Members During Vets & Pets
May 13, 2019 By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
To celebrate the men and women of the armed services this Memorial Day, the SPCA Serving Erie County offers “Vets & Pets,” waiving adoption fees on most animals for individuals on active duty, reserves, and honorable discharge, along with service-disabled veterans and those retired from military service.
Vets & Pets begins Saturday, May 18 and runs through Monday, May 27* at the SPCA’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter (closed on May 27) and all SPCA offsite adoption locations.
Photos of adoptable animals are available here, and a list of offsite adoption locations and addresses can be found here. Military ID or DD214 will need to be presented.
Vets & Pets is proudly sponsored by Nancy Gacioch of Buffalo, NY.!
Contact SPCA Adoptions with any questions: 716-875-7360, ext. 233.
*Please note: The SPCA’s West Seneca shelter is closed on the final day of Vets & Pets Monday, May 27, but many of the SPCA’s offsite adoption locations are open that day! That means you can still take advantage of the Vets & Pets adoption special! See a list of our offsite locations and photos of the animals available here!
BUFFALO BREWPUB PRESENTS ‘PAWS AT THE PUB’ TO BENEFIT THE SPCA SERVING ERIE COUNTY
April 18, 2019 By: SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
BREAKING ‘PAWS AT THE PUB’ NEWS: This Sunday’s event at Buffalo Brewpub may be for people only…but that doesn’t mean the beverages have to be! 12 Gates Brewing Company and Buffalo Brewpub have collaborated on their version of a ‘doggie bag’ with a doggie BOTTLE: PUPS N/A malt beef-flavored ale to bring home for your four-legged canine connoisseur!
The bottles will be available for just $5.00 each and will be available ONLY during Paws at the Pub on Sunday! Quantities are limited, so don’t miss this chance to find out whether your pup has a future as a canine cicerone (yes, we had to look that up).
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Break out the brews! For the second time, Buffalo Brewpub, located at 6861 Main Street in Williamsville, will host “Paws at the Pub” to benefit the SPCA Serving Erie County!
The free rain-or-shine event for people of all ages (no pets, please) is scheduled for Sunday, April 28,
12 p.m –5 p.m. All tips received by servers and bartenders, as well as a portion of food and beverage sales, will be donated to the SPCA. A special drink menu will also be available featuring Tommyrotter Distilling products.
Buffalo Brewpub and 12 Gates Brewing Co. have collaborated on a Blood Orange Hefeweizen beer which is currently being served, and will be served at the event. There will also be a basket raffle and silent auction featuring prizes that include a week’s stay at Tropical Winds Daytona Beach, a
60” Smart TV, field tickets for June 14’s Taste of Country, a campsite & two tickets to Jam in the Valley, a Magic Hat bass guitar, a Yeti tank, a golf bag, and much more.
“We are big animal lovers and greatly admire the work the SPCA Serving Erie County does in our community every day,” says Christopher Townsell, Buffalo Brewpub general manager. “We saw an opportunity to contribute towards their efforts, and our whole staff was excited over the idea.”
Event partners include 12 Gates Brewing Company, Community Beer Works, Sato Brewpub, Ellicottville Brewing Company, Southern Tier Brewing Company, Resurgence Brewing Company, and Flying Bison Brewing Company. Celebrity bartenders include some of the actual brewers from these companies.
From BuffaloNews.com Full story and photos at https://buffalonews.com/2019/02/13/buffalo-sabres-linus-ullmark-rochester-americans-modo-nhl-ahl-news/
Linus Ullmark: Meet the man behind the Minions mask, quirks and all
By Lance Lysowski
Published February 13, 2019
Updated February 13, 2019
A young boy pressed the paper sign against the glass adjacent to the Buffalo Sabres’ bench inside KeyBank Center to catch Linus Ullmark’s attention as the 25-year-old goalie skated off the ice at the end of a pregame warm-up.
On the sign, underneath a header that read “Life goals,” the boy listed two items: the Sabres’ winning a Stanley Cup and receiving a stick from Ullmark. The affable, eccentric fan favorite skated over and gently flung his Bauer paddle over the pane of glass.
“He’s a really good kid,” said Carter Hutton, 33, of his fellow goaltender. “Really sincere.”
The child beamed as he hoisted the treasure as if he had won the Stanley Cup. Ullmark’s gesture was seen by the thousands waiting for the puck drop of a game against Chicago. Ullmark, however, does not seek recognition for such kindness, nor did the act surprise his teammates.
On the ice, Ullmark can be perceived by opponents as ultra-serious – he was not afraid to tell Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn to be quiet during a 1-0 loss Jan. 30 – but he is beloved by teammates for his quirks, quips and genuine kindness.
Ullmark, the Sabres’ starter in eight of the past 12 games, is active in two charitable causes: Ullmark’s Barks, which, in conjunction with the SPCA in Erie County, has helped six dogs find owners in two months, and AjaBajaCancer, a foundation in Sweden that helps families affected by childhood cancer.
“I would say I’m quirky, unique,” Ullmark said, unabashedly, in KeyBank Center following practice last week. “I would rather be unique than normal. That’s how I see it. I don’t have any issues with me being me and people seeing me as quirky or fun or whatever they say. I try to be me every day, every week. Try to enjoy life as much as possible.”
Full story and photos at https://buffalonews.com/2019/02/13/buffalo-sabres-linus-ullmark-rochester-americans-modo-nhl-ahl-news/
From BuffaloNews.com
SEE LINUS’ “ULLMARK’S BARKS” DRAFT PICKS AND THE NEW TEAMS THEY’VE JOINED RIGHT HERE >>
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This summer’s reading challenge sessions, available in groups of 6 (program cost $40) or 12 (program cost $70), are available on Tuesdays, June 18 – September 3, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the SPCA’s 300 Harlem Rd., West Seneca shelter.
Christine Davis with questions: HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.
