Pet Service Review

This shelter takes in up to 10,000 animals every year but is struggling to exist! No government funds are received and costs continue to rise. We are not able to pay employees much above the minimum wage. Our shelter is deficient in meeting the state regulations/codes and modifications are needed but funding is a serious problem. We plan fundraisers to survive but the debt continues to mount. A new executive director and board give promise for turning things around but this will take the entire community's support.

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[updated on 2007-11-07 10:49:08]:
Our shelter lacks sufficient space for housing all of the animals that are in our care. We have had to order a trailer to accomodate the excess animals which exceed our state capacity. Our policy is not to euthanize for space and we are committed to that goal. We had some volunteer architechs from our community assess the shelter to determine if we could build on. WE CAN!! Now the problem is how to raise sufficient funds to put on an addition which will cost well in excess of $1,000,000. We are currently having a feasibility study done and we expect the results by the end of 2007. Even is the feasibility study concludes that we have the community will and capacity to raise the money, we do not have donors that are able to contribute large sums of money. Our board members are not wealthy themselves although they are in the process of trying to identify citizens who are animal welfare advocates and can contribute significant dollars. I am not optimistic that we will be greatly successful.. Meanwhile we are over crowded; our 2 staff who are not responsible for direct animal care have multiple pets in their own offices. Our multi-purpose room is also full of animals and we can no longer have meetings at the shelter - or training sessions for volunteers and staff. Please help us!!!!

Thank-you!!!!
[updated on 2007-11-09 14:58:56]:
The quality of the animal care provided at our shelter is because of a team of well trained staff and volunteers. The staff is not paid well but they carry out their duties with pride and commitment! Its too bad that the shelter is sooooo overcrowded!
[updated on 2007-11-11 13:51:26]:
The staff and volunteers of the shelter have made significant modifications in the operating hours of the shelter to make it more convenient for people seeking to adopt. This has included expanding weekend hours and evenings but the staff and volunteers have happily made accomodations to enhance adoptions. This also makes it easier for spay/neutering.
[updated on 2007-11-13 14:13:45]:
As a board member I cannot emphasize strongly enough our need for imporvements and expansion to our shelter!!! We are struggling mightally but are determined to "do whatever it takes" to make our shelter and our programs FIRST CLASS!!

The board can no longer meet at the shelter since it is so crowded. The mulit-purpose room now houses animals as does the office of our director . We have no place to showcase our animals like a retail operation can do. We barely have any space to have potential adoptive families get acquainted with our animals that are up for adoption.

We WILL NOT EUTHANIZE FOR SPACE!!!! We will continue to work hard to win this makeover!!!!!
[updated on 2007-11-14 09:00:33]:
Soon we will be getting ready for our holiday open house. At this event in early December, we continue to promote adoption, spaying and neutering and public education. We are always planning some event to be able to maintain our existence. Last weekend we had our big dinner Gala which is our major fundraiser. The Governor of PA came with his two rescued Golden Retrievers who were the honorary co-chairs of the Gala. The Governor not only talked about his dogs but also talked about his efforts to eliminate puppy mills in PA. We know that is puppy mills were not so available, more people would come to shelters for adoption. The Governor's plan is very aggressive but he has strong support throughout PA.
[updated on 2007-11-14 15:34:41]:
Our shelter has a new board and a new execuitive director, e.g. new within the past year. The new executive directior and board understand their responsibilities and take their roles very seriously. Unfortunately we have to struggle with problems that were not resolved in the past which makes the jib so much more challenging. However, the new team is totally committed to doing whatever it takes to turn things around. The biggest need is a shelter makeover/expansion to accomodate the thousands of animals that we take in every year. Please keep in mind that we get no government support!!
[updated on 2007-11-15 10:45:49]:
Last night our board had a meeting to discuss our future and the needs of our shelter. (We had to meet off site since the shelter is so crowded that there is not even space for the board to meet. We are thinking that we may have to rent temporary vans but realize that this could be money down the drain since it is not a permanent solution. We really need to have a makeover that would be a more permanent solution.
[updated on 2007-12-04 16:10:46]:
We continue to plug away to maintain our shelter. This past weekend we had a two day adoptathon and adopted 76 animals. We had a bake sale and a dogie treat sale which raised money. Our nest big event is the Penquin Plunge on New Years Day! Brrrrr!!
[updated on 2007-12-12 15:14:37]:
We continue to work to keep our overcrowded shelter. We are currently in the process pf updating our municipal contract which expire on 12/31/07. The increases in the contracts will increase our revenue to cover the costs of our direct animal care.
[updated on 2008-02-08 11:42:26]:
Our community is so engaged in the ZooToo contest because everyone knows how badly we need a shelter makeover. We now have over 2,000 particpants who eagerly rack up points everyday. IO love their ability to communicate between themselves. This is truly a gift for animals aand animals lovers. Today we are ranked #3 and will continue to work on our goal!