SPCA TO OPEN ADOPTION CENTER IN WALDEN GALLERIA MALL
The SPCA Serving Erie County (
http://YourSPCA.org) will open a temporary adoption center in the Walden Galleria Mall in Cheektowaga, NY Thursday, August 21 through Tuesday, September 30.
Much of the funding for the center, which will focus on feline adoptions, was donated by The Talking Phone Book President and CEO Richard Lewis, after reading an August 8 column by
Buffalo News writer Donn Esmonde.
Esmonde detailed the SPCA's attempt at finding every healthy and adoptable cat a home this summer, despite astronomical summer feline admission numbers (an average of 300-350 cats/kittens are brought to the SPCA per week). Sadly, although the SPCA's goal for Summer '08 was no euthanasia of even one healthy, adoptable cat/kitten due to lack of space, the surrender numbers have been too high this year to allow the SPCA to finally reach that goal. Despite its best efforts at additional on and off-site cat housing and fostering along with several cat adoption events and consistent cooperation on the part of local media outlets in getting the adoption word out, the SPCA could not make the supply of cats match the demand for cats in Erie County. (In addition to two shelters and a mobile adoption unit, there are currently 21 SPCA off-site cat adoption locations and 431 SPCA cats and kittens in volunteer foster homes awaiting available adoption space.)
Lewis and his wife were touched by Esmonde's article, and earlier this week agreed to fund a program to encourage end-of-summer cat adoptions, helping to keep the euthanasia number as low as possible. The Lewis' donation, in addition to a generous donation from another animal-loving friend of the SPCA, made the Walden Galleria Mall off-site adoption location possible.
Cats will be available in a shop located on the upper level of the mall near Macy's. At this time, if enough volunteers can provide assistance to keep the shop open, the SPCA expects to conduct adoptions seven days a week during all mall hours through September 30.
Volunteers are desperately needed to help make this adoption endeavor a success, and those interested in volunteering can visit the SPCA's Web site, YourSPCA.org, or contact SPCA Volunteer Coordinator Kim Zolnowski at kimz@spcaec.com or 716-629-3503.
Through September, SPCA feline adoption donations at all locations including the Walden Galleria Mall are $50 for cats 20 weeks and older, and $100 for kittens under five months. Adoption fees include an adoring animal to bring home, spay/neuter surgery, the cat's first set of vaccinations, microchip identification, feline leukemia test, FIV test, flea control, first physical examination at the Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society veterinarian of choice, 30 days free veterinary insurance, and a starter supply of NUTRO gourmet cat food.
For more information, visit
http://YourSPCA.org or contact SPCA Director of Public Relations Gina Browning, 716-629-3505.
SEE PHOTOS OF SPCA ADOPTABLE CATS & OTHER ANIMALS:
http://www.yourspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adopt_home