SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — Central New York residents can help local animal shelters in the dog days of summer. Overflow populations of stray dogs are plaguing humane centers like the Central New York SPCA shelter.
As a no-kill, not-for-profit animal shelter since 1891, CNY SPCA’s mission is to find loving homes for animals in need.
During the summer months, the shelter sees a significant increase in new animals needing homes, according to CNY SPCA Director of Volunteers, Donna Newman. However, shelters can’t always accommodate these needs due to capacity limitations. The shelter can currently only accept cases of dogs seized by animal control—leaving no space for alternative situations of animals in need.
SPCA offers a few options for residents looking to help out. Adopting or fostering an animal can free up resources for shelter staff to service more animals. “We are always at capacity,” says Newman. “Fostering is so important. It’s great. It’s wonderful. And it gives them [the dogs] a chance to recoup almost like a vacation.”
In addition to adopting and fostering, spreading awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering is key to mitigating the recurring overflow population problems. These solutions help to alleviate stresses on local shelters.
Volunteer John Whitford is passionate about lobbying local government officials for even greater change. “What we really need is for students to contact your state assembly person or your senators and say ‘We need spay, neuter, and chip laws in the state of New York.’ If we have that…10 years from now, we wouldn’t have as much of a problem.”
According to the SPCA’s End of Year Recap, 2023 reported the second-highest adoption rate in the last five years.
