West Seneca, N.Y. (WBEN) - Earlier this week, the SPCA Serving Erie County said the shelter in West Seneca was dealing with a potential 'capacity crisis,' as a high number of animal cruelty cases and low number of adoptions could lead to a full house and an inability to accept new animal admissions.
While the SPCA Serving Western New York has a huge and beautiful facility in West Seneca, President and CEO Cait Daly says the potential crisis at hand isn't so much about the SPCA. It's a crisis for the animals.
However, Daly says the community has responded with its support for the SPCA by showing up to help either adopt or foster an animal in need, which she is incredibly grateful for.
"They adopted, they fostered, but we still need that help," said Daly on Friday during the organization's weekly appearance on WBEN. "Every July, every summer, we just get really, really packed pretty much all summer long. So all summer, you can adopt any animal one year and older for half off."
What started on Thursday will also run for Friday at the shelter, and that is their Speed Dating event, where any interested parties can adopt an animal one-year-old or older for a waved fee.
"Normally when you come to the SPCA, you fill out a pass. We've removed the passes, you can just go right back," Daly explained. "We have volunteers stationed at almost every single kennel or caged dogs, cats and small animals. As well as we have animals in the lobby for you to fall in love with as soon as you walk in. It's just a really fun environment. We're trying to get some of these animals adopted."
Daly also says there are short-term foster program that are helpful to see if the animals are the right fit for a family.
"It's called 'If the Furr Fits'. You can take them home for a couple of days and see if it's the right fit," she said. "You can also just take an animal out for the day with our Doggy Entourage program."
While fostering animals from the SPCA is the easiest way to help free up some space, there are other programs that can assist matters and allow more space for more potential animals that need care and attention. This also includes programs for anyone who wants to help, but may not have all the sufficient resources.
"If you feel like right now isn't the time to adopt because of maybe monetary reasons, we have a lot of programs to support you. We have food options, veterinary subsidy, behavioral support. We're just trying to do everything we can to fill that gap so if you're looking for love and you do want to adopt or you do want to foster, you can do that and feel fully supported," Daly said.
Even if the shelter is full or near capacity, Daly says options are available for people, even if they bring in an animal and may have the option to provide further for it.
"If you find an animal and you come in, we can get that animal vaccinated, get them spayed and neutered for you so you can help us by keeping them in your home to find them a spot," she said. "We're doing everything we can to still provide the support, but just not fill up our shelter, because we just can't."
As for one of the available animals up for adoption during Friday's event at the SPCA Serving Erie County, this includes this week's WBEN News Hound, Dottie!
"I love the big beefy dogs, and she's just perfect," Daly admitted. "She's a little shorter than you would expect in her pictures, so she sort of looks a bit like a hippo. She's super playful, she's about a year old, and she is available today during our big adoption special."
Friday's adoption event starts at 12 p.m. ET at their location at 300 Harlem Road in West Seneca and runs through 8 p.m. ET.
