Sat. Nov 23rd, 2024

On Saturday, the CNYSPCA held it’s Valentine’s adoption event. With record numbers of animals coming into the shelter, the meet-and-greet allows for chances for some pets to find a new home.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Animal shelters across the country are experiencing some of the highest amounts of pets that they have ever seen. The CNYSPCA is no exception, wagging tails are everywhere but with nowhere to go.

“In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, these animals are looking for their lost love,” said CNY SPCA Director, Troy Waffner. “These are all good animals, I think sometimes shelter animals get a bad rep that there’s something broken about them. There’s nothing broken about these animals, they ended up here because their owners tossed them aside.”

This past weekend, the SPCA held its ‘Roses are Red’ adoption event. February’s edition was Valentine’s centered, but this isn’t the first month the shelter has been holding themed meet-and-greets. It all started this summer.

“We’ve been doing these since probably about July,” said Waffner. “At each adoption event we probably adopt out 12-15 dogs and several cats. They’ve been hugely successful in getting dogs out of the shelter.”

And now seems more important than ever to adopt and rescue – The rising trend in stray intakes for dogs continues to cause concern, as the numbers from 2022-2023 have grown by 5% according to Shelter Animals Count.

“It’s always important,” said Mattydale resident, Heidi Dashnaw. “If you have availability and a spot for a pet to love you should go get a pet. You can take care of it.”

Two dogs looking out of their cages. One is white and one is brown.
Dogs at the CNYSPCA where the shelter is seeing a record-high.

“We’re picking up near record numbers of stray animals,” said Waffner. “When you break it down, a lot of the common things are people got animals during the pandemic. They thought they were always going to live in their place and work from home. Then, reality hits and the world opens up. They realize they can’t take care of their animal.”

As the call to rescue these four-legged friends grows louder and louder, Waffner called for one last reminder to adopt versus buying from a breeder.

“When someone adopts one dog from our shelter or another, they save two because it frees up a kennel to bring another dog in in need into the facility, work with it and get it adopted.”

And because it’s February, the shelter is also holding their “Cupid’s Calling” program where animals that have been at the shelter longer for than six months will have their adoption fee reduced by 80%.

Transcript

CALEB NICE: Valentines Day is all about celebrating that special person in your life – For some that can be your four legged friend. But here at CNY SPCA, these pets are still looking love

TROY WAFFNER: “In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, these animals are looking for their lost love. These are all good animals, I think sometimes shelter animals get a bad rep that there’s something broken about them. There’s nothing broken about these animals, they ended up here because their owners tossed them aside.”

NICE: On Saturday the SPCA held its Roses are Red adoption event – Director Troy Waffner has been putting on these monthly themed meet and greets since this summer

WAFFNER: “We’ve been doing these since probably about July. At each adoption event we probably adopt out 12-15 dogs and several cats. They’ve been hugely successful in getting dogs out of the shelter.”

NICE: And now seems more important than ever to adopt and rescue – The rising trend in stray intakes for dogs continues to cause concern, as the numbers from 2022-2023 have grown by 5% according to Shelter Animals Count – a number Heidi Dashnaw feels should always be addressed

HEIDI DASHNAW: “It’s always important. If you have availability and a spot for a pet to love you should go get a pet. You can take care of it.”

NICE: It’s raining cats and dogs, a phrase we often hear. But here at the CNY SPCA it’s quite literally raining cats and dogs where over the past couple of weeks the shelter has seen a record number of animals coming in

WAFFNER: “We’re picking up near record numbers of stray animals. When you break it down a lot of the common things are people got animals during the pandemic. They thought they were always going to live in their place and work from home. Then reality hits and the world opens up so they can’t take care of their animal.”

NICE: As the need to rescue these furry friends calls for more and more help, Waffner has one last message for potential adopters

WAFFNER: “When someone adopts one dog from our shelter or another, they save two because it frees up a kennel to bring another dog in in need into the facility, work with it and get it adopted.”