Susquehanna Animal Shelter Unveils New Campaign
On November 21, the Susquehanna Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) launched a $2,000,000 SHELTER US capital campaign to support construction of a campus that will house a new, state-of-the-art animal shelter and thrift store. The campaign announcement comes in conjunction with an organizational re-brand incorporating the shelter’s legal name with a fresh, new logo.
“To date, we have raised $680,000 of our $2,000,000 goal,” said Susquehanna SPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes. “We’re grateful for this jump start toward the final figure, but ultimately we will need help from our County, friends and neighbors to reach the necessary target amount.”
The project – buoyed by a $500,000 New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund Grant through the Department of Agriculture and Markets – will move the shelter and thrift store facilities 1.2 miles north of the current location on State Route 28 between Cooperstown and Oneonta. Workers are expected to break ground in the spring of 2019 with a target date of May 2020 for the move. Total project cost is anticipated to be around $2 million.
“We will be leaving behind a building originally designed and expanded over the years for various purposes, including a motorcycle shop, to move into a facility specifically tailored to our needs,” Haynes explained. The new site will still be easily accessible to visitors, adopters and shoppers, she said.
As officials kick off the public phase of the SHELTER US capital campaign, the Susquehanna SPCA is simultaneously unveiling a new logo, highlighting a return to use of the organization’s original name.
“Our legal name, Susquehanna SPCA, clearly identifies who we are and our new logo represents exactly what we do at the shelter,” Haynes said. “We work on a daily basis to help animals in need and to prevent animal cruelty by providing care, addressing medical needs, ensuring the spay and neuter of dogs and cats to reduce unwanted pet populations, and by matching people with animals searching for homes.”
Haynes pointed out that, while affiliated with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it is important to note that the Susquehanna SPCA is a private, independent nonprofit organization that receives no funds from the ASPCA.
“This year we are asking our supporters to consider a gift to the SHELTER US capital campaign in addition to annual gifts, which we depend upon for ongoing operations. Campaign gifts will make a positive difference for animals and families in our region for many years to come,” Haynes said.
“Multi-year pledges over the five-year span of the campaign are especially important in achieving our funding goals,” Haynes emphasized.
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