The Susquehanna SPCA (SQSPCA) serving Otsego County and beyond has really gone above and beyond to give a financial helping hand to relief efforts in war-ravaged Ukraine involving assisting animals, their owners, and animal shelters.

When news reached SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes of volunteers in Ukraine, trying to deliver food to an animal shelter in Busha Ukraine being shot and killed by Russian militants, she knew she wanted to help. Haynes reached out to the shelter's supporters to ask for donations to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which helps animals separated from their owners. The shelter was happy to announce that they were able to start the fundraising with a $2,500 dollar-for-dollar match to kick things off. Haynes announced in a release that the SQSPCA has raised $11, 081 which will save the lives of animals in Ukraine.

Responding to the generous donation from the shelter, Shannon Walajtys, who is IFAW’s Director of Disaster Response and Risk Reduction and currently working from Poland to support the organization's efforts to help animals and people told Haynes, “The fact that so many care gives us hope. These shelters (in Ukraine) need our support now more than ever as, all too often, animals are the voiceless victims of conflict. My team and I have deployed to Poland and will continue to work with government authorities and local shelters to help provide much-needed relief."

WDOS-WDLA-WCHN CNY News logo
Get our free mobile app

It's not surprising that the Susquehanna SPCA became involved in helping animals in Ukraine since they have been helping other animals from well outside of Otsego County's borders for a while now. SQSPCA has partnerships with certain shelters in other parts of the United States and takes in animals when possible when these other shelters get over-filled and can't take more animals in. Once again, a job well done by Haynes and her staff on their fundraising efforts for this very worthy cause!

Susquehanna SPCA Miracle Puppies

The Susquehanna SPCA helped to rescue a puppy mill female dog, a 6-year-old Siberian husky named "Candy" that was retired from breeding. Through an alliance with Furever Friends Dog Rescue of WNY, a nonprofit group in Ohio that saves retired dogs from puppy mills, the dog was being cared for at the Cooperstown shelter and being prepared for adoption. Part of that process is to spay the dog before adopting it out. A big surprise happened during the surgery - the very thin dog was found to be carrying inside her a litter of four puppies. Three of them were found to be still alive and were saved. What a miracle!

DOG LOVERS: 5 Tips On Introducing Your Dog To A Dog Park

We all want to be responsible dog owners and create a wonderful experience for our dogs at a dog park. If you have a dog that you think would love a chance at playing with other furry friends at a public park, here is some very practical and simple advice from certified dog trainer Sarah Cummings who has a lot of experience as a staff member of the Susquehanna SPCA.

Here's what Sarah has to say to us dog parents...

KEEP SCROLLING: Sip and Discover Otsego County Along The 37-Mile Cooperstown Beverage Trail

If you are looking for something fun and different to do with either friends or your partner for an afternoon, the Cooperstown Beverage Trail offers a lot of variety along this 37-mile trail.

More From WDOS-WDLA-WCHN CNY News