The Niagara County SPCA has come a long way since this time last year. The new Board of Directors and management team have made tremendous strides in 8 short months. The following is a partial listing of some of the success stories that we have had:

• The shelter’s no kill rate rose from 29% at its lowest in 2011 to its most recent high of 99%. The Niagara County SPCA is now an official No-Kill shelter!

• In 2012, we doubled 2011’s adoptions with 1,568 dogs and cats, kittens and puppies finding new, loving, permanent homes. These include animals deemed “unadoptable” like Walter the blind cat and Walter’s visually impaired best pal Hope, both were adopted to the same home so they could remain together. Molly, Sybil, Zsa Zsa and Louise also found homes despite all of them being quite elderly, blind, and/or deaf.

• 64 Pomeranian dogs and puppies, rescued from a large scale breeder in Lockport, were spayed or neutered and placed in forever homes where they will be treated with love and respect.

• 70 cats were rescued from a hoarder in the Town of Somerset – 47 of these were spayed and neutered at no cost by board member, Dr. Susan Persico and her husband Dr. Ed Latson at their clinic, Central Park Animal Hospital.

• In response to outbreaks of parvovirus (a very painful, often fatal virus that attacks dogs) as evidenced by the intake of several dogs with the disease into our shelter from Niagara Falls, Shelter Director Amy Lewis, and board members Dr. Susan Persico and Niagara Falls Police Officer Dave Bower, set up a parvovirus vaccination clinic and the Shelter administered 244 vaccines free of charge. Board Members AnnLouise Carosella and Michelle Madigan assisted in getting all 244 recipients ready for Dr. Persico.

• Collaboration with Cornell University Hospital for Animals is in the works. Cornell Veterinarians including the Head of the Shelter Medicine Program, have volunteered to help facilitate a spay/neuter program for the Niagara County SPCA once the weather breaks this spring.

• The Shelter’s volunteer base has increased to over 100 compassionate people! All of these work diligently for no reason other than their love for the animals in our care.

• Board Member AnnLouise Carosella has established a highly successful foster care program and is credited with placing over 800 animals in foster care.

• Under the guidance of Board Treasurer David Urban, CPA and Board Secretary Michelle Madigan, the Shelter has rebounded from the brink of financial disaster and is on its way to becoming self sustaining. David and Michelle have taken complete responsibility for managing the day to day finances of the Shelter.

• We have hired a team of highly skilled and respected professionals to guide us including Michael deFreitas, Esq., Joshua Ramos, Esq., Gaines Kriner Elliott CPA’s and Landmark Wealth Management.

• We have made capital improvements to the facilities including new outdoor signs, new fire doors in our dog kennels, a new phone system, the acquisition of a 2013 Kubota Tractor and the pending delivery of a 2013 Ford Cargo Van.

• Board Members Bryan Barish, Larry Eggert and Dave Bower have all been sworn in as animal cruelty investigators.

• Under the guidance of Shelter Director Amy Lewis, the inside of the facility has been cleaned, sanitized and painted, including all the dog kennels. The paint for our kennels was donated by a dedicated volunteer, Donna Miller.

• Our Fundraising Committee chaired by Board Member Dave Bower, had several successful events in 2012 including Dog Days, Zombie Fest, the annual Christmas party and several very successful bucket brigades. 2013 also has terrific activities planned including monthly flea markets, the Pizzafest Challenge, Summer Jamboree and Zombie Run 2013. Stay tuned for further details.

• We have raised over $25,000 in grants in the past three months for our upcoming spay/neuter program.

• Every dog in our shelter now has a new Kuranda dog bed thanks to several caring individuals.

• Shelter Director Amy Lewis has begun utilizing the Open Paw Shelter Enrichment program to help volunteers with ways in which to enrich animal behavior.

• On our website you will find our monthly Asilomar statistics, our monthly financial statements, tax returns for the past 3 years and the 2011 audited financial statements. The 2012 audit is in process and will be released in early March.

The goal of your Board of Directors and the management team is to make our SPCA, the crown jewel of animal shelters. If you haven’t stopped by for a visit lately, please take a few minutes to stop at the Shelter to see the positive changes that are happening each and every day. And if you want to experience the love and loyalty of our animals, please consider taking Panthro, Meatball, Stan or any of our other residents, out for a walk………it is an experience you will never forget. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff and the current residents of the Niagara County SPCA awaiting their forever homes, we thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,