From the Eastern Madera County SPCA’s Pet Scoop
Animal Shelter Progress – Eastern Madera County SPCA (EMC SPCA) has been working for many years to fulfill its dream of building a no-kill animal shelter. That dream is close to becoming a reality.
Over the past couple of years, SPCA members have worked closely with its architect Alan Hendry, and Madera County, to conduct the first, essential steps for building the shelter. That includes the design of the shelter, shown below, surveying and testing the land, procuring all necessary permits, developing the grading plan and most recently, selecting Bannon Drilling to drill the well.
Drilling, slated to begin late May, truly makes the shelter project a reality, and once completed, the bulldozers and construction workers can come in and transform the land into what will become a haven of safety and love for animals waiting for their forever homes.
Clearly, this progress would not have been possible without the support of the community. It is with your kind donations and participation in the many EMC SPCA fundraisers over the years that have given this project life.
This project also provides various other gift giving opportunities, such as naming a bench at the facility after a beloved pet, or engraving a brick, in honor of a loved one, for the memorial garden wall. The EMC SPCA is a non-profit, 501 (C) (3) organization, and receives no government funding. We rely solely on the generosity of folks like you and hope that you’ll consider some of these shelter gift giving options.
Below, is more information about naming opportunities. If you wish to speak with someone directly, please contact Sharon Fitzgerald, at (559) 683-1266.
Spring and Summer Fun
Although we can’t really complain about the winter this year, it’s still always nice to welcome the sunshine, see the flowers bloom and get out in the fresh air. EMC SPCA is here to help you do just that, with the following events:
- May 10 – Annual Plant Sale, 45503 North Oakview, Oakhurst, 9:00 a.m. – Noon
- June 20 – Whine and Noses, at Western Sierra Nursery, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- October 5 – Animal Faire, at Oakhurst Community Park, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Please refer to the website regularly (www.emcspca.org), as dates for other events such as the Spay-ghetti Dinner, Bingo and other fun activities, have not yet been determined. Also, don’t forget, every other weekend starting in May, EMC SPCA hosts a bake sale in front of True Value Hardware in Oakhurst.
Doing What We Do Best
Simply put, EMC SPCA’s charter is to help animals, and in the past few months we have been busy doing just that. Nationwide, approximately 4,000,000 innocent animals are euthanized annually. One of the contributors to this horrific number is over-population in the animal community. Spaying and neutering helps to deter this over-population and EMC SPCA is making its contribution to help control this out-of-control problem.
Currently, there is little or no cost to EMC residents who call (559) 683-1266 for a spay/neuter voucher. EMC SPCA covers the associated veterinary expense. Look at these GREAT spay and neuter numbers, posted from January 1 through March 31, 2014!
Homeward Bound
A very important activity for EMC SPCA volunteers is befriending stray, lost or abandon animals. These distressed animals are provided a comfortable, safe place to live via our foster care program. EMC SPCA relies upon a network of caring individuals who provide homeless animals with the affection and attention needed until they can be placed into a loving, permanent home of their own.
These past few months Pat Ritchey, our adoption coordinator, has been busy. As she said, “the last two months could be called cat time,” and eight cats, ranging in age from 7 to 15, needed homes as soon as possible. Older animals are not as easy to place as younger ones, but Pat is pleased to say that homes were found for all eight cats. Pat, and the rest of EMC SPCA, is now gearing up for kitten season, which always proves to be a very busy time of year.
I end this newsletter with a story of why we all do what we do at EMC SPCA. It came to Pat’s attention that a gentleman who could no longer care for his two beloved cats, Miss Winkie and Little Bit, was interested in placing them in a new home. He was quite concerned and distraught about their future, as he wanted to be sure that they would be placed with someone who would care for and love them as he had for many years.
As luck would have it, shortly after his situation came to Pat’s attention, a woman came into The Cat’s Meow and told Sharon Fitzgerald, President of the Board for EMC SPCA, that she was interested in adopting not one, but two cats! Sharon immediately put the woman in touch with Pat, and as the saying goes, all’s well that ends well. Miss Winkie and Little Bit are contentedly settling into their new home and we are forever grateful to all the good Samaritans who pursue adopting a new pet over purchasing one.
Thank you for helping us to help the animals.
