Upcoming Events and News
“Dancing for the Animals - Alice in Wonderland”
On September 17th at the East High School Auditorium in Corning, more than 50 enthusiastic volunteers twirled, leaped and laughed as they presented
two dance performances of the classic children’s story “Alice in Wonderland”. The cast included dancers from ages four to adult, including Samantha Rutkoski as Alice, Carolyn Egervary as the Queen of Hearts, and Ethan Bratti as the Mad Hatter. Wendy Hall directed the family-friendly show and benefit which received rave reviews. Donations for the Finger Lakes SPCA (FLSPCA) were gratefully accepted at the door, and special 'Unbirthday' cupcakes were made available for purchase. As a result of this creative and highly entertaining performing arts effort, over $1,400 was raised to help needy animals in our community and to support FLSPCA services which preserve the human-companion animal bond.
On behalf of the animals, we would like to express our gratitude to all who came out to enjoy the shows, all the volunteers & talented performers who played any role in Dancing for the Animals –Alice in Wonderland and to Wendy Whitley-Hall for sharing her directorial talents and her continued support of her four-legged friends.
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Alice (Samantha Rutkoski), Kitten (Ocean Fausett) and Bluebirds (Alyson Divens, Aleksandra Marjanovic, Evelyn Piech, Dorothy Piech)
Governess (Wendy Hall), with Small Pupils Emily O'Neill-Wamsley, Paige Kesterson, Presley Armbruster, Lilly Mortensen
"Overture Dancers" from Alice in Wonderland
"Tulgey Wood Dancers" from Alice in Wonderland
Queen of Hearts (Carloyn Egervary)
Selling unbirthday cake area at the Alice performance. The Queen of Hearts (Carolyn Egervary), Cheshire Cat (Sydney Rutkoski) and Alice (Samantha Rutkoski) selling 'unbirthday' cupcakes to a Heart (Morgan Miller).Woofstock Mewsic Festival
SPCA Summer Sensation & Success
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all who joined us at our Woofstock Mewsic Festival
(“One Day of Peace & Music for the Animals”).
This all day festival of music & family fun fundraiser was a time
for our community to come together at our picturesque co-location and future home (River’s Edge Farm) to
help our homeless animal friends and to celebrate with us the human-companion animal bond.
We couldn’t
have asked for a more lovely summer day or hoped for a more positive event experience for everyone. As a
result of this event and such a caring community, over $4,000 was raised at our very first Woofstock Mewsic
Festival.
We would like to thank everyone who participated, all of our dedicated volunteers, all donors who
gave, all supporters, participating vendors and our community as a whole for their incredible support. The
kindness and generosity shown by so many in support of this FLSPCA benefit is admirable and inspiring.
Happy Tails
Our family of four (Myself, my husband and our two teenage sons) already had 2 West Highland Terriers in our home when we brought Cricket into the family. We had recently lost our beloved Spatz, our kitty who had adopted us in our neighborhood. We had her for many years, and she had recently passed away. Our doggies missed her so much that we decided to look for a kitten to adopt. We looked on petfinder.com and found Stan at your shelter. He was very similar to Cricket, and we really liked the gray tabby cat look. We went to your shelter, and it was overrun with kittens. Stan was there, but we saw Cricket first. He was very friendly, so we got him out of the cage to hold him. That was it; we were in love with him. The name he was given there fit him so well that we kept it. We brought him home that very day.
In May of 2010 we lost our 16 year-old dog (Bailey) to bladder cancer. We were all so torn apart by this because he had lived with us for 16 years and was the best dog ever. Our younger dog (Kirby) became despondent, so we began to look for another puppy. We again went to Petfinder.com and found our little Libby in a shelter in Western NY. Cricket didn't know what to think of this little toy, but they got along very well and have been best buddies ever since.
Our home is filled with 3 wonderful pets, and we can't imagine what life would be like without them. We appreciate all you do for the animals who pass through your shelter. I am always telling my friends and acquaintances about the Finger Lakes SPCA and what a wonderful job you have done and continue to do. Thank you so much for following up with us.
Thanks again, Deb Thurston
We all find it incredible that Neal was a shelter resident for over 2 years.
A perfect new family member, it took little time for him to acclimate. He made himself quite comfortable almost immediately. He is eager to please and obeys commands in little time and with almost no effort. He is as happy napping for hours at a time as he is chasing a ball or chewing a bone.
Our biggest challenge to date was introducing him to Charlie, my daughter's chocolate lab. After a week or two of brief, closely monitored visits, they have become great pals and play together for long periods sharing their nyla-bones and balls.
Neal was very gentle during a recent visit with Tom's 20 month old grandson and actually allowed the child to remove a bone from his mouth.
It is obvious that Neal enjoyed the attention of people who loved him at the Finger Lakes SPCA. He displays none of the anxieties some animals carry with them as symptoms of abuse and neglect suffered before their shelter experience. I've attached a few photos of Neal enjoying life - he is soooo good at it –
Again, thank you for a beautiful family member......
Sherry Harnas
I came home on December 15th, and my mom tells me she needs to tell me one of my presents because there is no way she can wrap it. When she said, "Like, I can't wrap a cat", I thought she was giving an example. When she went on and I realized she was serious, I was exuberantly shocked and awestruck!
She explained she and my dad had visited the SPCA, but wanted me to pick. She told me there was one she had a feeling would be the one, that she kind of fell in love with. Stan was that one! When we came to visit, I felt a spark about him. I visited with 5 separate cats. Stan was the only who carried himself in a way that made me fall in love.
He hid for the first day or two. Throughout the next week, he grew closer to me. HE WAS IN THE SHELTER MOST OF HIS LIFE, BUT TOOK OVER MY ROOM LIKE A KING as he would lay on his leopard-print bean bag. In my room he has a choice between two beds he can have to himself, but usually chooses to lay by my side, purring and nuzzling me. I am his mommy.
He never ceases to amuse me with his Rattle-Snake-Tail-Shake and how he lays on my laptop when he decides I am done and it’s STAN time. He is definitely spoiled rotten, and he only plays with jingle-toys at midnight. His name went from Stan, to Staniel Howard Frussy-face Fritter. My Staniel will forever have a home, as he always deserved.
Katlyn Constance Webber
I saw a photo of a cat named Cassie on Facebook and read her story of having lost much of her ears to frostbite and being in the shelter for almost a year. I instantly fell in love with her, so my husband and I went to the Finger Lakes SPCA the next day. We surprised our daughters that evening, showing them photos of Cassie (who we later renamed Mika) telling them that we were bringing her home in 2 days. They were very excited and kept asking if we were joking.
Most of Mika's first day with us was spent hiding, but she slowly made her way out to meet her new family, & She now scampers throughout the whole house like she owns the place. She has brought so much fun and happiness into our family. She is a little ball of fire, flying from room to room, sometimes so fast that you don't even see her. She sleeps in a different bedroom every night and sometimes we argue over who "gets her" for the night. She is slowly getting used to cuddling with us, but still seems to prefer sitting nearby and taking in the scene. She has already been given many nicknames in just 2 short months....Me-Me, Meekers, Meeks, Me, and the Little Cat. We are so thankful to the FLSPCA for their kindness and assistance with Mika's adoption. The process was very easy and everyone there was most kind. Mika has brought us much happiness during a very sad time for our family. She is so full of life and energy and is the perfect fit for our family. People have said how great it is that we gave her a home, but I tell them that she has already given us so much more! I highly recommend adoption from the FLSPCA for anyone considering adding a pet to their family.
Sincerely,
Wendy, Dave, Kristen & Kyra Baker
Bath, NY
Finger Lakes SPCA Recognizes Wendy Halls Extraordinary Volunteer Efforts!
Wendy Hall has been a Finger Lakes SPCA volunteer for nearly two decades. During those years, this dance instructor and animal-lover has given of her time, talents & energy in many ways. Wendy has walked and comforted homeless dogs, transported animals to off-site adoption events, organized and supported major fundraisers, perennially collected the most sponsorships for the Shelter’s annual Strides for Strays dog walk and more. Most recently, she spearheaded a successful grant application for Pepsi's "Refresh Everything" Project that helped to make possible the benefit ballet “Animal Crackers”, which she also directed. Wendy is very passionate about helping animals in need and her enthusiasm and collaborative spirit is infectious.
Animal Crackers was a huge project that involved more than a hundred people and hundreds of hours of preparation. We would like to thank Wendy, her students, and all of the volunteers for their outstanding efforts in putting on such an amazing production. The animal-themed ballet raised over $6,000 for the care of homeless animals. As a direct result of Wendy’s volunteerism (combined with the efforts of all the dancers, volunteers & those in the community who were touched by the performances) animal adoptions, volunteer interest and donations all spiked. The excerpt below helps to best describe Wendy’s impassioned efforts, her understanding of how interconnected our treatment of each other is with our treatment of those who cannot speak for themselves and why we are so grateful to her for her volunteer contributions.
To quote Director Wendy’ program notes from Animal Crackers: I believe that every small kindness DOES make a difference. We do what we can. I have donated my efforts, sweat, worry, frustrations, joy, laughter and HOPE to this project. It would not have been possible without the incredible generosity and talent of all of our dancers and the many hard working volunteers who put this show together. We hope that this show brightens your day. Our message is: kindness to animals and to each other.
There is one final story I want to tell, which I also told to our audience at Animal Crackers. From the start this show was conceived as a benefit for the Finger Lakes SPCA. The dancers knew about our purpose, and some specifically wanted to be in the show because it was helping the homeless animals in our community. Sometime during the weeks of rehearsal, one of my dancers came into the studio and handed me a Ziploc plastic bag with a few dollars and several quarters in it. She told me that she and her friends had held a ‘bike wash’ one afternoon, and they wanted the money they earned to go to the SPCA. I told her I would be happy to pass it on. Good deeds…pass them on.
Finger Lakes SPCA Wellness Clinic for Dogs & Cats
Our Wellness Clinic will provide education and products/services at a reduced cost to help with routine problems such as fleas, mites, worms, overgrown nails, mats, etc.
This program is made available for low income families. Please contact the SPCA directly for complete information on the Wellness Clinic’s range of services, prices, Heap income eligibility guidelines &/or to schedule an appointment. It is strongly recommended to call ahead for an appointment- (607-776-3039).
We will only be able to accept walk-ins, if time permits.
July 5th, August 2nd & Sept. 6th
72 Cameron Street –Bath
5-8 P.M.
Physical Exam & Wellness Consultation are required –Only $20.00 *Other medical services and products will be made available for additional fees at a substantially discounted rate.
All cats must be escorted in a carrier and all dogs must be leashed.
“Finger Lakes SPCA Receives Thoroughbred Charities of America Grant”
Release Date: July 12th, 2010
July 2010 -The Finger Lakes SPCA has been selected by the Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) as a 2010 grant award recipient. The SPCA’s grant request was approved as it was found to uphold the mission of TCA which is “to provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers by supporting retirement, rescue and research and by helping the people who work with them”. The awards are presented annually to eligible nonprofit organizations.
The TCA’s generous award of $5,000.00 will help to defray hay and medical expenses incurred for rescued Thoroughbreds being cared for in the Finger Lakes SPCA’s foster care program.
“This grant award (combined with other generous donations and awards) help to make possible the humane work of rehabilitating and rehoming Thoroughbred horses that were once the victims of extreme cruelty and neglect. This job is very expensive and demanding. Sadly, there is a huge overpopulation across the U.S. of unwanted equines partly because of irresponsible breeding. The economic downturn has also contributed to the rise of abused and neglected horses. People can no longer afford to care for these large animals. These magnificent sentient beings are literally being turned out on the streets, or neglected to the point of starvation”, said Vicki Mosgrove, Finger Lakes SPCA’s Executive Director. We are grateful for the Mission of the TCA and their support of our organization’s work.
Please call the Finger Lakes SPCA (776-3039) if you would like to adopt or otherwise provide assistance to a formerly abused equine.
A huge thank you to our community for their outstanding support of Paws & Pairings!
This benefit raised greatly needed funds for the care of many homeless animals and will support Finger Lakes SPCA’s humane programs which help both animals and people in our County and the Finger Lakes Region. Additionally, the event raised awareness about our future plans to construct a regional adoption center and humane education facility at the beautiful River’s Edge Farm site in Bath. Open Thank You.
Two of our cats will be hitting the town
The Finger Lakes SPCA will be showing off two of their adoptable cats from 12:30-2:30 PM on the second Saturday of each month at Wild Birds Unlimited, 28 E. Market Street, Corning. All are invited to stop by and meet the felines. There will be information on the shelter and a volunteer on hand to answer questions. The Bath shelter has cats, dogs and horses available for adoption. Donations are always appreciated!
Ongoing
We are seeking donations of new and gently used books, DVDs' and CDs' to help us raise funds for F.L.SPCA's Ongoing Animal Care & Humane Programs. Note: If you have more than a few boxes of items you would like to drop off it would be very helpful if you could call ahead (607) -776-3039.