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No Surgery For Belle Until Foster Home is Found
We introduced you to Belle last month. Due to a shortage of available foster homes, Belle has been staying in a kennel, with daily visits and walks from SPCA/HS volunteers.
Belle was recently diagnosed with a torn CCL and is a good candidate for surgery. However, her post-surgical recuperation and rehabilitation will require a traditional foster home environment. Without the surgery, finding a permanent home for her will be next to impossible.
Please spread the word, alerting your friends, neighbors, and colleagues to Belle's situation. Until we identify a foster home, this sweet girl is in a holding pattern.
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BY THE NUMBERS
August 2013
We administered 232 low-cost vaccinations and microchips at the August clinic event.
We responded to 173 cruelty and abuse calls received on our 24-hour hotline.
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Yard Sale to Benefit SPCA/HS
Two SPCA/HS volunteers, Gwyn Kesler and Emi Ayala, are organizing a yard sale fundraiser for the SPCA/HS, with proceeds from the sale of items at their table being donated to our group.
Gwyn and Emi's yard sale will be on Saturday, October 5th, from 8am-12pm, as part of the city-wide Hyattsville Yard Sale, held on October 4th-6th (Friday to Saturday).
If you have items you would like to donate for the sale, please send an email to pgspcavol@gmail.com. We can arrange a time for pick up or drop off.
About 50 homes are expected to participate in the city-wide sale. While only the proceeds from the sale of items at our location (on 40th Avenue) will go to the SPCA/HS, the weekend event is a great opportunity for bargain hunters!
NOTE: If your items do not sell and you would like them back, we can set them aside for you after the sale. If you do not want them back, they will be donated to another charitable organization.
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Upcoming Events
Hyattsville Yard Sale (see article for more info)
Saturday, Oct. 5th, 8am-12pm
Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic
Sunday, Oct. 6th, 1pm-3pm
Adoption Show - Calverton Petsmart
Saturday, Oct. 12, 12pm-2pm
Adoption Show - Annapolis Petco
Saturday, Oct. 19, 12pm-2pm
Adoption Show & New Volunteer Orientation - Bowie Petsmart
Saturday, Oct. 26, 12pm-2pm
Visit www.pgspca.org for times and locations for all events.
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FACT: Dangerous and deadly foods for pets include avocado, chocolate, coffee, fatty foods, macadamia nuts. onions, raisins and grapes, salt, yeast dough, garlic, and products sweetened with xylitol.
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
Making a Difference: Judy McClain
Have you met Judy McClain? Most likely, no. And yet, she forms the backbone of one of the most established and critical branches of our organization.
Serving as SPCA/HS Cruelty Program Coordinator since 1997, Judy's work is tightly focused on her primary interest—the humane treatment of animals.
Cruelty & Abuse Emergencies
Judy handles all of the cruelty and emergency calls that come into the SPCA/HS system on a 24-hour basis. These calls come from the public through a live answering service (emergencies) as well as our regular phone lines (non-emergencies). After referring each of these calls to the Prince George’s County Animal Management Division or other appropriate regional authority, Judy follows up on every case to assure that the calls are handled properly and given closure.
Judy assists Animal Control by gathering information and joining them in the field when necessary to verify complaints and locations. Due to budget restraints, animal control authorities in our region are notoriously understaffed. Judy's role helps expedite the investigative process.
"I really refer to myself as a cruelty caseworker. We don't go out in the field that often to check on cruelty cases. Usually it is to look for missing pets or to verify an address for a cruelty," Judy explained.
In addition to fielding cruelty calls, Judy also handles inquiries regarding lost and found pets, owner surrenders, injured wildlife, strays, and miscellaneous matters like dog bites.
Animal Advocacy and Legislation
While those of us inside the SPCA/HS may not know Judy, our County legislators certainly do!
Judy keeps up with county and state legislative matters, attending the County's Commission for Animal Control hearings twice a month to observe and give input on the operations.
She was a member of a work study group formed by the Department of Environmental Resources that began in 1998 to review and make changes to our Animal Control Ordinance, and review the HSUS's evaluation of the County's animal control facility. Based on committee recommendations, changes became effective in September of 2001.
Judy served on a 3-year County Council Task Force (2002-2005) evaluating the effectiveness of existing legislation and administrative regulations concerning vicious animals, and advising the County Council on needed improvements and amendments.
A Record of Service
Judy has been active in animal welfare since 1976, assisting the Prince George's County Humane Society with their low-cost spay neuter program. Since joining our organization in 1986, Judy served as cat adoption coordinator for seven years, during which she conducted our first in-store pet adoption fair. Judy has also served on our Board of Directors for the last 13 years.
In 2000, the American Veterinary Medical Association presented Judy with a certificate in recognition of her work toward improving the humane treatment of animals.
Judy was named 2003 Prince George's Volunteer of the Year by the Prince George's Volunteer Center in recognition for "unselfish dedication and personal commitment through volunteerism". She was presented a proclamation certificate by Peter A. Shapiro, Prince George's County Council Chairman and Council Vice Chair Tony Knotts.
Our deepest thanks to Judy for her generous 27 years of service to our organization!
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