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New Programs, Events and Information

The Maryland SPCA always has new programs, events and information to share with you. You can catch up on what’s going on through our quarterly newsletter Animal Talk, local news coverage and recent press releases. You also can receive monthly e-news updates about the SPCA and timely animal information by enrolling in our e-mail updates. Some of our most recent news is presented below.

• Ride for the Animals
• Baltimore 500
• Speak Out About Animal Abuse
• Maryland SPCA Announces Plan to Expand Adoption Center
• Maryland SPCA 2009 Accomplishments
• Ebay Give Team Provides Grant for Gurney
• Kibble Connection
• MD SPCA Statement on Violence Toward Animals
• The Maryland SPCA: 140 Years of Caring Exhibit

 

Ride for the Animals

The second annual Ride for the Animals, presented by BARK! Pawsitive Petfood, was Sunday, August 22. The ride began at The Harley-Davidson/Buell Store (8845 Pulaski Hwy., Baltimore, MD 21237) and ended at Dock of the Bay (9025 Cuckold Pt. Rd., Sparrows Pt., MD 21219). Registration was $30 per rider and $20 per passenger. Proceeds benefit the animals at the Maryland SPCA. After the ride at Dock of the Bay, The Fabulous Skunkpuppie Band performed and a buffet was served. We thank our presenting sponsor, BARK! Pawsitive Petfood, and our contributing sponsors, Capital Remodeling and Body by Vi. We also thank the riders who came out despite the rainy weather.

 

Ride for the Animals Presenting Sponsor

Bark! Pawsitive Petfood is a local company whose mission is to enrich the lives of animal companions by providing healthy, eco-friendly and socially responsible products.

 

Ride for the Animals Contributing Spronsors

Capital Remodeling offers replacement windows, kitchen remodeling, vinyl siding, and roofing in the Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Atlanta and DC areas

 

The Body By Vi Challenge is a shift in health and nutrition that is sweeping the Nation!

 

 

Baltimore 500

This May, the members of Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (MD SPCA, BARCS and Baltimore Humane Society) held the Baltimore 500 race to save cats' lives. The Baltimore 500 was generously sponosored by the Cat Hospital at Towson. Throughout the month of May, adoption fees on all cats and kittens in all three shelters were waived. The goal was to adopt out 500 cats and kittens among the three shelters, and we succeeded. Normal adoption procedures applied. The BAWA facebook page covered the month-long event.

 

Speak out about Animal Abuse

Please help our elected officials know where you stand on animal abuse. Below are two letters that you may wish to send to let them know that you want them to take animal abuse seriously.

If you are a Baltimore City resident, it is important to state that in your letter.

Sample Letters

Date

Ms. Patricia Coats Jessamy
State’s Attorney for Baltimore City
208 Mitchell Courthouse
110 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202

mail@stattorney.org

Dear Ms. Jessamy,

I saw the news story about the dog who was attacked by a group of children on Sunday. I am writing to express my concern about this incident and similar acts of cruelty toward animals in Baltimore in the past year.

Research has shown that there is a direct link between violence toward animals and violence toward people.  For this reason, I hope that this case and other cases like it are treated seriously by prosecutors. 

As a pet owner myself, I cannot imagine what would bring someone to do such a cruel act. The fact that these are youngsters is even more disturbing.  I hope that these children are caught and receive the education and correction that they need.

Sincerely,

Your Name

 

Date

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
City Hall
Room 250
100 N. Holliday Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

mayor@baltimorecity.gov

Dear Mayor,

I saw the news story about the dog who was attacked by a group of children on Sunday. I am writing to express my concern about this incident and similar acts of cruelty toward animals in Baltimore in the past year.

Research has shown that there is a direct link between violence toward animals and violence toward people.  For this reason, I hope that Baltimore City takes the recommendations of the Animal Cruelty Task Force seriously and puts in place strong measures to prevent cruelty through education, as well as vigorous enforcement of cruelty laws when these acts occur.

As a pet owner myself, I cannot imagine what would bring someone to do such a cruel act. The fact that these are youngsters is even more disturbing.  I hope that these children are caught and receive the education and correction that they need.

Sincerely,

Your name

 

Maryland SPCA Announces Plan to Expand Adoption Center

At a reception on March 11, Maryland SPCA Board President Mary-Ann Pinkard announced that the Maryland SPCA is planning to expand its adoption center this summer to better serve the public and the animals in the community. “We are very excited to be taking this next step,” Mrs. Pinkard said. “In the last few years, we have made tremendous strides in improving the well-being of animals in the Baltimore community. We need facilities to reflect the changes that have enabled us to adopt out every healthy pet in our adoption program for the last two-and-a-half years.”

Construction is scheduled to begin this summer, and work is expected to be completed within six months. The planned expansion includes the following improvements:

• Creation of the Morton Gorn Center for Animal Adoption, a new area for adoption interviews, a waiting area, office space and two “animal showcases” for dog and cat housing of “long-timers” to promote their adoption.
• Construction of an animal intake center, separate from the adoption area, to provide improved areas for animals coming into the MD SPCA. It will include space to assess animal behavior and a dog exam room, allowing us to have separate dog and cat exam rooms.
• Expanded cat room. The addition will enable us to increase the size of the cat room and provide more generous cat housing.
• Fire safety. The project includes installing sprinklers throughout the entire facility.
• Better accessibility. The new building will be all on one level, removing the steps from the front of the current adoption center entrance and eliminating all steps within the interior of the building.

The new adoption center is named in memory of Morton Gorn, a real estate developer who cherished his dogs and his horses. The gift to name the center in his memory was made by his widow, Arlene Gorn, who was introduced to the Maryland SPCA by her daughter, Karen Colvin. “Mrs. Gorn and the Colvins motivated and inspired us to move forward with this project at a time when many people were pulling back because of the economy,” said Aileen Gabbey, Executive Director. “Their generosity was an important cornerstone to making this project happen.”

 

Maryland SPCA 2009 Accomplishments

2009 was a busy year at the Maryland SPCA. We saved the lives of thousands of animals and assisted thousands of people, in keeping with our mission to improve the lives of pets and people in the community by fostering healthy animal-human relationships. We accomplished more as demands grew because of the tough economy. We couldn't have done this without our hard-working staff, dedicated volunteers and generous donors. Here are key highlights from 2009:

• We spayed and neutered more than 9,000 animals. Spay/neuter is a critical strategy to reduce the unwanted pet population.
• We adopted out more than 3,000 animals into good homes. The average time it takes an animal in our adoption program to find a new home is less than a week, although there is no time limit.
  Every healthy pet found a home. Animals in our adoption program remain in the program until adopted, reclaimed or sent to rescue.
• We transported more than 2,000 animals from area shelters to the MD SPCA. Our transport program gives animals at overcrowded shelters a greater chance to find a new home.
• We placed over 500 animals in our foster care program. Foster care helps save the lives of animals who are not yet developmentally, socially and/or physically ready for our adoption program.
• We began holding Wellness Days, offering low-cost pet wellness care to the public. Basic exams, vaccinations, routine tests and treatments are available at low cost to help pets stay healthy.

Thank you to everyone who helped make 2009 a successful year!

 

eBay Give Team Provides Grant for Gurney

On December 31, 2009, the Maryland SPCA received a grant from eBay of $3,750 to purchase the Premier Mobile Lift Table and Scale (a large gurney and scale) to help carry, weigh and transport large dogs comfortably within our facility. The gurney will allow Maryland SPCA staff to keep large dogs comfortable and safe while they are with us, as well as keep our staff safe from the risks associated with carrying large dogs. Pictured left to right are Mohan Ramappa, Medical & Surgical Administrator; Charis Yousefian, Development Coordinator; Ebay Give Team members Amy Horton, Howard Kramen, Mia Ellis and Sara Thomas; and David M. Drake, Director of Development & Marketing.

To expand its grantmaking globally, eBay Foundation formed GIVE Teams, employee committees responsible for assessing local needs and recommending nonprofits/NGOs that eBay Foundation should support with grants. GIVE Teams also support volunteerism by promoting local volunteer opportunities.

 

Kibble Connection

The Maryland SPCA now operates Kibble Connection, a program to collect donated pet food and kitty litter for Meals on Wheels to deliver to local homebound clients with pets. In these hard economic times, some Meals on Wheels clients are sharing their meals with their pets and not getting enough to eat. Kibble Connection helps ensure that Meals on Wheels clients and their pets maintain good nutrition. WBAL featured Kibble Connection in a newscast.

For Kibble Connection, the Maryland SPCA accepts pet food and kitty litter in unopened containers or bags weighing 20 pounds or less. Please bring donations to our adoption center during business hours. For more information, contact Amanda at 410-235-8826, ext. 107.

 

 

MD SPCA Statement on Violence Toward Animals

Sadly, there have been some recent cases of horrible violence against animals in our community.

There is a link between animal abuse and violence toward people.

Violence in a community should not be tolerated, period. No one wants any kind of violence in his neighborhood. We must care about our whole community and what happens to all of our citizens.

The Maryland SPCA has supported rewards to convict the perpetrators of these awful crimes. And, these are, indeed, crimes. Animal cruelty is a felony in Maryland. Because animal abusers often escalate their crimes to humans over time, taking this crime seriously is important for the entire community. If you know about abuse in your community, call 911. Get involved in your community. Baltimore police are here to keep us all safe. Support proper resources for our police and animal control officers by sending this letter to the Mayor.

‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’ Gandhi

 

The Maryland SPCA: 140 Years of Caring Exhibit

We held an exhibit at the Maryland Historical Society from April 1 through June 21. The exhibit, The Maryland SPCA: 140 Years of Caring, highlighted the history of our organization and was sponsored by Bravo Health. A special "Wine & Wag" reception for the exhibit took place on Friday, May 8, 2009 at the Maryland Historical Society. The reception featured a tour of the exhibit, a full bar with wines and hors d’oeuvres and adoptable SPCA dogs. A few photos from the event are below. A Maryland SPCA water fountain for Baltimore City work horses is pictured to the right.