By Patrick McLaughlin,

SPCA Executive Director

CHENANGO COUNTY – This year, the first snowfall in Norwich came on November 1st, as if the end of October was also the end of autumn. As the snow was falling that day, it occurred to me that, just like each snowflake is unique, so is each animal in our shelter.

Our furry friends have a few other things in common with snowflakes, too: They both arrive in seasons, though thankfully not the  same  one. There are times when we have more of them than we can handle. Finally, both have an ability to remind us of fond memories that warm our hearts despite the winter cold.

As I look back on 2023 at the Chenango SPCA, which was my first year here, I’m amazed at how the time has flown, and at how much has been accomplished:

Since January, we’ve helped 506 cats and dogs find  new  homes, and we’ve helped 90 others return to owners who were looking for them. We also set a new monthly adoption record: In October, we managed to complete  100 adoptions.

We’re making a concerted effort to emphasize adoption as our primary way of helping animals in need. A shelter is meant to be temporary, but a family is meant to last.

Our heightened emphasis on adoption flows from our commitment to our mission. In winter terms, we could say that our mission is to love each of the unique snowflakes that comes our way.

As you already know, that means a commitment to safe shelter, healthy food, and quality veterinary care. It  also  means decreasing length of stay, maximizing enrichment time, and finding the  right  family for each animal, then sending them home!

Thanks to the generosity of our donor community, we accomplished a lot this year, and will accomplish a lot more in 2024. If you want to show your support, please visit our website at chenangospca.org/donate/ to make a donation.