With work set to begin Monday on renovating the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York’s 41 York St facility in Auburn, the shelter is seeking the public’s help in temporarily relocating the animals in its care.
Through its newly developed Foster Care Program, the SPCA is seeking volunteers to foster cats and dogs for the duration of construction. Fosterers must be 21 years or older and complete an application form. To learn more about the program or to apply, click here.
The SPCA has stated that all animals in foster care will remain available for adoption.
The shelter is also offering 1/2 off adoption specials now through May 11. A list of adoptable pets can be found on the shelter’s website. For more information on adopting an animal, call the shelter at 315-253-5841.
The shelter has spent years planning and fundraising for the renovations in order to bring the shelter into compliance with the Companion Animal Care Standards Act, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in December 2022, which set new standards for all shelters and rescues in the state. Under the law, those standards would need to be achieved by December 2025 or the shelter would no longer be able to operate.
Executive Director Nick Lapresi previously told Finger Lakes News Radio that fundraising was necessary for the shelter’s survival.
“Without being able to get this funding; without being able to do this construction, come December 2025 when the law goes into effect, our ability to register as a shelter within New York State would be at risk… and if that was to happen, then we’re not a registered shelter, then we would have to close our doors.”
The SPCA hit a setback in the summer of 2023 when donations mailed to the shelter for the project were stolen, leaving it $60,000 short of its fundraising goal of $80,000. Thanks to community support, the shelter reached its goal and received $115,000 in match grant funds, allowing construction to move forward.
Once renovations are complete, the shelter will boast new dog areas and kennels, a modern veterinary clinic, a surgery suite, and two HVAC systems to ensure proper temperature and airflow at the facility. Designated quarantine areas will also be used to help treat sick animals while keeping other animals in the shelter’s care safe.
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