With renovation work underway on the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York’s building at 41 York Street, the organization is temporarily relocating.
SPCA Executive Director Nick Lapresi told Finger Lakes News Radio that, thanks to a generous donation from Joseph Calarco, the nonprofit has been able to move to the Fingerlakes Mall (Unit AN3, 1579 Clark Street Rd, Auburn) for the duration of construction work. He added that the location, on the west side of the mall by the former Sears automotive garage, can only be reached from the outside.
The mall location will allow the SPCA to accept walk-in donations and continue to offer its pet food pantry. Lapresi said adoptions can be facilitated at the mall by appointment only. To view animals up for adoption, visit the SPCA’s website. To make an appointment, call the SPCA at 315-253-5841.
The current hours of operation at the mall are as follows:
Monday: 11:00a-5:00p
Tuesday – Thursday: 11:00a-6:00p
Friday: Closed
Saturday, Sunday: 12:00-5:00p
Lapresi did note that those hours may be subject to change. For updates, visit the shelter’s Facebook page.
Currently, animals can be viewed and adopted at the nearby CountryMax on Thursdays and Sundays. During the renovations, Lapresi said he hopes to work with CountryMax to expand adoption services there.
During construction, the SPCA launched its newly developed Foster Care program. Lapresi said the program, which sees community members hosting animals until they’re ready to be adopted, will allow the shelter to support as many pets as possible during the relocation.
“Since our operations are limited in the number of animals we’re able to intake, the more community members that step forward and want to foster, the more homeless and abused animals we’re able to take in and support.”
Lapresi added that the program will continue once the SPCA is back at its York St location.
Once complete, the York St 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.
Lapresi also said that his staff are excited for the project and thankful for the community’s support in making it happen.
“We dreamed about this project for two years now, and now it’s actually coming to fruition. It’s absolutely amazing, and it took the community to get this project done – that’s the main thing – it was really the community support that allowed for a brand new shelter to come to fruition here.”
Community support allowed the shelter to reach its $80,000 fundraising goal in December 2023, thus making it eligible for a $115,000 match grant for the upgrades.
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