MAGAZINE€¦ · SPCA Pet Adoption Center 200 Petfinder Lane • Raleigh, NC 27603 Phone:...

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CRITTER CHATTER MAGAZINE news f r om SPCA of Wa k e County Yesterday’s Stories Today’s Rescues Tomorrow’s Opportunities

Transcript of MAGAZINE€¦ · SPCA Pet Adoption Center 200 Petfinder Lane • Raleigh, NC 27603 Phone:...

Page 1: MAGAZINE€¦ · SPCA Pet Adoption Center 200 Petfinder Lane • Raleigh, NC 27603 Phone: 919-772-2326 | 2 SPCA CRITTER CHATTER MAGAZINE | Winter 2017 2017 SPCA Board of Directors:

CRITTER CHATTER

MAGAZINEnews from SPCA of Wake County

Yesterday’s Stories

Today’s Rescues

Tomorrow’s Opportunities

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SPCA of Wake County Main Office:SPCA Pet Adoption Center200 Petfinder Lane • Raleigh, NC 27603Phone: 919-772-2326 | www.spcawake.org

2 SPCA CRITTER CHATTER MAGAZINE | Winter 2017

2017 SPCA Board of Directors:Melanie Reeve, Chair

Missy Orr, Chair-Elect

Jay Sharpe, CPA; Treasurer

Shane Johnston, Secretary

George S. Ghneim, DVM, PhD

Geeta Bhat, DDS

Mark Carlton

Eric Curran, CPA

Kelly Margolis Dagger

J. Kenneth Edwards

Jill Hendrickson

Herman D. Jeffer, DVM

John Lane

Eric A. Latalladi

Steve Lindsey, CPA

Steven Peedin

Matthew Rahn

JoEllen Wilkes, CPA

SPCA Staff ContactsKim Janzen, President and CEO 919.772.2326, ext. [email protected]

ADOPT: 919.772.2326, ext. 2070 Kim Flowers, Director of [email protected]

DONATE: 919.772.2326, ext. 2083 Mondy Lamb, Director of [email protected]

VOLUNTEER: 919.772.2326, ext. 2085Naomi Avissar, Director of Volunteers [email protected]

Published by the SPCA of Wake County © 2017 SPCA of Wake County, Inc. All rights reserved.

CRITTER CHATTER

MAGAZINE

Founded in Raleigh, NC on June 7, 1967, the SPCA of Wake County has been transforming the lives of pets and people for 50 years. We depend entirely on donations to fund our many life-saving programs.

Give Local. Rescue Local.

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Above: Kim at the RDU airport during a massive animal rescue effort by multiple groups.

This is no easy letter to write. Right now we are celebrating the holidays while still nursing broken hearts from what feels like the all too present natural disasters of devastating hurricanes, fire, as well as the unspeakably

horrific man-made disasters in places like Las Vegas and Texas.

Our hearts are still breaking. This hasn’t been an ordinary few months. And still, the two bright hopes I see are that so many of us are looking for ways to expand our positive impact on the world, and in times of disaster and major life events, the meaningful role animals play in peoples’ lives is on display all around us.

I’ll share the rewarding experience that your support made possible for 39 dogs left stranded in one of the worst hit areas in Puerto Rico. In October, the SPCA of Wake County partnered with the Humane Society of the United States and a few other NC rescues to bring in almost 100 animals from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. These dogs were already in an overcrowded animal shelter when hurricane Maria hit and overwhelmed the shelter and the township. By evacuating the shelter pets, the local people had a space to house pets displaced by Hurricane Maria while owners searched for them.

Thirty-nine of those dogs came into in our care – we met the HSUS on the tarmac at RDU. For the first time in weeks the animals had a soft bed, full tummies and physical safety. As I write this, only two remain without homes and in our care. YOU made this rescue possible and by doing so, you help connect all of us to a greater effort to help people.

The truth is that every single person reading this is a light of hope in the world. Each of us – and all of us – have a small flame that is aching to be shared, to be fanned into a fire, and to cast light into the shadows.

I hope you’ll take a moment during this busy holiday season to pause, appreciate those you love, and remember the difference you made for the pets and people in our community. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, for making it all possible.

Kim JanzenPresident and CEO

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Your Impact

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Above: Atticus, a 2-year old tuxedo cat was rescued from a location near Umstead State Park. He found a loving home after just a few days in our care.

Below: Pets of all ages get a second chance at the SPCA! Roscoe was 12-years old when his owner passed away, and the dog was surrendered to a local animal shelter. Transferred into the care of the SPCA, this senior dog found a new home just a few weeks later.

Rescued and adopted: Fun loving, toy-obsessed Bishop.

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On the CoverTis the Season...

To be with family and the ones you love.It’s also the season of giving, the most impor-tant time of year for nonprofits like the SPCA

of Wake County. This is the reason you might have seen Gizmo’s sweet, grey-muzzled face on a piece of mail addressed to you in the last few weeks.

Gizmo is the spokesdog for the SPCA’s “Home for the Holidays” campaign, one last push to remind you of the amazing, life-saving impact your support has for pets in need. And to once again, humbly ask for your continued support to make this important work possible.

Thankfully, Gizmo found a home in time for Christmas. So has Oswald, an injured kitten who needed extra medical attention to save his life. For the first time in his life, he is loved and cher-ished as a family member.

Your past support has helped Gizmo, Oswald and thousands of home-less pets find loving homes. Still, hundreds will spend the holidays in the care of the SPCA. Until these homeless companion animals find their forever family, YOU are their family...and that makes us family too.

Since you’re family, why don’t you come by for a visit? Give us a call or send an email to schedule a tour and see for yourself how your support makes a real and lasting difference.

Mondy Lamb Director of Development919-532-2086 | [email protected]

On the Envelope

Oswald

Gizmo

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Let us Keep You up to Date On the Heart-Warming, Life-Saving Work YOU make possible every day!

Subscribe to the new monthly e‑newsletter. Highlights include fresh stories about locally rescued animals, programs offered and up‑coming events. We hope you enjoy this monthly dose of happy delivered straight to your inbox.

Subscribe here: spcawake.org/enewsBelow: The September enewsletter.

Read this enewsletter at spcawake.org/sheeran

Your Impact

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join us online @ www.spcawake.org 5

RaySenior Dog

Whether shopping for Christmas, birthday or Valentine’s day, saving the life of a homeless animal is a gift that always is special.

Gift giving has never been easier or more meaningful thanks to SPCA pet sponsorships. Your loved one will receive an acknowledgment card, sponsorship tag, and an insert with the photo and story of the pet you’ve sponsored.

For last-minute shoppers, downloadable e-cards are available for purchase after December 18. And don’t forget your 2018 SPCA calendar!

Give Lovewith these

Meaningful Sponsorship Gifts

Read and purchase all sponsorship stories online! www.spcawake.org/shop

TimmyOrphaned Puppy

CaspianOrphaned Kitten

Amber and puppiesDog Family

Clarabelle and kittensCat Family

PaulSenior Cat

PogoHomeless Rabbit

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oan Gulledge is a frequent visitor to the SPCA of Wake County’s two animal shelters.

She walks around the cat and dog areas to see who was

adopted and who is still waiting. She stops to catch up with volunteers and staff. Joan is one of many visitors who makes routine trips to the SPCA’s Pet Adoption Center in Raleigh. Some regular visitors come every few weeks, and some have been coming for years.

However, what sets Joan’s visits apart from most other visitors to the adoption center is her perspective. Joan is looking at the SPCA of Wake County through the eyes of someone who helped shape and grow the organization into a state leader of animal cruelty prevention and animal welfare.

Joan’s love for the SPCA is contagious. Spend just a few minutes with her, and you’ll see how proud

she is of the organization she helped build. Joan is more humble about her contributions than she should be, so we thought we’d speak up about her role as a founding mother.

Over the years, Joan has done it all, from cleaning windows to serving on the board of directors. Joan was chairman of the SPCA membership committee, and she sold stationery to raise money.

No task was too small, and Joan never said, “That isn’t my job.” Joan also served as the SPCA’s archivist, collecting hundreds of newspaper articles over the years that documented the organization’s activities and impact on the greater Raleigh community.

We cherish these pieces of history and wouldn’t have the detailed understanding of the organization’s history if Joan hadn’t been thoughtfully recording it.

50 Years of Dedication

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Profile of an SPCA Founder

VolunteersMove the World

Pictured: Proud octogenarian –

Joan Gulledge – at the SPCA Pet Adoption

Center in mid-2017. After helping establish

the SPCA of Wake County, she continued to

dedicate herself to the organization’s success for

the next five decades.

The SPCA of Wake County was founded in Raleigh, NC in 1967 by a small group of concerned citizens who believed the world could be made a little better if we could improve the treatment of the community’s most vulnerable – the homeless animals. In the 50 years since, SPCA volunteers, supporters and advocates have indeed changed this community for the better, helping over 320,000 animals in need and hundreds of thousands of people who care about them.

CELEBRATING

Jby Beth Schulman and Mondy Lamb

A Trip Down Memory LaneRecently, Joan sat down with

us and chatted about life and the SPCA’s early days. In early 1967, Mrs. Martha Gappins passed away and left $5,000 of her estate to the Raleigh SPCA. The trustee called

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around in search of an animal welfare society in the state capital – only none existed. The call eventually found two leaders in Raleigh’s philanthropic community: Dot Helms and Diana Maupin. Both women had a love for animals and knew that the city of Raleigh desperately needed a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The women placed a public meeting announce-ment for the new group in the Raleigh Times, and it caught Joan’s eye. More than 200 people attended the first interest meeting, held in downtown Raleigh at the S&W Cafeteria.

That meeting gave the fledgling group the volunteers it needed and the SPCA’s articles of incorporation were filed just days later on June 7, 1967. Four women emerged as those who would be most involved in charting the course of the SPCA’s early history: Dot Helms, Diana Maupin, Cookie McGee, and Joan Gulledge.

A 1971 Grand OpeningWhen the SPCA built the region’s first animal

shelter on U.S. 70 in Garner, Joan was part of the team setting up the shelter ahead of its opening.

Joan recalls the very first animal who arrived at the new shelter – a full week before it even opened. On this particular day, Joan and Cookie were at the facility making preparations for a truck full of supplies that would arrive later that week. The windows were still covered with paper, and the women had locked themselves in the building, knowing they weren’t expecting deliveries that day.

They were quite surprised to hear a knock at the door. Joan opened the door, and the woman standing outside said, “I need to get rid of this thing,” referring to the golden retriever at her side.

Joan explained that the shelter wasn’t even open, that they were still getting the building ready and didn’t have bowls or dog food or any supplies needed to care for the dog. Joan asked the woman to take the dog home and if in a week she still felt the same way, the shelter would be open and could help.

Joan and Cookie went back to work but heard a scratch at the door a few minutes later. The woman had driven off and left the dog behind.

They decided that Cookie would take the dog home until the facility officially opened, but Joan says the dog never needed to look for another home after leaving with Cookie that evening.

Thank you Joan, for being the cause of so much good. And thank you to all the SPCA volunteers who continue to care for the animals with nowhere else to turn.

TBD

1974 The privately-operated kennels that the City of Raleigh used to impound stray animals came under criticism for the inhumane

conditions at the facility. Public outcry prompted an investigation, and the kennels were shut down.

Raleigh leaders turned to the SPCA for help with a sheltering program that involved a focus on the humane treatment and rehoming of the animals.

The SPCA entered into its first animal sheltering contract with the City of Raleigh. This contract continued through mid-2010.

1960s 1970s – 1980s

1967The Wake County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in Raleigh, NC. Over 200 people showed up for the first interest meeting.

Armistead Maupin incorporated the agency on June 7, 1967, and Harry Johnson served as the first president.Pets were housed on farmland in North Raleigh while volunteers raised money to build a shelter.

1971The SPCA’s first shelter opens on US-70 in Garner.

1979SPCA expands building on US-70. Kennel space increased five-fold, and the new clinic used for sick or injured animals increased from 6’x6’ to 12’x20’.

1974The first issue of Critter Chatter, the SPCA’s regular newsletter, is published.

1975 SPCA adopts a mandatory sterilization program. This change increased adoption fees, but included the cost to have the pet spayed/neutered at a local veterinarian.

(continued) join us online @ www.spcawake.org 7

continued on page 11

A timeline of the SPCA’s history

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You MaKe All The DifferenceYour support gave these pets a second chance.

Isabella isn’t going to grow up on the streets. Though she was found abandoned at a house at only two months old, she is now living in an SPCA foster home, learning what it’s like to be loved and cared for. The welts and scratches she has are healing, and soon she’ll be ready for adoption and find a family all her own.

A

BPhoebe was rescued off the streets of Cary and received medical care for her eyes. Though her eyes may always be cloudy, she doesn’t let that slow her down. She’ll make a toy out of anything within reach, and her adopters are smitten with her.

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Rescue Stories

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C Sabina has access to all the nutritious food she needs. She doesn’t need to worry about how long it will be before she finds her next meal. Sabina can relax in her foster home and get back to a healthy weight. After just three weeks, she has gained almost 15 lbs.

D These three puppies received much needed medical attention for open wounds on their backs. They were excellent patients and were soon ready for adoption. They may always have physical scars, but now they know what it’s like to have a loving home. Top photo by InBetween the Blinks Photography.

E This little boy is growing up with his newly adopted kittens. After visiting the adoption center, he went home and made a special bed (right beside his) for two spunky kittens that he and his family adopted the very next day. You are transforming the lives of pets and people!

FHershel has a reason to smile today. He is active and healthy, and his adopter is head-over-heels for him. Hershel was surrendered to an animal shelter by his breeder. His front right leg was deformed, and Hershel was reluctant to walk on it. He received surgery to remove the leg and give him a chance to have a normal life. Photo by InBetween the Blinks Photography.

GThirty-nine dogs have a warm place to stay and a full tummy tonight. They were transferred out of animal shelters in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. By bringing these dogs to North Carolina, those shelters have more space to house pets that were displaced by the hurricane and are waiting to be reunited with their owners. Read more about the evening they arrived at spcawake.org/blog.

HYou saved Lightning, Lil Possum, and their three siblings from the intense summer heat and a flea infestation. They were rushed to the SPCA this summer after being found on a local horse farm. Read more about them on page 13.

IDorothy (10-year-old orange tabby), Rose (10-year-old brown tabby), and Blanche (12-year-old dilute calico) are going to find a home together. They were left in a crate outside a local shelter, but now they can frequently be seen snuggling in the same bed at the SPCA while they wait in comfort for the perfect family to take them home.I

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In 50 years, there are 600 months, 2600 weeks, or 17,800 days – any way you look at it, it’s a long time.

Thanks to a community of supporters who care about the fate of homeless pets, the SPCA of Wake County has been working tirelessly for 50 years to protect animals and help people.

Many things have changed in the time since the SPCA was founded. Improving the lives of pets looks different from decade to decade or even year to year.

Looking through the history of the SPCA highlights the differences from year to year, but it also has a way of bringing out those things

that stayed the same.

One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the compassion and willingness of the community to go the extra mile for pets in need. Another is that the SPCA still serves as the safety net for thousands of animals every year who have nowhere else to go.

Citizens Save Collie-wollie (Twice)Colloe-wollie was a pet in need in

June 1973. Her owners had moved away and left her “closed under the house.” A neighbor finally realized she was there, but not before she had nearly starved. Collie-wollie weighed just 34 pounds, about half of her

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50 Years of Caring December 11, 1972:The young Johnston County

man told SPCA animal shelter workers he had nowhere else

to go for help.

– quote from the Raleigh Times article about a puppy injured in a leg trap

(continued)

50 Years of Rescue Stories

CELEBRATING

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expected weight, and was only 2.5 inches across the small of her back when the neighbor called the SPCA to help her. The SPCA spent several months getting her healthy, only to have her test positive for heartworm disease.

At that time, treatment was expected to cost $100 (about $570 in 2017 dollars). The SPCA had already spent about that getting Collie-wollie back to a healthy weight and wasn’t financially able to treat her. After a public appeal explaining the situation, the community stepped up and donations began coming in. A college professor, a middle-school student, business owners, a couple whose collie had passed from the same disease - everyone pitched in what they could. In the end, $370.36 was donated for Collie-wollie’s treatment. The additional money was put into a fund to help dogs with similar problems.

Hitchhiking to Save PuppiesWhen a man found two puppies, he knew

they needed help. Not knowing where else to go, he hitchhiked from Johnston County where the puppies were found to the SPCA’s shelter in Garner. He and a staff member returned to Johnston County to pick up the puppies where the man had a friend watching over them. The puppies smelled of kerosene and one had a badly injured leg. After getting a much-needed bath, the uninjured puppy was adopted quickly. The other was seen by a vet who amputated the mangled leg, believed to have been caught in a trap.

Kindness of StrangersIn November 1974, a dog, who was later named

Stitches, was hit by a train in the Method area. Workers at the nearby Dillard Paper Co. found her in pain and badly injured. They were advised to call a city humane officer, but decided she needed more immediate attention. Instead, they rushed her to a veterinarian where she got 37 stitches, hence her name, and they got a $55 bill. Dillard workers and customers pitched in and raised the money to cover her medical care. Once she was healed, she was taken to the SPCA to find a family and a fresh start.

A Treasured TraditionThe people of North Carolina have always

been passionate about pets. That support is what enabled the SPCA to reach this anniversary and what allows us to reach for bigger and better things for animals in the years to come.

TBD

2009SPCA opens the Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Clinic which provides low-cost spay/neuter services for the community. Between 5,500 and 9,000 spay/neuter surgeries are performed each year.

2010In mid-2010, Raleigh, Cary and Garner Animal Control move from the SPCA to the WCAS to centralize pet lost and found in Wake County.

2011For the first time, SPCA adoptions exceed 3,000 per year.

2010s

1996First Fur Ball Gala is held. Today, the annual Fur Ball is one of the SPCA’s most important fundraising events.

2003Leaders from the SPCA and the government-run Wake County Animal Shelter (WCAS) form a historic partnership and 10-year plan to dramatically reduce the number of animals being euthanized each year in Wake County (which was consistently around 10,000 animals).

2004A new SPCA Pet Adoption Center opens in Raleigh.The building was designed to make both pets and visitors comfortable.

2011By 2011, 2,346 fewer animals were euthanized, and the county-wide incoming animal population decreased for the first time since 1971 when the SPCA opened the first animal shelter.

2016The Adoption Center opens to the public seven days a week.

2017The SPCA celebrates the 50th anniversary of helping pets and people.

The SPCA develops a strategic plan to end the euthanasia of adoptable animals by 2025.

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A timeline of the SPCA’s history

1990s – 2000scontinued from page 7

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Lily and Sissy know what it feels like to be loved. They get plenty of attention when they want it, and can find a

spot to be alone if they so choose.Little luxuries like these are

something they didn’t have just a few months ago.

Living in a NightmareLess than two weeks before these

photos were taken, Sissy the two-year-old Feist mix was living a very different life. In late February, Sissy and 24 other dogs were living in a hoarding situation. It’s not hard to imagine what life was like in a house with 25 dogs. The conditions were far from ideal, and it was no way to live for the dogs or the people involved. The owner surrendered them to the Wake County Animal Shelter. From there, Sissy and six of the other dogs were transferred to the SPCA.

Monsters EverywhereIt didn’t take the staff long to

realize the dogs had received minimal socialization and training. The dogs were terrified.

Some would freeze with fear while others would snap at hands or leashes that came their way. These were incredibly nervous dogs. In their eyes, we were monsters and nothing good would come from interacting with us.

Making the Monsters DisappearSPCA staff members know how

to handle worried dogs. You read them stories. No, really. Staff would sit in the kennels and read aloud to the nervous dogs, allowing them to get accustomed to their voices and presence. Nothing was required of the dogs. They weren’t touched or even approached. It was the least stressful way to teach the dogs that humans weren’t the monsters they thought.

Baby StepsOnce the dogs were comfortable

enough to be handled, some of the braver ones began taking trips to the visit the staff office area. These trips gave the dogs another chance to be around people with whatever level of interaction they found comfortable. Sometimes they sat on someone’s lap. Other times they hid under a desk. It was all up to them.

Sissy’s friend Lucille spent an afternoon watching the staff go about their daily routines. She sat on a staff member’s lap to help with emails. After an encounter with the office cats, Lucille took cover on the desk, behind the computer monitor.

Down to their last chance:Two nervous dogs learn to trust

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Just Be Brave

Going the Extra Mile

(continued)

Left and below: Sissy’s love of toys soon became apparent at the SPCA Pet Adoption Center.

Below: If Lucille became overwhelmed, she could find a safe place to hide.

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25-Cat Farm RescueIt all started with a call to the

owners of a Clayton miniature horse farm about the SPCA’s new working cat program. As it

turned out, the farm already had several working cats of its own. Because of its rural location, the farm had become a popular place for people to illegally drop off unwanted cats. The farm’s owners did what they could for the cats and made sure they had enough to eat, but didn’t have the resources to get them spayed and neutered.

Mission in ActionOver the summer, staff (and a

dedicated volunteer) caught 25 cats. Eight cats had no desire for human

interaction and enjoyed life on the farm.They were spayed/neutered and

vaccinated then returned to the farm. The other 17 were kittens of varying ages. Some have been adopted into new homes and others are in SPCA foster care.

One Saturday morning, the farm owner moved a bale of hay and found five tiny kittens. A staff member picked them up and brought them to the SPCA. They were infested with fleas but staff and volunteers jumped in to help. One at a time, each kitten received some SPCA TLC. One person bathed, another picked fleas out of their fur, one person dried, and another syringe fed them kitten formula after their baths.

Thanks to you, the SPCA is still working with the owners of the farm to trap the remaining cats. Your support allowed the SPCA to say yes when the opportunity arose to help people and pets in need. Your support means happier, healthier lives for 25 felines. Thank you for making this work possible!

The Ultimate Field TripSissy was the first to make the

journey to the adoption center. She enjoyed exploring the outdoor play yards. She seemed to open up and discovered a love of soft, squeaky toys.

A few days later, Lucille followed suit and their reunion was a happy one. Lucille was always the more nervous of the pair, but having Sissy

around helped. She would follow Sissy to the play yard and back when it came time to go in or out. The happiest part of their story is that Sissy and Lucille found their new home together in mid-March.

All Thanks To YouWe know life will be better for these

dogs now and none of it would be possible without you. Taking in seven

dogs, all needing intense socialization and staff resources is quite an undertaking. It is because of your support that we were able to make such a commitment.

With your continued support, the SPCA will be there to help pets when and where they need us. Sissy, Lucille, and the five other dogs rescued that day thank you for playing such an important part in their happy endings.

Just Be Brave continued

Above: Three kittens found on the farm in September. Right: One of the adult cats trapped on the farm. She was afraid of people and was returned to farm life after receiving medical care.

Life on the miniature horse farm.

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Thank you sponsors!

DogtopiaMarianne Mansour, KW Preferred RealtyTown & Country Animal Care CenterSpangler RestorationHarenhaus K-9

In April, North Carolinians showed their dedication to helping homeless pets. It was a fun-filled day for humans and canines alike, but taking the state’s largest dog-friendly selfie made the event a day to remember. Thanks to the community’s efforts, the event raised $222,000 for homeless pets. Thank you to everyone who made the event such a success!Join us on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at Koka Booth in Cary, for the 19th Annual SPCA K9-3K Dog Walk.

DOG WALK& WOOFSTOCK

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Unite for the Cause

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join us online @ www.spcawake.org 15

Contact Us: 919-462-1212www.graceparkanimalhospital.com

Exceptional care and compassion for pets and the people who love them.

Join us as a community partner in 2018! Contact: Amy Crum, Manager of Special Events, [email protected] You Sponsors

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You are invited to join the Animal Legacy Society of North Carolina

Planned gifts, which are donations made through your long-term estate or financial plans, allow you to contribute to a cause you care deeply about while considering your needs and tax-planning strategies. When planning your gift, the following is essential information to share with your attorney:

Legal name: SPCA of Wake County, Inc Federal Tax ID#: 56-0891732 Address: 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, NC 27603

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S FOR

YOU

Planning a Legacy of CompassionReview YOUR possibilities at https://spcawake.planmylegacy.orgUse our gift planner, which can help you see the most popular gift types based on your age, your assets, and your potential giving amount. Our new web pages are an easy-to-understand and comprehensive guide to creating options that benefit you and can build your legacy of compassion.

Contact: Will AnzenbergerDirector of Donor Relations & Major Gifts

[email protected]: 919-532-2082

Legacy giving does not require a large income or a big estate. Legacy giving only requires a thoughtful intention to make a difference. We would be glad to discuss any planned giving option with you, in confidence and without obligation.

This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. Please consult an attorney or tax advisor.

Rollover! Good IRA! Tax-free giving to help animals If you are 70½ years old or older, you can make a tax-free gift from your individual retirement account (IRA) directly to the SPCA. You may transfer any amount up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to the SPCA of Wake County, which is qualified, 501(c)(3) charitable organization!

NEW! Check out the SPCA’s online interactive toolkit

16 SPCA CRITTER CHATTER MAGAZINE | Winter 2017