This is an editorial that ran in the Aug. 5, 2006, edition of the York Daily Record.
That the York County SPCA desperately needed a larger shelter was amply demonstrated by recent news.
Within two weeks of opening the new, 17,000- square-foot shelter, the facility was full. "We actually thought we had plenty of space," said Tom Norris, president of the SPCA board of directors.
They didn't.
You could attribute the problem to a number of factors. Perhaps the SPCA under-estimated the need for its services — especially since the shelter is now easily accessible off I-83. Or you could blame our short-attention-span culture and its disposable nature. Or you could blame the sick people who abuse and abandon animals.
Rather than assess blame, it would be more productive to look at the issue and seek solutions. One measure of the health of a society is how it treats creatures that cannot care for themselves. How we care for animals — and how we perform as stewards of this community and planet — is an accurate indicator of the compassion of a community.
In this instance, we're in jeopardy of failing.
One solution would be expanding the new shelter, in Manchester Township, just off the Emigsville exit. That would be costly and complicated. And it's not exactly clear how that would provide a long-term solution to the problem of disposable pets. It's obvious from the recent news that the supply of unwanted and abused pets would quickly fill and exceed the number of kennels added in such an expansion.
Still, it is something to consider. These animals have to go somewhere, and inadequate shelter space would only mean that more and more animals would be harmed, or abandoned, or even killed.
Another solution — and one that caring people are loathe to even mention — is euthanizing more animals. Nobody wants to do that.
But there are some smaller,
common-sense things we all can do to ease pressure on the shelter and make this a better world for our furry friends.
- First, spay and neuter your pets. Doing so obviously controls population and reduces the number of unwanted animals. It is simply the responsible thing to do.
- Second, before going to the pet store or to a breeder or to a puppy mill to adopt a new member of your household, visit the SPCA or one of the other animal shelters in York County. Rescued critters make great pets; your kindness and loyalty toward them is often returned tenfold. And it makes you feel better about yourself, that you were able to make a small difference by saving the life of a helpless animal.
- Third, volunteer to help the SPCA. The shelter almost always needs volunteers, and caring for the animals is one way you can make a difference. If you're feeling more ambitious and have the time and space to do so, you might consider opening your home to foster care for animals awaiting adoption. Every animal that you would foster is one that would not be put down and one that would not be a blemish on the soul of our community.
TO HELP: For details on donating or volunteering,, call the York County SPCA at (717) 764-6109 or go to .
