Pennsylvania SPCA: COVID-19 Operation Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

This grant was used to support the daily operations of our animal shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to protect the health and safety of our staff and the community, we needed to alter our operations and cancel some fundraising events, which placed a great strain on our budget. We appreciate supporters like the Petfinder Foundation who stepped up to fund us during this critical time of need.

The grant funds went directly to providing food, shelter, and medical care for the more than 500 animals currently in our care. The PSPCA rescues victims of animal cruelty and neglect and provides them with medical and behavioral rehabilitation until they are ready to find their forever homes.

How many pets did this grant help?

500

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

When Furby arrived in our care earlier this summer, he was on the brink of death. He had been brought in to our Lancaster Center as a stray. A good Samaritan had found him in a county park with a collar or leash embedded in his mouth. We don’t know how long the collar had been restricting his ability to eat and drink or how long he had been out on his own, but we knew he was in very bad shape. He was underweight, dirty, dehydrated and, most of all, had a severe wound in his mouth that needed immediate attention.

Our Lancaster team knew his case was urgent and immediately transported Furby to our shelter hospital at our Philadelphia headquarters. Before the trip, Furby was lethargic and not moving, so he was given fluids and off they went. Our staff member driving him was frightened that he might not make it.

But he did.

And when he arrived into the waiting hands of our veterinary team at Erie Avenue, he was taken immediately to surgery for a sedated wound flush. From there, he was put on fluids and given small amounts of food to help him gain weight and strength slowly and safely. Miraculously, he perked up in no time.

Today, he is gaining weight, healing well, and was just recently ADOPTED by a wonderful family.