Creative Community Collaborations Help Animals and People

At The SPCA we continually strive to provide exceptional, cost-effective programs for the animals and people we are honored to serve. Through inspirational collaborations with other area non-profit organizations we have been able to expand our services without increasing costs. These partnerships all serve to strengthen the human-animal bond, increase reverence for life and make Monterey a more humane place to live.

Take the Lead Helps At-Risk Kids
 

In 2008, The SPCA began a collaboration with Washington Middle School in Salinas, pairing at-risk kids with untrained shelter dogs with the goal of improving both their lives. Since then, the program has expanded to work with kids in the foster program and incarcerated youth at the Monterey County Probation Department Youth Center.

Each session, five students are selected to act as trainers for five shelter dogs who have great temperaments but lack training and manners.  For five weeks, the children are tasked with teaching their dogs basic skills such as sit, stay, and come, and providing one-on-one interaction. 

“The benefit to the dogs is clear,” says Gary Tiscornia, Executive Director with The SPCA.  “The dogs are learning skills that will help them stay in their new homes.  But Take the Lead is equally essential for the children.  They learn important life, leadership, and communication skills as they work to teach unsocialized dogs how to be great canine citizens through positive reinforcement.”

While the dogs learn new skills that will motivate adopters, the kids develop a sense of pride when they teach their dogs something new.  The children also form deep bonds with their dogs, learning empathy, compassion, and patience as they spent quality time with their assigned trainee and see their efforts rewarded in a well mannered, affectionate dog.

“It’s inspiring to see how working with the dogs transfers into all aspects of the kids’ lives,” says Amanda Mouisset, SPCA Pet Behavior Specialist.  “The kids are learning that they don’t always have to be tough. You can definitely see the difference these dogs are making in their lives.”

"It has been an inspiration to see these students' sparkle with enthusiasm when they work with their dogs,” says Judith Peterson, Washington Middle School Principal. “These students need to have this positive force in school--not all kids are engaged in learning the same way.”

“The dogs offer love and unconditional acceptance, something a lot of them have never had in their lives,” says Alex Carillo, Event Coordinator for the Monterey County Probation Department Youth Center. “I’ve seen their demeanor change.  You don’t see the hard face as much.  It’s ok to be sensitive sometimes.”

To learn how you can support this important program, please call The SPCA 831-373-2631 x221

Click here to listen to KAZU's 5/29/09 Take the Lead story
NPR California Report "Using dogs to help kids avoid gangs"
 

PetMeals Program for People & Pets

A beloved pet is often the primary source of comfort for people with medical or age-related challenges. Yet for those who are physically impaired or on fixed incomes, it can be a constant struggle to obtain proper nutrition for themselves and their pets.

The SPCA, in collaboration with local Meals On Wheels organizations, is lifting this burden. In addition to the usual delivered meals, Meals On Wheels volunteers now deliver pet food provided by The SPCA and our generous supporters. This program ensures that people receiving delivered meals no longer feel the need to share their food with their pets. BestPet Care & Supplies in Pacific Grove and The Feed Trough in Salinas also help to support this program.

Volunteers are needed on a weekly basis to help label and prepare the pet food for delivery. Donations to help purchase the pet diets as specified by the meal recipients may be sent to The SPCA’s “Pet Meals Delivery Fund.”

If you are not on the Meals on Wheels program and need helping feeding your pets, learn about our SPCA Pet Food Bank.
 

Coalition of Companion Animals

The Coalition for Companion Animals (CCA) is a group of Monterey County nonprofit animal services professionals and governmental agencies working together to end euthanasia of healthy dogs and cats as well as those with treatable physical and/or behavioral conditions. 

CCA reporting agencies include Animal Friends Rescue Project, City of Carmel Animal Control, City of Marina Animal Control, City of Monterey Animal Control, City of Pacific Grove Animal Control, Monterey County Animal Services, Salinas Animal Shelter and The SPCA for Monterey County.  Other CCA agencies working toward this goal include Animal Welfare Information and Assistance and From the Heart Dog Training. 
 

American Red Cross

When flooding in Monterey County left people and their pets homeless in 1995, The SPCA was asked by emergency American Red Cross shelters to help with the hundreds of evacuating pets. The SPCA has always provided housing, rescue, and medical services for displaced and stranded animals. In this instance we were able to set-up temporary animal shelters as well as care for evacuating pets just outside of the emergency shelters so people could safely evacuate, with their pets, without worry.

This was the first time a collaboration of this kind had been attempted in the United States and it has now become the model for many other animal protection organizations.

American Red Cross Monterey - San Benito Counties Chapter

American Red Cross Carmel Area Chapter

Central Coast Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice

The SPCA partners with the Central Coast VNA & Hospice to provide a Pet Loss Support Group.  The Pet Loss Support Group gives mourners a healthy outlet for the legitimate sadness that comes with losing a cherished pet. Led by Joseph Lumello, a professional counselor from the Central Coast VNA & Hospice, the Pet Loss Support Group meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of every month from 12:00-1:00 pm at The SPCA’s Education Center.  The group is open to anyone at no charge.  Drop-ins are welcome.  

Salvation Army

Every holiday season, The SPCA gathers pet food, supplies, and toys for individuals and families in need who have pets.  The donations are then distributed by the Salvation Army.  Many needy families in our community are pet owners who love their pets but are having a difficult time providing food for their families.  This partnership assures food for the whole family this holiday season and reduces the risk of families being forced to give up their beloved pets because they can’t afford to feed them.  Individuals experiencing economic difficulties, especially those with no close family, are particularly in need of their pet’s unconditional love and companionship. 

Ventana Wildlife Society

Working to reintroduce the California Condor to the wild, the Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS) approached The SPCA with an interesting dilemma: condors needing medical treatment had to endure a four-hour round trip between the mountains of Big Sur and the offices of local wildlife specialist Dr. Mike Murray of the Avian & Exotic Clinic in Monterey. (Dr. Murray generously donates his services to both VWS and The SPCA’s Wildlife Center.)

Since The SPCA is privileged to reside on over 200 pristine acres of beautiful Monterey County habitat, we are pleased to provide a small and very secluded area for recovering condors and VWS staff. This area, complete with temporary housing provided by VWS, is only a ten minute trip from needed veterinary medical services.


Hartnell College Animal Health Technology Program

The budget crises in California has had many ramifications for the people and pets of Monterey County. One that directly impacts The SPCA is the possible discontinuance of the Animal Health Technology (AHT) Program at Hartnell College. All veterinary practices in our community as well as The SPCA’s Gwen May Spay/Neuter Clinic require Hartnell’s skilled Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) graduates to continue delivering quality medical care for our animal companions.

To assist during this time of uncertainty The SPCA opened its doors as a temporary home for the AHT program during the Spring 2004 semester while its current site was torn down and the future of the program is debated. AHT classes will be conducted in the SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic & the George Whitell Education Center, with scheduling that ensures no decrease in SPCA programs or services.

The SPCA is hopeful that this beginning collaboration will mature into a long-term, mutually beneficial, cost-effective program that provides great benefit to the residents and animals of our community.



Shelter Outreach Plus

Health Department regulations prevent human service agencies from allowing pets in homeless shelters. Unfortunately this prohibition can prevent people in need of services, who also happen to own pets, from receiving needed temporary shelter. In response to this need, The SPCA provided dog houses and material to construct dog runs to Shelter Outreach Plus so their homeless clients can comfortably utilize their services without worry about their pets.

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