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
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 Crossshelters 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.
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
2nd and 4th 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.