Q.
How do I contact the shelter if I see an animal I'm interested in adopting
on the website?
A. The quickest way to find out about animals is to call the shelter
7 days a week between noon and 3:30 at (570) 622-7769. There is also
a form on the website that can be used, but please note that the form gets
sent to a volunteer, not directly to the shelter since the Hillside does
not have internet access of their own (meaning that they cannot
receive/check email). The volunteer tries to check the mail on a
regular basis and will let you know about your request. Remember -
time is sometimes of the essence on a "popular" animal, so your
best bet is to get to the shelter as soon as possible if you're really
interested!
Q.
How can the shelter have a website but not have their own email access?
A. The shelter website is designed and maintained by a volunteer web
manager (who lives in New Hampshire, by the way). Hillside SPCA does not have
an email account at the shelter itself. The email contact forms on the website
are provided as a courtesy. One form is directed to the web manager
and should be used to report broken links, ask questions about the site,
etc. The other is directed to a volunteer for questions concerning
animals available as seen on the site, for being put on a waiting list for
a particular animal, etc. Remember, these emails are watched by
volunteers, so sometimes it may take a little while for you to get an
answer concerning your mail. The absolute best way to ask any
questions concerning the shelter is to either call them at (570) 622-7769
or visit them 7 days a week.
Q.
What is a "no-kill" shelter?
A. A "no-kill" shelter is a shelter that does not put a
time limit on how long an adoptable animal may remain at the shelter while awaiting
adoption. The Hillside SPCA does not put a time limit on any adoptable
animal
that comes to us. The Hillside SPCA faces an issue that other
no-kill shelters face and that is the limitations of space available to us
to house animals. We strive to attain a balance that allows us to
continue to take in animals by adopting enough out to make room for new
residents, and we are very successful at that. Although we have many more animals
in residence than many other no-kill
shelters, we still have a limit on space. "No-kill" does
not mean "never kill". Euthanasia is performed under
certain circumstances, including when an animal is so aggressive or ill
that it can never be placed; in other words, it is "unadoptable". We
also euthanize when we have an animal for whom euthanasia is the most
humane alternative due to disease, injury or suffering that can't be
alleviated. Euthanasia at the Hillside is done as
little as circumstances will allow and is a heart-wrenching decision never
taken lightly.
Q.
Can you guarantee that
you can place every animal that comes to the Hillside SPCA?
A. No. We cannot guarantee that every animal that comes to us
will be adopted. Although we pride ourselves on working with animals
that other shelters deem "un-adoptable", there are certain
circumstances in which animals cannot be adopted like un-correctable
aggression and those with certain diseases or illnesses. In
addition, the older an animal is, the smaller their chance at
adoption. Those with continuing un-resolved behavior issues can also be very
difficult to place.
Q.
Is there a surrender fee for animals brought to the shelter?
A. Yes, the current surrender fee is $30. The shelter incurs
many costs in caring for surrendered animals, including food, quality
medical care, maintenance costs for the buildings, heating, and
more. The surrender fee helps us to be able to keep our doors open
to continue to help the homeless, unwanted animals that need us.
Additional donations of money or supplies are always needed and deeply
appreciated. If you cannot keep your pet due to financial
difficulties and cannot afford a surrender fee, please DO NOT just place a
"Free Ad" for the animal or abandon it to fend for itself.
We may be able to waive or reduce the surrender fee for a true financial
hardship case.
Q.
What are the adoption fees for animals from the Hillside SPCA?
A. See our "Adoption Fees" page for
up-to-date information. ADOPTION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE - NO
EXCEPTIONS!!!
Q.
What if I cannot keep a pet that I previously adopted from the Hillside
SPCA?
A. If your pet was adopted from the Hillside SPCA and you find you cannot
keep the animal, it MUST be returned to the Hillside SPCA - no
exceptions. Please note that adoption fees are NOT refundable.
Q.
I'm from outside Schuylkill County. Do you allow
"out-of-area" adoptions and what's required?
A. Yes, we do if the potential adopter meets certain criteria. The Hillside SPCA's goal is to place the proper animal with the
proper adopter. This normally entails a face-to-face meeting with a
potential adopter and follow-up calls and/or visits once the adoption
takes place. This is to insure that the animal is being cared for
properly and has been spayed or neutered as required by law if not already
altered prior to adoption. With "out-of-area" adoptions,
it is more difficult, if not impossible, to follow up the way we are able
with local adoptions. For this reason, before any
"out-of-area" adoptions can take place, we require that
potential adopters fill in an application (link below), provide vet
references for us to check and the
animal desired be spayed or neutered PRIOR to adoption. If you see an animal available for adoption and you are
not from Schuylkill County, please contact or visit the shelter BEFORE
attempting to adopt an animal. If you visit the shelter from out of the area
and have not received approval on your completed application, have not
provided adequate vet references along with that application, and/or the animal you wish
to adopt is not already spayed/neutered, you WILL NOT be able to do a
"same day" adoption. For more information, please contact
the shelter at (570) 622-7769 or fill in and submit our convenient on-line
"Out-of-Area" Adoption Form.
