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Hillside SPCA, Inc is a Pennsylvania non-profit
corporation that provides animal welfare services to all of
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The county presently has a
population of approximately 153,000. Our service area covers
approximately 783 square miles.
The Hillside SPCA, Inc. operates an animal shelter facility
located at SPCA Road, North Manheim Township, Pennsylvania.
The shelter currently houses hundreds of cats and dog
with the average being over 200 plus cats and 100 plus dogs. The
facility is operating at an absolute maximum capacity and has
done so for several years.
During the past several years, the
Hillside SPCA, Inc. has taken in well over 1,000 animals per
year. These were received as releases from private owners,
stray animals and animals seized in connection with cruelty
investigations.
The Hillside SPCA does not put a time limit on how
long an animal will be maintained at the shelter. We give the
animals we accept or rescue every attempt at adoption
possible. Sadly, not every animal that comes to us can be
adopted. Euthanasia may be performed if an animal is so sick
it cannot be helped, or is so vicious or lacks socialization
that it cannot be placed in a home.
What also sets the Hillside aside from other shelters is
that the animals are not sentenced to a life in a crate, but
are free to play and interact with others throughout the day.
In addition to operating the animal shelter facility, we also conduct investigations of animal
cruelty and prosecute those individuals found to be violating
the Pennsylvania Cruelty Statute. The organization attempts to
provide 24 hour coverage, but this is sometimes limited due to
staff shortages.
The staff includes trained and certified
humane officers appointed by the Court of Common Pleas of
Schuylkill County as well as humane investigators who perform
animal cruelty investigations and issue citations as
necessary.
The Hillside SPCA, Inc. conducts educational programs in
local schools focusing on the humane treatment of animals and
the need to control the animal population through spay/neuter
programs. The shelter also provides financial
assistance to individuals who cannot afford to have their pets
spayed/neutered.
Currently, operating expenses of the Hillside shelter are over
a half million dollars annually. We operate almost solely
through donations received from individuals, groups and
businesses and fund-raising events.
It has been the experience of Hillside SPCA that individuals
prefer to bring homeless animals to this facility because of
our reputation of kindness to our residents. We do our very
best to provide care and comfort for the animals. Each is
given a name and is generally treated as an individual.
Animals at the Hillside SPCA do not spend the entire day in
kennels and/or cages. All the animals at our shelter facility
are fed both canned and dry food and each is provided with a
blanket every night.
A few years ago, major renovations were completed at the Hillside SPCA animal
shelter facility including improvements to the dog quarters
dedicated to Jim and Peg Stine. Here, canine residents are
provided access to large fenced-in exercise yards each day.
The new and improved dog quarters also includes housing
designed to give puppies room to run and grow. Quiet, enclosed
kennels are available for dogs that are sick or just need some
solitude.
Recently, through the amazing generosity of some donors, we
were able to put up an additional building in which we have a
dedicated area for animals in need of quiet; those who are
recovering from injuries, new mothers and those adapting to
life at the shelter. We are also adding another building
which will expand our offices and enable us to better care for
the animals in residence.
Housing for feline residents is provided in the Etta
Shepard Memorial Building which was recently renovated and
enlarged thanks to the generosity of some marvelous
supporters. This building is equipped with large indoor cat
condos which give cats room to move about and play. The cats
have access to outdoor enclosures in warm weather. This
building also provides a sick room for those felines needing
some extra medical attention.
Last year, Hillside SPCA was able to find homes for over
1000 animals. Animals will only be adopted to those
individuals who meet specific adoption requirements and who
sign our adoption contract.
It is
required that all adopted animals be maintained as indoor pets
and must be spayed or neutered within a specified time period
after adoption.
The Hillside SPCA is very diligent in checking on adopted
animals to insure that they are spayed/neutered and that they
are receiving proper treatment. If needed, we provide
financial assistance for spay/neuter expenses.
The physical and emotional well-being of the animals is the
top priority of the Hillside staff.
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