Four-Legged: Protecting Animals One Rescue at a Time - The Suffolk SPCA

The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals made headlines this week when it effected the  as well as goats, pigs and sheep from a farm in Calverton.

The rescue mission shined new light on the 27-year-old organization. This week’s Four Legged and Furry will explore the nonprofit’s mission in general and its work with the Calverton case in particular.

The mission statement for the SPCA, which is not affiliated with the ASPCA,  states that the group’s role is to protect and promote the welfare of all animals, alleviate the pain and suffering of any abused, neglected or abandoned animals, and to act as a voice for animals that cannot speak or fend for themselves.

Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk SPCA said that the group has been working since its founding to fulfill its mission. Examples of the charitable organization's work include the establishment of the first pet-friendly shelters in the Northeast, a mobile hospital and a dog-bite registry.

Pet-friendly shelters are places where in the case of an emergency people can seek shelter for themselves and their animals. The Suffolk SPCA mobile hospital  offers low-cost neutering and is on hand for animal  emergencies.

“We got the mobile hospital in August 2001,” Gross said. “One month later it was 9/11 and we were in the hot zone caring for the search-and-rescue dogs as well as animals left behind in apartments.”

The SPCA's dog-bite registry will be joined this year by the country’s first-ever animal abuser registry as established this year in the legislature.

But what the SPCA is most known for is the organization’s investigation of 2,500 – 3,000 animal cruelty cases a year.

“Basically, we are a partnership with the community,” Gross said. “Most of the calls we get come from the general public.”

In the case of the Calverton farm, Gross said a concerned citizen called the Riverhead Police, who after investigating called the Suffolk SPCA.

“Generally, when we go on a call and you go to someone’s house, it’s neglect, so we’ll give them a notice to comply and come back on a certain date to check on their progress,” Gross said.

In the Calverton case, however, the neglect of the horses in particular had reached the point where the animals had to be immediately taken in for treatment by the Suffolk SPCA. The animals are now in foster care.

“We try to maintain a list of fosters so that we can get animals adopted to good homes,” Gross said. “We certainly don’t want to see these horses shipped off to Pennsylvania and slaughtered for food. We want them to get a second chance to get the proper home to where they can have the life they deserve to have.”

To make sure the animals are going to good homes the Suffolk SPCA does background checks and has adopters sign agreements allowing the SPCA can to return and inspect the manner in which the animals are being cared for.

Three of the horses that were in the most severe condition in Calverton are currently being cared for at Hillcrest Stables.

With 24 horses, over a dozen goats, sheep and even a pig in need a care, the Suffolk SPCA is seriously in need of donations. The SPCA, a not-for profit group with no affiliation with the county, survives on donations.

“We need donations, food, water buckets, lead ropes, grain.” Gross said. “It’s all tax-deductible.”

Donations can be made by calling the Suffolk SPCA at 631-382-7722 or by going to the group’s website: www.suffolkspca.org.

Food, water buckets, and other supplies for the rescued farm animals can be dropped off at Hillcrest Stables as well.

For more information, or to see how you can help the SPCA, contact their Smithtown offices at the number above.