Archive: Around Town

From Alice to Zoey, Ashes to Zipper, a wonderful number of felines are purring contentedly in new homes this summer. Since the SPCA Annex at The Shops at Ithaca Mall opened in late May, more than 200 cats and kittens have been adopted by loving new guardians. The SPCA of Tompkins County is able to reach out to a whole new audience from the Annex.

Executive Director Abigail Smith points out that “people who come to the shelter on Hanshaw Road have planned their visit – the SPCA is their destination. People who are at the mall may not be planning an adoption, but visit our highly visible location and realize that they can provide a home for a new pet. Some people don’t even realize that our community has an SPCA and seeing us at the mall is their first experience with us.”

SPCA employees at the Annex are trained adoption counselors who do double-duty as animal care technicians. Every cat ‘condo’ must be cleaned every day, and litter boxes, food dishes, and water bowls are constantly policed. SPCA volunteers spend many hours a week lending a hand and helping to make sure that the cats and kittens at the Annex get lots of special attention. Staff and volunteers tell lots of stories about their favorite adoptions:

“Two three-legged kittens were adopted soon after they arrived at the Annex by a couple who had lost their cat six months prior. Upon speaking with the couple, it turned out they have a three-legged dog. They immediately fell in love with both kittens and adopted them together.”

 “The first day the Annex was open, a gentleman came in to adopt a kitten with his family. The next morning, at 10 a.m., he came running through the door to adopt her brother, the only one of the litter left. He couldn’t stand the thought of them not being together. One of their sisters lives next door because the man went home and told his neighbors about the kittens and the experience he had with us, and she came right over to adopt one herself.”

“One weekend, a family drove from Auburn, NY to adopt a kitten. The family included a mother, father and 3 children, plus a grandmother, aunt and several cousins. They said that they drove all the way to Ithaca because they hear great things about our shelter and wanted to adopt from us. They were looking for only one kitten, but after much adoption counseling, decided to adopt two.”

“On many occasions, adopters have stopped by to tell us how their new friend is doing. All are thrilled – some even have tears in their eyes. Many people who have adopted from the Annex stop in on a regular basis to see the new kittens and rave about their own.”

“Many SPCA supporters stop in to tell stories, comment on the work we are doing and show their overwhelming support. We have had visitors from all over the state, California, Canada and even Denmark! They all stop by because they have heard about our work and want to show their support.”

We could tell more stories – 200 of them in fact! And lest anyone think that cats and kittens are in short supply after so many adoptions, think again. More than 400 cats and kittens are currently in the care of the SPCA and its volunteer foster families. PLENTY of wonderful feline companions are seeking new homes at the Annex and at the shelter’s main adoption center. Please note: the Annex will be located at The Shops at Ithaca Mall through December.

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