A state grant allows the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley to go ahead with a vet clinic next to its Howes Cave shelter.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the $500,000 grant last week. It’s part of $7.6 million the state awarded to shelters and humane societies.
“To say I am absolutely thrilled would be a big understatement,” said Maggie Jackman Pryor, the Shelter’s executive director.
Shelter directors had discussed having a clinic to spay and neuter animals and care for them for years. Two events, plus the new state grant, moved talk into action:
•The Nick Juried Foundation donated $250,000 for the project last year.
“Nick’s donation really got the ball rolling for our vision,” Ms. Jackman Pryor said.
•State regulations are coming that require all animals given to shelters must be examined by a veterinarian within 24 hours––shots, vaccines and a checkup.
“The Howes Cave Animal Hospital has been terrific,” Ms. Jackman Pryor said. “All local vets have been very good to us.
“But they’re swamped. There’s no way they could examine our dogs and cats within 24 hours.”
The state regulations, she added, were a catalyst to get moving.
The Shelter pays $100,000 for vet care annually, so having a veterinarian and a vet tech, even for two or three days per week, would be a savings.
The project calls for renovating the old shelter, which stands next to the new one. Plans have already been drawn, Ms. Jackman Pryor said.
The clinic would be for Shelter animals only.
Although it appears the Shelter is flush with money, that’s not the case. Both the state grant and the Juried donation can be used only for the renovations.
And the $750,000 isn’t enough for the renovations. Ms. Jackman Pryor estimates the work will cost $1 million, so she’s planning fundraisers to get the balance.
“We’ll be doing more capital fundraising,” she said. “We’ll get there.”
The work is expected to start in August, and the Shelter will enter a new era when the project’s finished, Ms. Jackman Pryor said.
“The possibility of our own vet clinic will forever change this organization and allow us to continue our mission of helping as many animals and pet owners in Schoharie County as possible,” she said.
Anyone wishing to donate can send a check to the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley, PO Box 40, Howes Cave, NY 12092.