Vendors / Kennel Attendants Needed

Vendors Wanted For BCHS Event

The Bradford County Humane Society is gearing up for their 4th Annual Picnic With Your Pooch at the Grovedale Winery in Wyalusing on Saturday, Sept 15th from 12-4.

Vendors are needed for the event. Food vendors and entertainment for kids are especially wanted. There is no charge to have a booth, however we ask that a small donation be made to BCHS.

Each year the event keeps growing. Last year over 200 attendees and their leashed dogs attended and enjoyed music, live dog agility demonstrations, food, and of course wine from Grovedale Winery.

If you are interested in being a part of this fun event, please call Jennifer Spencer, BCHS Executive Director at 570-888-2114.

Kennel Attendants Needed

BCHS is accepting applications for kennel attendants. Kennel attendants work with animals and the public. Applicants must be at least 25 years old and have a valid driver's license.

BCHS Mourns Loss of Board Treasurer

The Bradford County Humane Society has lost a tremendous advocate for our homeless and abandoned animals. Joan Mullaly, our Treasurer on the Board of Directors, passed away March 15, 2012. She will be missed terribly by the BCHS Staff, Board of Directors, volunteers and supporters. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.


Click here to read Joan's Obituary.

Wyalusing Elementary School Donates to BCHS

Beginning in February, for 2 weeks, the Wyalusing Elementary School in conjunction with the Relay For Life committee in Wyalusing held a fundraiser to support the Bradford County Humane Society and Relay for Life. Over 800 students, parents, and teachers helped to raise a total of over $10,000. This was a huge success. $5,326.30 was donated to BCHS to assist with the general care of the animals at the shelter.

Angie Wildrick from Wyalusing Elementary, her daughter Lydia, her son RJ, and Relay For Life Committee members assisted with the fundraiser. Angie and her family have been supporters of BCHS for quite some time and have helped at various special events and fundraisers.

“When Angie Wildrick from the Wyalusing Elementary school told me that they had raised such a huge amount I was so amazed. This is the kind of support that truly makes me feel so happy for our animals in need. These funds will help with the cost of vet bills, pet food, supplies and the care of our shelter animals,”states Jennifer L. Spencer, BCHS Community Coordinator.

BCHS is working on a date in the Springtime to visit the school and talk about the shelter as well as the proper way to care for pets and livestock.

Posing in the photo is Tia, an American Staffordshire Terrier up for adoption at BCHS. Tia is an 8 year old female American Staffordshire Terrier mix. She is a calm and quiet sweetheart who is outgoing and gets along with everybody. Tia appears to be housetrained and barks to go out. She enjoys going for a walk and likes to play with a ball, but seems happiest inside with her blanket. She has visited students in elementary school and walked calmly up and down rows of young kids to be petted. Tia gets along with other dogs. She is a very nice girl who ready to be a great companion for some lucky family. Please stop by the shelter to visit and adopt her!

Sullivan County High School Student Chooses BCHS For Senior Project

Many local high school seniors have to complete a senior project before graduating. The Bradford County Humane Society sees students from all areas including Wyalusing, Sayre, Athens, and even Sullivan County.

One student, Sequoya Vandine, from Sullivan County High School chose BCHS for her senior project. “I chose The Bradford County Humane Society because I love animals so much and I wanted to help them,” Vandine stated during her presentation. Vandine showed photos of animals that she worked with and photos of some of her favorites, including a dog named Daisy that has since been adopted and a cat named Skitter. She also showed the proper way to use collars and leashes.

She invited her mentor, Jennifer L. Spencer, BCHS Community Coordinator to her school presentation on March 6th. “I was really honored that she would invite me to her presentation, she did an excellent job,” states Spencer. Spencer brought her adopted dog Grace, a Chihuahua that was born without her front legs and was rescued by BCHS 2 years ago.

For over a month Sequoya came to BCHS every Saturday to volunteer. She would walk dogs, groom and socialize with the cats, wash dishes and even help to clean. “She really saw all aspects of how our shelter operates. I think it is important for the community to get an understanding of what it takes to take care of our homeless animals. It takes a lot of compassion, caring, and hard work,” states Spencer. Sequoya is also holding an ongoing fundraiser with local businesses.

Students who choose BCHS for their senior project get a lot of hands on experience with the animals. First, the student must complete volunteer orientation. During this learning session, students get an understanding of the history of the shelter, the do’s and don’ts of a volunteer, proper ways to walk dogs and fundraising assistance.

After orientation is completed, the student may volunteer at the shelter during regular business hours, and help out at BCHS events. “Our shelter holds many of our own fundraisers throughout the year. We have a lot of students that assist us by working at our booth or being a dog handler during our summer events,” states Spencer.

If you are a student interested in doing your senior project at BCHS, please contact Jennifer at 570-888-2114 for more information.

Local Dog Trainer / Author to Hold Book Signing / Demos at Bradford County Library

On Saturday, March 31st from 11-3, Joe Buttito, local dog trainer and author, will be signing his book, "No Fences" at the Bradford County Library. This book is an inspirational guide to developing human and K-9 relationships. A portion of the proceeds of the sale of the book will go to the Bradford County Humane Society. Dog demonstrations will be presented by Buttito and dogs available for adoption from BCHS will also attend.

In conjunction with the book signing, Buttito and BCHS would like to stress the importance of Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month in April.

To help educate the public, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has made April "Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month." People are urged to spend time this month to educate themselves and others about existing animal cruelty laws and to support pending legislation.

Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month is 30 days where every day we can show our support of animals and tell everyone and anyone “we stand together and will not tolerate abuse and neglect of animals!”

According to the ASPCA website, thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have passed laws that make intentional cruelty a felony charge. Intentional abuse is just that – hitting, choking, kicking, deliberate starvation, etc. Unintentional abuse comes from ignorance; the abuser does not know how to care for the pet.
If you suspect someone is abusing a pet, don't confront that person directly. This is for your own safety, and the long-term interest of the pet. Call the police or your local animal control officer.

“Our Humane Investigations department responds to over 300-400 requests for service each year,” states Jennifer L. Spencer, Community Coordinator at Bradford County Humane Society. Now that we are also conducting investigations in Sullivan County as well, this will increase. “We hope to bring those numbers down by continuing to engage the hearts, hands and minds of the public and being a strong voice for animals.”

“Many of the reported cases of cruelty we investigate have a close parallel to weather,” states Humane Officer Hawbaker, from Bradford County Humane Society. “Many of the calls are seasonal related. Examples include pets being left outside in the summer heat with no water and situations where animals are left out in the extreme cold without shelter.”

“Humane education gives Bradford County Humane Society the ability to prevent animal cruelty before it starts,” states Jennifer L. Spencer. “Our focus is to help students develop compassion, empathy, and respect for animals. We can change attitudes regarding what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to how animals should be treated.”

Physical Signs of Animal Abuse

· Collar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck
· Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated
· Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
· Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible
· Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
· Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes
· Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
· Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
· Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
· An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
· Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness

Environmental Signs of Animal Abuse

· Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary
· Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter
· Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
· Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with too many other animals

Animal abuse does not only relate to cats and dogs, livestock in our area also are included.

“Reporting suspected animal cruelty ensures that animals in jeopardy receive prompt and often lifesaving care,” says BCHS Humane Officer Hawbaker. “By making a complaint to the police or humane society in your area—you can even do so anonymously—you help ensure that animals in need are rescued and that perpetrators of animal cruelty are brought to justice.”

When you read this please take a moment to sit in silence and send your love out to all the animals that died at the hands of someone who abused or neglected them. Vow that you will do whatever you can to make a difference so they didn’t die in vain.

To report Animal Abuse, please call the Bradford County Humane Society’s Humane Officer at 570-888-4763.

For questions on adopting animals or Bradford County Humane Society programs and services please call 570-888-2114.