March 31, 2012 – A total of 42 (26 dogs/16 cats) loving animals found their forever home in March. To date 131 animals have been adopted from PCF. Two TNR clinics where scheduled in March and 78 cats where fixed and returned to their care takers.

One cat clinic was held in March spaying/neutering 36 cats.

Your compassion and support make a difference!  Please continue to support PCF. Together we are making a difference for the animals that deserved a second chance.

Since opening our doors on January 5, 2012 – February 29, 2012, in 32 days, we have adopted 76 animals to their new forever homes.  In January 25 dogs, 13, cats and 1 pig.  In February 15 dogs and 22 cats.

One cat clinic was held in February and 42 cats were spayed/neutered.

THANK YOU to all our volunteers and the community who have welcomed us with open arms.   Together we are making a difference for the animals that were left behind.

Finding a family: Pets Come First holds grand opening, hopes to secure home for each animal

By Mike Dawson

mdawson@centredaily.com

POTTER TOWNSHIP — “Little Bear” is an 18-week-old purebred Rottweiler. He weighs about 40 pounds, and since last week, he’s been living at the Pets Come First adoption center in Potter Township and a foster home in Philipsburg.

But, Little Bear, or just Bear as his caretaker, Fred Grauch, calls him, has some special needs that call for an owner who can give him extra care: The dog is blind and partially deaf. The staff and volunteers at the Pets Come First adoption center hope to find Little Bear a permanent home, and on Sunday, the center hosted a grand opening to introduce itself to the public and show off the 51 animals that are up for adoption. The event drew dozens of guests, and volunteers had taken two applications for pet adoptions. The process, said volunteer Cheryl Sharer, of Milesburg, also requires two references and a vet check on any previous pets.

The adoption center doesn’t euthanize any animal but it does charge a surrender fee. There’s already a waiting list for surrenders, though, several pages long for cats and dogs.

In January, Pets Come First took over the site of the old Pennsylvania SPCA adoption center. After two years of success, the PSPCA will transfer ownership of the building to Pets Come First. Deb Warner, the president and a co-founder of Pets Come First, said the center hopes to raise $250,000 in each of those two years.  Warner said the center has had 60 adoptions since the soft opening at the start of the year. She said there’s been “a steady flow of volunteers” who have made everything come together.  “The response from everyone has just been fantastic,” Warner said.

Among the center’s services include spaying and neutering the animals that are surrendered and finding them homes. The center has an arrangement with Straley Veterinary Associates to offer low-cost spaying and neutering.  In the short term, Warner hopes to have a rabies clinic and organize a variety of events and fundraisers.   The next fundraiser will be an owner and pet run/walk called the Dog Jog at the Centre County Grange Fairgrounds on April 28.

Longer-term goals include hiring paid staff and a cruelty enforcement officer.  While it’s a Centre County facility, Warner said most of the animals come from Mifflin and Juniata counties. The people adopting the pets are primarily from there, too, she said, because there are no shelters in those counties.  Donations in the form of cash, food and cat litter are appreciated, Warner said. Monetary donations are spent on needs at the local adoption center and not sent elsewhere, she said.

William Harrison and Angela Rogers, two Penn State students, were among the grand opening guests on Sunday. They took some time to play with cats, and they said they’d like to volunteer with the organization. “I grew up with a dog, but cats are growing on me,” said Rogers, of Lancaster. As for Little Bear, the Rottweiler, he ended up at the adoption center after his owner last week took him to a vet in Centre Hall to see if the blindness and deafness could be treated.  Cortlyn Johnson, another Pets Come First volunteer, happened to be at the vet, too, getting a checkup for nine kittens she’d adopted.  “While I was waiting for them, he showed up,” Johnson said of Little Bear.  Johnson overheard Little Bear’s plight and offered him a temporary home. She arranged for Grauch, the husband of one of her cousins, to take care of the dog.  Pets Come First is open Thursdays through Sundays at 2451 General Potter Highway (U.S. Route 322) in Potter Township.

For more information, call the center at 814-364-1725 or visit petscomefirst.org
Mike Dawson can be reached at 814-231-4616

Pets Come First: The New SPCA! Grand Opening
by Karen Dabney

CENTRE HALL–The former SPCA animal shelter in Center Hall is now officially Pets Come First. The transfer of administration occurred on January 1, 2012. In February, Pets Come First celebrated their Grand Opening with several fund-raising events, culminating with the official Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration on Sunday, February 12.

“Sixty animals were adopted since we opened,” said Cheryl Sharer, Pets Come First board member and former SPCA staff member. “Thirty-four dogs and twenty-six cats. Three animals were returned to their owners, and a pot-bellied pig was sent to an appropriate rescue organization. Right now we have fifty-one animals, including a bunny and two blind horses.”

During the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting, the all-volunteer, no-kill shelter attracted a sizable crowd of supporters, well-wishers, and potential adopters. Visitors had the opportunity to meet an adoptable white rabbit, the dogs in the kennels, and the cats in the beautifully refurbished cat room. The volunteer staff and foster parents answered questions about the pets, and counseled people about which animal might be a good match.

For the ribbon cutting, Pets Come First president Deb Warner was joined by eleven volunteers and board members at the red ribbon stretched over the front sidewalk. As Warner cut the ribbon, the group rejoiced.

Inside, the staff offered refreshments, and packages of free catnip and dog treats. Visitors could purchase Pets Come First T-shirts, benefit raffle tickets for Sheetz gas cards, and specially labeled bottles of Seven Mountains wines. Through February 29, the shelter will receive five dollars for each bottle sold, with a choice of three wines: All Razzed Up, a sweet wine; Tickled Pink, a blush wine; and Ten Point, a dry red wine.

The Sheetz raffle will continue into May, with prizes of $350, $100, and $50 gas cards. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20.

Pets Come First is also raising funds by recycling ink and toner cartridges, earning $100 so far.

The guests included two of the vets who work with the shelter, Dr. Fred Metzger and Dr. Bob Rider. Dr. Rider said, “I think that Pets Come First has done a great job of redoing the place and working with the animals. We at Metzger Animal Hospital are happy to work with them to adopt all these great animals. It’s fun, too.”

Pets Come First, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, seeks community support to help them meet the needs of stray and abandoned pets. They are actively fund-raising and recruiting volunteers to ensure the ongoing success of the shelter’s services, which include adoptions of abandoned pets, and a new program of spay/neuter discount certificates for approved low-income pet owners.

“Our biggest need is to have funds to pay a staff,” said Sharer. “Our volunteers are awesome and wonderful, but we need to have a core staff that is able to be here regularly and is dependable.”

To help pay expenses, Pets Come First increased the adoption fees. “Some people think we’re a little high, but you get about $400 of vet care,” said Sharer. “When animals leave here they have microchips, current vaccines including rabies, spay/neuter or an appointment, and a feline leukemia check.”

She said they were actively seeking volunteers. “We have a waiting list of animals but don’t have enough help to take care of them.”

Pets Come First is located on Route 322 in Centre Hall. For more information, visit www.petscomefirst.org, their Facebook page, or call 814-364-1725.

* Article was published in the February 17, 2012 issue of the Centre County Gazette.

Thank you to Jacob Maggi and Gavek Graphics for their generous support to Pets Come First, The New SPCA!

Jacob Maggi donated a like new van to PCF in January.  They loaded the van with food and pet supplies for the soon to be animals in our care.  This van allows us to transport animals to and from scheduled vet appointments so that the animals will leave our facility spayed/neutered and vetted and ready for their new forever homes.

Gavek Graphics donated the logo and graphics for our new ride.   If you see us on the road, HONK if you GOT PETS!

We love our new sign!  Gavek Graphics worked closely with us to design the new look.  Just as we were ready to open the doors in January, Metzger Animal Hospital saw our sign and offered to help us out.  What would we do without the help of our community?  Community involvement is very important and it allows us to do what we do best, find loving forever homes for the homeless, stray and abandon animals in or community.  Thank you Gavek Graphic and Metzger Animal Hospital!

Celebrate Grand Opening Week! 

Pets Come First has several fun events for you, your family and friends to enjoy while supporting the local homeless stray and abandon animals in our community.  We will end the week with a Grand Opening Celebration at Pets Come First, The New SPCA! adoption center located at 2451 General Potter Highway, Centre Hall on February 12, 2012.  Come join us in making a difference.

Pets Come First Adoption Center Grand Opening

February is National Prevent a litter month…adopt!

Stop by and visit the adoption center and look for your new furry friend. We will have a ribbon cutting to celebrate Pets Come First, The New SPCA! taking over the SPCA shelter in Centre Hall. Be sure to grab some tasty morsels for your pets.

 

When: February 12, 2012
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm
Location:2451 General Potter Highway, Centre Hall, PA 16828

Pets Come First Comedy Night

Looking for a night out with family or friends?  Want to have some good laughs, while helping Pets Come First, The New SPCA! care for the homeless, stray and abandon animals in our community?

Then head over to the Ramada Inn in State College!  Support PCF in raising money to feed and shelter the animals in their care while they await their new forever homes.

Tickets are $12 and must be purchased in advance.  Purchasing tickets at the door will not benefit Pets Come First.

When: February 4, 2012
Time: 8pm
Location: Ramada Inn, 1450 S. Atherton St., State College, PA 16801

Price: $12.00 Quantity

Puppy Love Wine Tasting

Are you interested in sharing a special evening with that special someone?  Or maybe you want to plan a fun night out with the gals or guys?  Tip your glass and give a BIG toast to our furry friends at Pets Come First, The New SPCA!
In addition to sampling and purchasing fine wines, compliment your pallet while pairing hors d’ oeuvres donated by local area restaurants, enjoy a silent auction and experience a night to remember! With your help our animals will find their way into the hearts of someone special. Guest must be 21 years and older.

Tickets $25/each or $40/couples (Sold Out)

Purchasing Wine is Available:  Sale price per bottle is $12 each until February 29, 2012.   Place your order today by contacting us at info@petscomefirst.com.

When: February 10, 2012
Time: 7:00pm-10:00pm
Location: Seven Mountains Winery, 107 Mountain Spring Lane, Spring Mills,PA 16801

Its Bath Time visit Red Line Speed Shine!

Does your furry friend live every day to the fullest and you are not always ready to give him that much needed bath?  Then jump in the car and bring your dirty dog to Red Line Speed Shine on North Atherton on Saturday, February 11th, between Noon and 4 PM, and help raise money for Pets Come First.  For every dog washed in their heated luxury dog wash, Red Line Speed Shine will donate $3.00 to Pets Come First.

Dogs will be available for adoption, so round up the family, your furry friends and come on down to meet your new family member.  Give these dogs the forever homes they deserve!

Check out their dog wash here!

When:  Saturday, February 11, 2012
Time:  Noon – 4PM
Where:  Red Line Speed Shine (North Atherton location only)

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this transition possible. All your hard work and effort has not gone unnoticed. BIG thank you to the Cleanup & Paint Crew who rolled up their sleeves and got down and dirty to clean out, prep and paint the shelter to get ready for our January 5, 2012 opening.

BIG BIG thank you to Dave Reeder of DP Reeder Construction who took on the responsibility of overseeing the painting project and who has showed the building some TLC during our transition.

Thank you Lin, David Meger, Theresa McGowen, Gina Barrett, Susan Seybert, Andrew Walker, Robert & Mary Frantz, Patricia Collins, Marni Schmittle, Melanie GIlbert, Lynn Burris, Sheena Sovich, Samantha Walker, Victoria Mufars, Jessica & Madison Watkins, Kelly Garrrigan, Samatha Makuch, Kelley Cunninghaus, Julie Dederer, Sandie & Savannah Elder, Jason Thomas,   Colby Wildauer, Tyler Fetters, SPCA Staff and PCF board members who all participated!

“Pets Come First, The New SPCA!” in Centre Hall is now  open!  If you are surrendering an animal you must call to schedule an appointment.  Animals in foster care are still available for adoption. Please visit our Adoption Center at the shelter or continue to look online to view our furry friends looking for their new forever homes. Thank you your support is greatly appreciated.