PERU, N.Y. (WCAX) – Animal shelters in New York’s North Country are fighting to keep their facilities open as costly new regulations inch closer.
Volunteers at the Elmore SPCA say they are out of space and are in need of a new building.
“We just need bigger space that accommodates the regulations that are going to go into place,” said the shelter’s Laurie Parsons.
New York lawmakers two years ago approved a law that goes into effect in December of 2025 and requires shelters to include things like separate spaces for cats and dogs and additional areas for volunteer training and animal intakes
“We are not taking in any more additional small mammals. We just do not have the facility space for them, unfortunately. It was a decision we made recently because we could not just fit them in the space that we have,” Parsons said.
Parsons says she believes the legislation is a good thing for animal shelters but that they are struggling to find a way to foot the bill on a price tag that is roughly $3 million for upgrades.
The shelter’s Shawn McLean says state funding is available but that they will also be looking to the county and private donors for support. “If we do not build this new building, we will probably be forced to shut down,” he said.
North Country Assemblyman Billy Jones agrees that funding is needed. “Certainly, I know myself and other colleagues do push for that animal companion capital funding to be included in the budget and we will do that again this year,” said Assemblyman Billy Jones, D-Chateaugay Lake.
Parsons says the other alternative is to drastically scale back operations. But for a shelter that had a total of 450 adoptions last year, it would mean a massive blow to the county. However, she says she’s confident they will get the help they need. “Elmore has been around — next year, 80 years — It is going to happen,” she said.