On Nov. 23, the Chester County SPCA (CCSPCA) confirmed that their organization has been selected by the Delaware Division of Public Health’s Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) to provide animal sheltering services in support of the state Animal Control Enforcement Unit that will take over on Jan. 1, 2016. The selection was made after the OAW received bids from a Request-For-Proposal issued in August. The agreement is a three year contract that may be renewed for up to two additional years.
CCSPCA, who has been providing temporary animal control services for the City of Wilmington and Kent County, as well as emergency cruelty sheltering services for the state since September when the previous provider suddenly ended services, is expanding their Delaware-based operation to accommodate the new agreement.
“We have acquired a building in New Castle County that is currently being remodeled to provide animal sheltering for the state of Delaware,” said Adam Lamb, Executive Director of the CCSPCA.
The new facility located on South Street near Battery Park will employ approximately 20 to 25 local employees and will be able to provide shelter, veterinary care and adoption services. Additionally, CCSPCA will operate another satellite facility to better serve Kent and Sussex counties.
“The CCSPCA has a solid reputation for delivering progressive and innovative programs to rehabilitate and re-home stray and abused animals, which is a population of animals with a unique set of needs,” said Hetti Brown, Director of the Delaware Office of Animal Welfare. “They are also experienced at preventing animal homelessness through pet owner counseling and delivery of compassionate resources.”
Under the new agreement, stray animals will be housed at convenient locations in the state so their owners have a chance to recover their pets. Animals that are not recovered, and animals that are victims of animal cruelty, will be placed into rehabilitation or adoption programs at the New Castle location or transferred to one of the CCSPCA’s Delaware-based shelter and rescue partners.
“The CCSPCA, Faithful Friends and Delaware Humane Association have formed a strong partnership over the last few months,” said Lamb. “We are happy to continue working with them and serving the state of Delaware’s stray animal population.”
For more information about the CCSPCA, please visit www.ccspca.org.
