What's up at the Concord-Merrimack County SPCA

The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. After a century of helping animals in the area, the SPCA is ready to expand - plans are in the works for a new and improved building on Silk Farm Road.

To say the SPCA is busting at the seams is a bit of understatement; animals are housed in a converted chicken coop that dates back to the '50s, and the facilitity's offices are taking up just about every room in an old farmhouse on the property, located about a mile from downtown Penacook.

A couple of years ago, plans were drawn for a new building adjacent to the Audubon's McLane Center. That was before the recession and, since then, plans have changed a bit.

Heather Faria, executive director of the SPCA, says a little scaling back was in order to reflect a post-recession world. "The new facility will be significantly larger than our current one, but scaled down from the previous rendering, and will allow us to meet the needs of the animals and the community sooner," says Heather. "The revised building will be designed with an eye for future expansions. The most important thing for us is to get a building constructed that we can move into sooner than later."

The Silk Farm Road property offers several improvement just by virtue of location - Heather says that it's a more centralized location with highway access, making it easier for volunteers to travel to. The extra space will also allow the SPCA to house more animals and increase the quality of care. And even though the original plan has been scaled back, the new building will still be double the size of the current space in Penacook.

Heather says input from the community is really important as the SPCA undertakes such a large project. To that end, it is conducing a survey to find out what community members would like to see in a new facility. You can participate by visiting concordspca.org.

There are other ways to get involved, too - you can sign up for the SPCA's newsletter or become its fan on Facebook. There are links for both at concordspca.org. There are also upcoming events you can attend or volunteer at (more on that to the right).

Use our entry-level guide to the SPCA as an opportunity to familiarize yourself with some of the programs and services offered, and don't forget to stay connected with the SPCA as the exciting expansion effort progresses!

Programs and services
The SPCA does more than find homes for animals. It also provides a “making ends meet” food pantry for people having difficulty affording food for their pets. The program helps keep pets in their homes by giving owners a helping hand.

There is also a program in conjunction with Casey Family Services where children come to the SPCA once a week to help train the dogs. It’s a fun learning experience for the kids, and the dogs learn valuable skills to help them get adopted.

Another important task of the SPCA is eduction on spaying and neutering cats and dogs. This effort will be ramped up over the next few years, say Heather, as the society works to keep the animal population at a manageable level. This is especially important for cats, she adds. Area vets and other SPCAs will participate in the effort.

All about adoption

Thinking about becoming a pet owner or getting a friend for Fido or Fluffy? Don’t forget to keep the SPCA in mind! Visit concordspca.org for weekly updates on cats, dogs and small animals available for adoption. When you’re ready to adopt, fill out the application and visit the SPCA. There’s a room for visiting with the cats, and now that warmer weather is here, dogs can go outside for a little playtime. It’s also just about kitten season, so little furry felines will be available soon. Heather says that bonding in a short amount of time can be tough on both people and the animals, so know that most animals will show more of their personality when they’re in a new home. It’s a big transition, but for the animals, “It’s like they know they’re getting a second chance,” says Heather.

Adoption fees vary – visit concordspca.org for details.

A look back at the SPCA

The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA was founded in 1910 to prevent animal cruelty and educate the public on animal care. In the early days, an executive agent was appointed to travel the county responding to issues as they arose.

In the 1930s, the SPCA became one of the five agencies that formed the Community Chest, which later became the United Way of Merrimack County. The SPCA remains a designated United Way agency.

In the 1950s, executive agent Melvin Tibbets opened up his home to caring for abandoned animals. They were kept in a converted chicken coop. Tibbets retired in 1975 but allowed the animals to stay. He eventually gave his home to the SPCA. It is now used for office space and is home to several office cats.

Upcoming events

The Concord-Merrimack County SPCA operates as an independent nonprofit and does not receive national-level funding. As a result, fundraising is important. You can help by attending an event or volunteering your time at one. Here are a few to consider:

April 10, Annual Rabies/Microchip Clinic: The low-cost clinic will be held at Blue Seal in Bow. Microchips, a permanent, safe form of identification for your pet, cost $20. Rabies vaccination is $10.

April 16, Dinner with the Animals: Silent auction, cocktail hour, the opportunity to mingle with some of the shelter’s animals and dinner. The event will be held at the Grappone Conference Center at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50-$60 and may be purchased through April 9. Call 753-9801 to reserve tickets.

Sept. 26, 15th Annual Walk for the Animals: Held at Northeast Delta Dental, 1 Delta Drive. Demonstrations, contests, raffles and more. Choose from a 1 or 3-mile walk. 10 a.m.-2 p.m,, $5 entry fee.