New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
‘This is the only home they know’
Monroe SPCA volunteers race against deadline to find homes for animals
MONROE — It was Kate Compton’s love of animals brought her to the SPCA of Connecticut animal shelter in Monroe.
Compton, who travels to the shelter from her home in Fairfield several days a week, is among a handful of core volunteers that have spent countless hours tending to the cats and dogs that they refer to as their second family.
That is why when word broke about the shelter — a staple in the town for nearly two decades — being forced to close on May 6, it was met with more than a few tears.
“This is heartbreaking,” said Compton, who along with her husband and daughters has been volunteering there for the past four years. “Being here has been so rewarding for all of us. That is why this closing is so hard … so difficult to wrap our heads around.”
Compton said the animals in the shelter are like the volunteers’ own pets.
“We know their favorite blanket. We know their favorite toy,” she said. “We’ve dedicated so much time to caring for them.”
But these volunteers have no time to mourn the loss of one of the few nokill shelters in the area. Now, their mission is to find homes for more than 30 cats and dogs before the doors are permanently shut in just more than 60 days.
Compton said when news broke about the shelter’s foreclosure Tuesday, the shelter was inundated with calls from people asking about adoptable pets. In all, there are 20 dogs and 13 cats.
She said to further advertise the need to find homes for these dogs and cats, the shelter is hosting an open house at its facility at 359 Spring Hill Road. Those interested in attending are asked to visit the shelter’s website, spcact.org and complete an application.
Compton said those dogs and cats that are not adopted will be placed with the town animal control department. Since those animals could ultimately be euthanized if that happened, she said volunteers are scrambling to find spots at local sanctuaries or other animal rescue groups.
“Half of the dogs on site now have been there for years,” Compton said, adding that one dog, now 13, has been housed at the shelter since she was a pup. “This is the only life she has ever known. That is true for many of these animals. This is the only home they know.”
The SPCA of CT website presently lists photos and details of all the cats and dogs on site. There is also a link to a GoFundMe page, which Compton says was established to raise money to cover veterinary and relocation costs for the animals.
“We are most concerned that any animal not adopted or placed in another shelter would be at high risk of being euthanized,” a volunteer stated on the GoFundMe page. “We need people to adopt a dog or cat or to make donations to our GoFundMe page to help cover our vet expenses and possible ‘rehoming’ our animals to other shelters.”
Donations are still desperately needed, the site states, as several of the dogs and cats are “unadoptable” and in order to save their lives the volunteers will have to buy them a spot at another shelter.
An email was also sent to those who have adopted in the past.
“We need your help,” the email states. “Many of these cats and dogs are in perfect health, are socialized, and are highly adoptable. Some of these cats and dogs, while loving and affectionate, are older and/or have medical conditions. There is also a significant number of very shy or otherwise behaviorally less desirable animals that need patient homes, understanding of their special needs.”
The email continued that volunteers are “most concerned that any cats or dogs not adopted would be at high risk of being euthanized. This letter is a desperate plea for their lives.”
Interested parties should visit spcact.org to see the adoptable animals or to donate. To schedule a meet and greet, call the SPCA at 475-290-8525 or email spcaofctmonroe@gmail.com. Donations can be sent to SPCA of CT, 359 Spring Hill Road, Monroe, CT 06468.
“Please take a moment to imagine what it is like for us volunteers to care for these animals every day ... to see their eyes light up when they see you, to know which treats they prefer, to pray they find their forever home, and to make sure that they have their favorite toy at night,” the letter states. “And now that light in their eyes may fade one last time — without ever going home.”