UPDATE 5/04/08 on the 19 Seeley Collies Rescued in Upstate NY
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt
Collies in the Attic:
201 Days
Incredibly, I have to report that, 201 days after their original rescue from crates, some of the Seeley Collies are still unexplainably being held in crates, on the top floor of the SPCA of Upstate New York located in Queensbury.
The peculiarities of the Collie situation at the SPCA defy reason. Therefore the explanation for their continued crate confinement lies elsewhere. Visitors to the SPCA are not allowed in the attic. Only SPCA workers go there. Potential Collie adopters are told by SPCA personnel that the Collies are gone. Why would they say that, with the Collies just out of sight above their heads?
The excuse for holding the Collies used to be, according to the Executive Director, that they were still undergoing medical treatment, and the veterinarian had not yet released them for adoption. If that is indeed still the case, could not a loving adopter continue facilitating their prescribed treatment? If the prescribed treatment or medication must be administered by a veterinarian, could not medical boarding at a veterinary hospital be substituted for crate confinement in the SPCA attic?
AWCA offered to pay for medical boarding months ago. We stand by our offer to pay for medical boarding for the remaining Seeley Collies. This includes the old gentleman--who has not been seen for many weeks, and for whom unsubstantiated rumors abound--if he is still alive.
The constant influx of truckloads of puppies from the South which are sold at PetSmart, including about 20 only a few days ago, and the recent confiscation of more than 60 West Highland Terriers, Bichon Frises, and Chihuahuas require a great deal of work and medical attention. Why continue to hold the Collies in crates, in the attic, when so many other animals require SPCA resources?
The remaining Collies have been held, still confined in crates, at the SPCA of Upstate New York, for 201 days. Folks, are Collies still there? Just look up.
Calmly,
Jean Levitt
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