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SPCA Suncoast at critical juncture

American Hurricane Specialist donates shutters, helps restore faith

Jessica Bair/SUNCOAST

Joseph Esposito, on ladder, of American Hurricane Specialists uses a drill to install hurricane panels on the dog kennels at the SPCA of the Suncoast Wednesday. Owner Wayne Bennett donated the shutters to the shelter after discovering the lack of donations.

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By Jessica  Bair | The Suncoast News

Published: September 22, 2007

New Port Richey, FL - New Port Richey, FL - As the director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of the Suncoast, Martha Murray wants to do whatever she can to protect the animals at the shelter.

She recently inquired about adding storm shutters to the two main SPCA buildings at 7734 Congress St. to be better prepared for the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30.

"I got an estimate and knew there was a need for it," Murray says. "I wanted to protect the animals, but the money is just not there," she says of the current funding shortage.

American Hurricane Specialists Owner Wayne Bennett, however, stepped up to the plate and was on hand Wednesday holding a Hurricane Preparedness for Pets Open House and Donation Drive.

The shelter needed upgrades estimated between $15,000 to $20,000, so Bennett decided to donate his services.

The crew installed hurricane shutters and panels to the dog kennels and main building Wednesday with the newly renovated cat portion of the shelter, the Kitty Kabana, becoming hurricane ready Thursday.

"The protection and safety of the animals, including the volunteers and staff, during catastrophic events is our biggest concern," Bennett explains.

"I don't want to see anything like the devastation in Louisiana happen to the animals here," Bennett said, referring to Hurricane Katrina, August 29, 2005. His company also donated to the Hernando County SPCA and a church in Spring Hill with the help of local general contractor Greg Henry.

Murray says it helps her sleep at night knowing that the animals are safer but that lack of funding for the no-kill shelter is still a huge concern.

In an interview Thursday, Betty Moore, SPCA treasurer and board member, acknowledged the money problems but said they do not threaten the existence of the animal-welfare organization.

Nevertheless, donations are so low, Moore said, SPCA leaders have taken out a sizable home equity loan on the SPCA buildings to get through the fiscal year, which ends Feb. 28.

"We are definitely having some serious financial difficulties," Moore said.
She added, however, "But we are bound and determined to only close our doors when there are no more homeless animals."

Operating costs average $40,000 a month, according to Moore. The SPCA gets about $3,000 from its contracts with Port Richey and New Port Richey.

The rest of the money, the SPCA's income, comes from donations and bequests, Moore said.

In fact, estate bequests have been the SPCA's main source of operating capital for the past 40 years, Moore added. The bequest money for the current year, however, has been spent but the next cycle of funds from estates should arrive by the end of the 2008 calendar year.

One of the anticipated bequests is of a significant amount and should produce a major boost to the SPCA's coffers, Moore said.

Although, the SPCA Suncoast has given its facility a makeover and complete overhaul, it still had to cut back on part-time staff and downsize the number of animals kept on site.

Various area animal rescue groups and the Clearwater-based Humane Society of North Pinellas have helped the SPCA Suncoast deal with abandoned animals.

A car wash conducted last Saturday by students from the Marchman Technical Education Center, in New Port Richey, yielded $300 for the SPCA, Murray said.

"Everything we don't have to buy allows us to pay for things like electric and water," Moore explains. Last month the electric bill was almost $3,000 and water at $800.

Bennett notes that although the hurricane shutters can withstand 120-mile-per-hour winds and are built to Florida building codes, the shelter roof is 15 to 20 years old and in need of repair.

"They (SPCA) just don't have the resources to execute things like this," Bennett said. "But nobody is donating the way they should. It was just the right thing to do."

With no state funding, Murray says every little bit helps. "We've been here for so long, I just know there's people who want to help," she said.

A series of fundraising drives will continue in the coming months for donations and items like towels, kitty litter, pet food and cleaning supplies, part of the SPCA wish list. Volunteers are also needed.

"People like this really restore my faith in humanity," Murray said, referring to the hurricane-security company. "What huge hearts they have," she said standing at a donation table with tears in her eyes.

The next drive, the Florida Championship Wrestling "Wrestling for Whiskers" at Bourbon Street Nightclub, 4331 U.S. 19, New Port Richey this Tuesday, Sept. 25 is co-hosted by Save Our Sandbar. Wrestling begins at 8:30 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the shelter.

For more information, contact 727-849-1048, e-mail info@SPCAwestPasco.com or visit their Web site www.spcasuncoast.org. Shelters hours are noon to 6 p.m., daily.

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