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SPCA Suncoast Leader Spurs Rebound
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Published: August 27, 2008
It was a day both of death and new life for Martha Murray.
The executive director of the SPCA Suncoast in New Port Richey had just had one of her elderly dogs put to sleep, one of three of her own dogs she has had to have euthanized within the last nine months. Her eyes periodically teared up when remembering the animals.
But a young bull terrier, Kiwi, rested in a crate near her desk. Murray will probably adopt Kiwi, who had turned up at the SPCA badly sunburned. "She came in right in the midst of my animals dying. God works in mysterious ways," she reflected.
Murray became director of the SPCA at the end of 2006. Under her stewardship, the organization has made dramatic changes reducing the numbers of dogs it keeps from up to 100 to 25 and cats from 100 to up to 40. But as the number of animals has decreased, adoption rates have gone up, Murray said, although she did not have the numbers at hand.
The SPCA is back on its financial feet, she noted, after a $50,000 shortfall last year. She doesn't want it to grow beyond its financial means. "This time, we're going to grow smart," she said.
In line with the spending cutbacks, staff has also been reduced from 21 to 7.
The organization has also ended its contracts with the cities of New Port Richey and Port Richey to care for their injured and sick animals. The higher number of lost or stray animals the SPCA was committed to care for under those agreements stretched the organization to its limits, making it more of a drop off for unwanted animals than an educational resource for the community that Murray envisions, she said.
The lower numbers have allowed the SPCA to go from being an organization that gave the animals in its custody humane but basic care to one that is beginning to provide a community role model for good animal care.
"I want us to be in education," Murray said. "The younger you can teach children about humane education, it's the best way to go. I don't want us to be just a place to drop off animals."
Under Murray, all dog pens are equipped with Kuranda beds, which provide soft, off-the-floor comfort for the animals.
It has also adopted some of the techniques of Open Paw, a program that promotes pet-friendly practices such as hand feeding and frequent interaction with humans.
Cats, for instance, now have regular time in a play area with toys and climbing objects.
She is just beginning to flesh out her vision of the SPCA, Murray noted, warm eyes dancing. She wants to add more play areas for cats and offer animal behavior classes down the line.
Murray arrived at her job through the back door. Most directors of animal organizations have had years of experience as animal shelter employees, coming up through the ranks in animal rescue facilities, she said, but she got her animal shelter experience through volunteering.
"Once they hook you, it's in your blood," she said about animal organizations.
After having always had animals growing up in Tennessee, the self-described former "stay-at-home doggie mom" from Tierra Verde began giving talks to organizations about the links of animal and human abuse for the SPCA in Largo, where she volunteered.
"The thing everybody wants to do is make a difference," she said. "I've always loved animals. That was one way I could make a difference."
She decided to give some time to the local shelter after having featured it on her pet segment for Channel 11, the area ABC television affiliate. She has done weekly pet stories for the station for 11 years.
As a volunteer, Murray began by sprucing the shelter up and got a grant from the Holiday Rotary Club for paint. Animal Planet Pet Videos donated exercise pens. When the executive director post opened up, Murray was hired.
She is living her dream, Murray said, both working with animals and educating humans about them.
"Owning a pet is an honor and a commitment you don't take lightly," she said." These lives are in your hands."
Supplies needed
The SPCA's wish list includes bleach, detergent, toys, clean towels and blankets. The shelter is at 7734 Congress St., New Port Richey. Its telephone number is 727-849-1048.
Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 cbentley@suncoastnews.com.
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