Resources
Detecting Animal Cruelty
Detecting and reporting animal cruelty are the two most important steps in bringing animal cruelty to an end. But how do you know what constitutes abuse and how do you know what to look for? These tips can help in detecting intentional (murdering, maiming, torturing) and negligent (starving, etc.) abuse:
"WATCH" Checklist
W - Weight
Does the animal look thin or emaciated?
A - Age
Does the animal look thin or emaciated?
T - Temperature
Is the animal outside longer than a 2-hour period in less than 10 degrees F (longhaired) or 32 degrees F (shorthaired) in winter? Is the animal without shade in summer? Is the animal locked in an unventilated car with temperatures around or above 70 degrees F? (Estimated temperatures based on precedents set from past cases.)
C - Condition
Does the animal have water? Is the animal fed once a day? Is the collar too tight? Is the chain too short? Is their cage so small that they can’t stand up, turn around, and lie down? Is the animal’s living area unsanitary? Has the animal been abandoned? (no footprints leading to animal, etc.)
H - Health
Is the animal sick, injured, lethargic, or distressed?
If you answered “Yes” to ONE or more of these questions when observing an animal, you should notify the Schenectady, Schoharie and Saratoga County SPCA cruelty investigators by visiting the “Filing a complaint” webpage.
Rabies Information
Rabies is a deadly virus that infects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. It’s most common in bats, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. Although rabies is primarily transmitted by a bite, there is some risk of infection if saliva or nerve tissue from a rabid animal gets into someone’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or into an open wound. Rabies can only be positively diagnosed by testing tissue from the suspected animal, but it’s usually characterized by changes in behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Spay & Neuter Information
There simply are not enough homes for all the animals born. It’s a horrifying fact that on an average day there are unwanted animals are destroyed in Schenectady County. This includes dogs and cats of every breed and every age. Being cute, cuddly or even a purebred doesn’t save their lives.
In order to provide a home for every animal in Schenectady County, the average household would have to accommodate a houseful animal! See how the Schenectady SPCA is working to reduce those perilous odds:
Spaying & Neutering Facts
Spaying and neutering prevent unwanted litters, help protect against some serious health problems, and may reduce many of the behavioral problems associated with the mating instinct.
