A winter snowstorm didn’t stop staff and volunteers at animal organizations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania from making sure the animals in their care were safe and looked after.
Officials at multiple organizations in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties said they and the animals experienced no issues with the wintry weather. They had a limited number of staff and volunteers on site to feed and take care of the animals housed at their facilities during the storm, which dumped double-digit snow accumulations over much of the region.
Ashley Wolo Ottaviani, executive director of Griffin Pond Animal Shelter in South Abington Twp., said some employees stayed at the shelter Saturday night through Monday morning, and some employees and volunteers who live close by were able to come in to help.
At the SPCA of Luzerne County in Plains Twp., Volunteer Coordinator Carol Amos was among six employees who came in during the storm.
“They’re there more or less to feed the animals and make sure they’re OK,” she said. “We do what we can because someone has to be here with them, so we really don’t have a choice when it comes to coming in or not coming in.”
Joanne Davis, founder and president of St. Cats & Dogs of Nay Aug Zoo in Scranton, stopped by multiple times throughout the weekend to check on the cats at the building.
Several shelters closed to the public and canceled appointments because of the storm.
Officials said they stocked up on water and food for the animals and said they didn’t run out during the storm. They said their buildings didn’t lose power or heat, and by Monday they had their driveways and parking lots plowed.
“We are plenty prepared and we had no issues,” Amos said.
Ottaviani said staff have been in constant contact with Wescott’s Property Maintenance to clear the driveway and parking lot of snow since before the first snowflakes fell. They also ensured the cats in an outdoor cat area had access to the building.
“It was a lot of work the days leading up, but I think we did pretty well,” she said.
Ottaviani said several local businesses dropped off “a good amount” of supplies before the storm.
Marge Bart, founder and president of Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge in Franklin Twp., Luzerne County, said staff made sure each of the five buildings at the organization’s facility had a generator. She said she and one other employee were able to ride out the storm over the weekend and the snowplow was able to clear the property every four hours Sunday and early Monday morning.
Rosetta, a dog at Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, plays with a ball toy during this weekend’s winter snowstorm. (Submitted)
The parking lot at Griffin Pond Animal Shelter is covered with snow during this weekend’s winter snowstorm. (Submitted)
The entrance to Griffin Pond Animal Shelter is cleared following this weekend’s winter snowstorm. (Submitted)
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Rosetta, a dog at Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, plays with a ball toy during this weekend’s winter snowstorm. (Submitted)
“The plows kept up, which was good because we have big driveways and to walk between buildings would have been tough without the plow,” said Bart, who lives on the property.
Davis spent Monday afternoon shoveling and cleaning at the St. Cats building.
Bart said prior to the snow arriving Sunday, the animals — which include dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, ponies and pot-bellied pigs — seemed nervous, glancing around. After the snowfall, some of the dogs have had a hard time during walks getting around the property, which got hit with 14 inches of snow. But other animals have been fine with the snow, Bart said.
Amos said dogs at the shelter react differently to the snow — some love it and some don’t care for it.
The winter storm meant Griffin Pond employees and volunteers had to adjust schedules for the animals, Ottaviani said. It also meant the on-site veterinary clinic was closed except for emergencies.
“Our main focus was getting in there, making sure everybody had food, water, bedding and were cleaned up after,” she said. “We obviously didn’t get to spend as much one-on-one time with the animals like we typically do because we were more concerned about making sure staff and volunteers were able to still leave safely and get home safely.”
Bart anticipates she and her staff will be doing more laundry in the days after the storm as dogs who aren’t fond of the snow expel waste in their kennels or crates.
“It’s not a big deal; we’re used to dealing with it,” she said. “Our machines go 24/7 as it is, and luckily, um, you know, we had no problems with water.”
Although Griffin Pond experienced no issues related to the winter storm, officials there are anticipating additional expenses related to the weather, such as ice melt, elevated electric costs and snow removal.
“You try to prepare for these types of situations, but this significant of a snowstorm throws a wrench in the plans and it’s just extra money that has to be fronted that organizations such as ourselves don’t necessarily have,” Ottaviani said.
With cold weather in the forecast, she implored the public to keep animals indoors and report any animal that is outside. She said the shelter’s humane officer, Marci Zeiler, has received calls nonstop about animals outside.
“These types of temperatures almost always result in — in death, and that’s not what we want,” Ottaviani said.
Tips for animal safety in cold weather
The Humane Society of the United States and the American Red Cross offer the following winter safety tips for pets:
• If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather.
• If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.
• If pets cannot come indoors, make sure they are protected by a dry, draft-free enclosure large enough to allow them to sit and lie down, but small enough to hold in the pet’s body heat.
• Salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate a pet’s paws. Wipe their paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates their mouth.
• Keep antifreeze out of reach of pets.