Brandywine SPCA recovers after severe weather but more work is needed

Salisbury, Md. – Last month’s blizzard severely impacted Brandywine Valley SPCA’s shelters. Now, though their operations have returned to normal, workers at the BVSPCA Georgetown location are still contending with damage from the storm.

BVSPCA Georgetown campus damage

Marketing Director Sara Smith said that the recent weather events in the region is causing BVSPCA to think more about how to prepare for severe weather.

“You’re seeing these bigger and bigger storms every single year, every single season,” Smith said. “We just had tornado warnings in Dover just the other day. These are things that we need to be prepared for.”

She said BVSPCA is looking to invest in a generator for their locations, which though she said is a big expense, “it’s important that we’re taking care of these animals.”

Smith said Monday night’s storm served as a reminder for how weather impacts the shelters in ways not limited to the furry friends housed there.

“I think one of the things that people don’t realize is that adoptions also go down during times like this,” she said. “Less families are able to get out and adopt because they’re dealing with their own situation.”

Smith said dealing with damage to homes and loss of power means less homes are able to welcome animals, which means shelters become more crowded.

“And so, you know, the best thing you can do is if you were thinking about adopting, now’s a great time to do so,” she said.

BVSPCA will be hosting a “Sweet 16 and Elite 8” event, lowering adoption fees for adult dogs and cats to $16 and $8, respectively, from Friday to Sunday, March 29. Smith said that if adoptions still isn’t a possibility, community members can still get involved by fostering or donating food, blankets or funds. She also said anyone who wants to help with BVSPCA’s investment into generators is welcome to donate to the endeavor as well.