GLOVERSVILLE — Growing up in Amsterdam, Renee Earl always loved animals.
So when a friend suggested she join the Fulton County Regional SPCA a decade ago, she jumped at the chance.
“I started attending the meetings and the rest is history,” said the 48-year-old Earl, a Gloversville resident who is now the SPCA president. “I’ve been here ever since.”
The organization originally started as the Regional Animal Shelter in 2002 before becoming incorporated as the Fulton County Regional SPCA in 2019.
The nonprofit shelter, which is run entirely by volunteers, is different from others in the county and nearby counties because it only serves the city of Gloversville.
“Which has its benefits and it also has its problems,” Earl said.
Because the organization is volunteer run, its shelter operates on a morning, dinner and bedtime schedule, with some volunteers coming in during the day if their schedule permits.
“But we don’t have a set staff that are there,” Earl said.
Volunteer Alexandra Jackson describes herself as a “schlepper of all things” at the organization; picking up, storing and allocating supplies. She also works the Friday night bedtime shift.
“Bedtime is usually a nice opportunity to spend some time one on one with each of our dogs, they all get some time outside to potty, their beds fluffed and a bedtime snack,” she said. “The general energy at the shelter tends to be more relaxed at bedtime, the dogs know the routine and are winding down for the night.”
Because the bedtime shift isn’t always staffed, Earl said the dogs get prepared for living in a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. environment when they’re adopted due to having a schedule.
The shelter is also small compared to other organizations: It only has eight kennels.
“We are never empty,” Earl said. “There is never a time when we don’t have dogs.” Between Aug. 1 and Wednesday, the SPCA had 21 dogs go into the shelter just from Gloversville. Of those 21 dogs, 13 were redeemed by families, Earl said.
Earl said they also help, when possible, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department if the department asks.
There have been times where dogs have been fostered by some of the volunteers because the shelter was full.
“We do not euthanize for space,” Earl said. “Even if we’re full, then we beg for fosters or we ask other organizations to help us out, but we won’t put them down just because we are full.” Those values are the reason Jackson said she became a volunteer.
“The well being of the dogs is the absolute top priority at Regional which really spoke to me,” she said.
When dogs aren’t picked up by their owners, they are put up for adoption. Seeing the dogs get adopted is the greatest feeling for both Earl and Jackson.
“To know that someone found their perfect family member and it may have taken a little bit longer, but it’s absolute love at first sight, there really is nothing better than that,” Earl said.
Jackson said she loves seeing the text messages, social media posts or Christmas cards from families that have adopted dogs.
“The dogs on couches and hikes and in the family photos that make it clear that they are safe, they are loved and that we did our jobs in getting them ready to live fabulous lives once they leave us,” Jackson said.
However, the job also has its difficult moments. For Earl, one of the toughest things about the job is the negative comments she said people make on social media about the organization or its volunteers.
“That is like a knife in the chest,” she said. “It’s hurtful and we’re all here volunteering our time and our hearts and our dollars to try and make a difference. We know we can’t control what other people do or say, but it’s very discouraging when you’re trying to work so hard and you get so many people making remarks.”
Then, there are the difficult cases the volunteers handle.
“The hardest part is facing the situations you can’t fix,” Jackson said. “When we’re legally required to return a dog to an owner who we know isn’t willing or able to care for them properly.”
Jackson said both state and national laws are inadequate.
Earl said to help the volunteers with the difficult moments on the job, the shelter has partnered with The Family Counseling Center in Gloversville to provide trauma counseling.
“We just began this service because I saw how broken the volunteers were becoming, how exhausted they were becoming,” Earl said. “So I felt it was very important to reach out for some proper help on how to deal with those emotions.”
Now, volunteers are learning coping skills and Earl is preparing more wellness days for the staff that include activities such as hiking.
But above all else, Earl said, you have to remember the good moments on the job, the happy moments, the highs.
“The moments when we do have these horrible raid situations and you have a dog that is so fearful you cannot touch it and then that one day he just lets you put your finger on his nose just that is amazing because a month ago that wouldn’t have happened,” Earl said.
Earl said the organization is always looking for volunteers and taking donations. People can apply to be a volunteer and make donations at the SPCA’s website at https://fcrspca.org/. People can also mail in donations, Earl said. Its mailing address is 117 West Fulton St., Gloversville, NY 12078.
