News

CAMILLE FIOTI Times Leader Correspondent

PLAINS TWP. -- The love of animals brought hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts together Sunday to help raise money for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Luzerne County.

click image to enlarge

Thomas and Jane Kowalchin of Berwick pull into Bentley’s with their dog, Lady, a 2-year-old albino Shih Tzu, after the three went on a benefit ride to raise funds for the SPCA.

Aimee Dilger/the times leader

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

More than 400 participated in the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club’s 13th annual ride to benefit the animal shelter. The 45-mile ride began at the SPCA on East Main Street and continued through Bear Creek, White Haven and Mountain Top, and ended with a post-ride party at Bentley’s Restaurant on Route 309 in Ashley.

The event usually raises about $8,000 each year, but this year’s proceeds are expected to reach $10,000, said Ed Gross, chairman of the bike club. Gross, who served as the director for the SPCA for 33 years and is now retired, said his two passions in life are “animals and bikes.”

Because the shelter is a private, nonprofit organization and is not affiliated with any other agencies, it is funded solely on donations. “Money is always a need here, at the shelter,” he said.

Bank of America employees Karen Shuster and Theresa Lauricella were on hand to help raise money for the cause. The women, who work at the bank’s Kingston branch, said that for every checking account opened, the bank donates $25 to the club for the SPCA.

This is the second benefit ride that Bank of America has participated in for the club’s causes. In April, it helped to raise funds for the club’s memorial Poker Run in honor of former club member Mary Beth Richards.

Dennis Kirchdoerfer and his wife, Marie, of Hazleton, said this was the first charity ride they’ve participated in. Sunny skies and an affection for animals -- they own two cats and a dog -- are reasons why the couple participated in Sunday’s ride.

Fellow animal lover and friend, Tom Mandart, of Nesquehoning accompanied them. Mandart provides a home for two horses, five dogs, five cats and chickens, all of which were adopted.

The need for cash is huge, said SPCA supervisor Vickie Cooper. “Everything we use has been donated, but it costs money to keep the shelter going.” Expenses, which include heating, air-conditioning, vaccinations and employee salaries, run approximately $2,000 a day, she said. Last year the shelter received more than 7,000 animals.

So far this year, the shelter has received nearly 3,000 animals, of which only 901 had been adopted. Unfortunately, almost 1,500 animals had to be euthanized.

“Those numbers are pretty scary,” said Cooper, pointing out that the numbers also include animals brought in voluntarily by their owners to be put down. The shelter euthanizes dogs only if they are aggressive or sick, Cooper pointed out.

Cats, on the other hand, are a different story, she said. The summer months are prime cat-breeding season, and the shelter becomes inundated with them.

Cooper said the shelter works with area rescue agencies and Pet Smart, in Wilkes-Barre Township, to try to find homes for the animals.

Help available

A low-cost Spay and Neutering Program is available from Valley Cat Rescue for the pets of Luzerne County residents who meet low-income guidelines. Information: Valley Cat Rescue, (570) 824-4172; SPCA, 825-4111; or visit spcaluzernecounty.org.