About Us

501c3 Statement

Mission Statement

Welcome Letter

History of DCSPCA

Who's Who

Annual Report

Most Recent IRS Form 990 Tax Return

Our Mission

Our Vision: We envision a community in which there are caring, compassionate, respectful relationships between humans and animals, and all adoptable animals have loving homes.

Our Mission: We rescue, shelter, and secure permanent homes for adoptable companion animals; advocate for the highest standards of animal care; and enforce animal cruelty laws throughout Dutchess County.

Our Core Values:
Respect all animals and the people who care for them
Educate about the proper treatment of animals
Advocate to build a better life for all companion animals
Lead through innovation and creativity

Welcome Letter

Welcome to the website of the Dutchess County SPCA. The DCSPCA is an extraordinary charitable organization with an important mission. Every day, the volunteers and staff at the shelter give their gifts of time and talent to the homeless animals who need us so desperately. We encourage you to join our dedicated family either through volunteering, donating or adopting and welcome you with open arms!

Look around our site, we hope we can help you and we are forever grateful to you for your continued support on behalf of those who can not speak for themselves, the animals.

Joyce Garrity
Executive Director,
DCSPCA

501 (c) (3) Statement

We are a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization. Donations may be tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please check with your tax preparer for details.

A copy of our latest annual report may be obtained, upon request, from the DCSPCA or from the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.

Please visit Charity Navigator to obtain a copy of our most recent IRS Form 990.

www.charitynavigator.org/

History of the Dutchess County SPCA : 1871 - present

The first animal anticruelty law in the United States was passed on April 10, 1866. Five years later, on September 1st, 1871, a group of prominent community leaders in Poughkeepsie held a public meeting to form the Poughkeepsie Branch of the A.S.P.C.A. The name was changed in 1889 to the "Poughkeepsie Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals".

There is a gap in the records until 1937. At that time there was a small wooden shelter, a shed, behind the City of Poughkeepsie incinerator, on an underdeveloped road. The quarters were cramped and had no ventilation, sanitary facilities, phone or running water.

In 1939, the Society again changed its name, to the name it bears today, the Dutchess County SPCA. A parcel of land, which was more accessible to the public, was purchased on Washington Street across from St. Francis Hospital.

Construction of the shelter that was able to house 30 dogs was completed in 1941. By 1958 the Shelter on Washington Street was too small. Mrs. Donald Love organized a group of community women and formed the SPCA Auxiliary to raise funds to purchase land and build a new facility. They held various fundraisers such as the Animal Kingdom Ball and rummage sales and were able to purchase 31 acres of land on 9G in Hyde Park, where the shelter still stands.

The new cement block building that was dedicated in July 1961 contained a small animal room for cats and puppies and isolation ward for sick animals. There was also a cemetery on the grounds where for a fee people could bury their deceased pets. The Auxiliary continued to raise money to support the Shelter for many years as well as to provide funds for the spaying and neutering of adopted animals.

By 1970, the Shelter was taking in animals from all of the surrounding towns. Annually, about 1,500 animals come through the DCSPCA’s doors on their way to a better life. This is more than the shelter was built to handle. So, in 1987 the building was expanded. A puppy run, holding room and storage area was added. Outdoor kennels for large dogs and runs were added in 1997. A Spay/Neuter clinic was added in 2002. More outdoor kennel spaces were added in 2003 and a free-roam sun room for cats was added in 2006. At about this time, a Master Site Plan was created to address the long range needs of the shelter and the DCSPCA received a gift from the estate of Dr. Edith Har-Esh to launch a capital campaign for a new shelter.

In 1992 the shelter adopted a “No-Kill policy.

On November 18, 2010 the DCSPCA officially broke ground on the new Adoption and Education Center.

In 2011 the Board of Directors voted to change the vision and mission statements and added a statement of core values.

Today, the organization faces many of the same problems that faced Boards throughout the years: too many animals in need, lack of funds, and inadequate facilities.

Who's Who at the DCSPCA

President – Eric S. Ewing
1st Vice President – June S. Pierson
2nd Vice President – Michelle Almeida
Secretary – Anne Dexter
Treasurer – Susan K. Tucker
Assistant Treasurer – Teresa Laffin

Board of Directors:
Dr. Karen T. Blonder
Carol Bogle
Debbi Calabrese
Marco Caviglia
Steven Crew, DVM
Nicholas Galente
Clare Graham
Robert Kampf
Ron M. Lane
Carol Menken
Susan Moore
Jonathan Smith
Elisabeth Tavarez