Both the Lahaska and Upper Bucks shelters will be closed on January 1, 2015.

If you have an emergency call our 24 hour emergency line at 215.794.7425.

Happy New Year!

Getting picked up by a dog warden probably isn't any dog's idea of a good time, but for Rosalie it was the moment her life changed for the better. We're not quite sure what her life was like before that snowy January day, but based on her condition we know it wasn't good. She was severely under weight, filthy, covered in fleas and it appeared she had carried many litters. Her paws were torn up in a way that suggested she had lived in a wire cage. The photo to the right shows Rosalie shortly after arrving at our shelter. All in all it seems likely that Rosalie was a breeding dog who was turned loose when she could no longer breed puppies for profit.

Although she was found in a nearby county, the shelter there felt they simply couldn't help her, so the warden brought Rosalie here, to Bucks County and a new life.  Rosalie was in rough shape but with medical care and good food she soon started to put on weight and regain her health. Althea, a shelter volunteer, offered to foster Rosalie so she could recuperate in a less stressful environment, and Rosalie blossomed in her care. After a few months Rosalie was so much a part of her household that she was officially adopted. Rosalie's health is compromised from her rough start in life, and we are committed to providing ongoing help with her medical care so that Rosalie can enjoy her retirement in health and happiness.  

Althea and a healthy Rosalie!

Your Voice Can Make a Difference for Animals

It's easy to become frustrated with the legislative process, but Executive Director Anne Irwin has seen first hand over and over again how individual calls and letters can have a powerful impact in moving important changes in the laws to protect animals. Anne is Vice President and Legislative Chair of the Federated Humane Societies of PA. Their top legislative priority in this session is to pass SB 510. In her recent letter to senators she said:

"SB 510 will accomplish something that has been a goal of the Federated Humane Societies of PA since its first meeting in 1906, which is to effectively end live pigeon shoots, by making it a crime to tether or launch animals to be shot at. The bill is carefully worded so that it will not affect sport hunting allowed by the Game Commission. As humane societies our primary goal is prevention of cruelty, not prosecution. SB 510 is consistent with our mission. This law will prevent the suffering of thousands of animals by making it clear that the events cannot be held."

Pigeon shoots take place in Bucks County at the Philadelphia Gun Club, and at other locations around the state. You can help move this long sought legislation by calling your own state Senator in Harrisburg and asking his or her support. Find out who your own senator is at www.legis.state.pa.us. You can also read a copy of the bill on this site. Legislators listen to their own constituents and your call will count.

Nowadays Morty has a pretty great life as the Bucks County SPCA Lahaska Office Cat. He has his very own bed in the back for quiet naps but spends most of his days out and about. Office Cat is a pretty big job here at the BCSPCA's Lahaska shelter. Morty greets two and four footed  visitors, checks on the staff and the shelter animals and lounges on the front desk collecting pats from everyone who passes by.  

But things weren't always so great for Morty. We know from his tipped ear that he spent some time in a feral cat colony and when he came to us in 2005 it was as part of one of the most severe hoarding cases the BCSPCA has ever handled. When he first got here Morty was a shy guy who lived in the back of the shelter, away from the bustle and noise up front. In fact Morty spent the first four years of his residence in the back, occasionally peeking his head out front and quickly retreating.

The animal savvy staff here knew it takes time for many animals, particularly those coming from bad situations, to warm up and show their stellar personalities. It is our job to give them a safe and comfortable place to make that transition. It doesn't happen overnight - for some like Morty it can take years - but when that transformation happens it is pure magic. Suddenly a whole new and better  life opens up not only for that animal but also for the people who open their hearts and homes (or shelters) to him or her.

On the day that transformation happened for Morty he calmly strolled out front and never looked back. Now he is in the enviable position of having almost unlimited lap time, endless strokes and the chance to share his story to help support the transformations of thousands of animals. 

On April 18^th, Bucks County SPCA Humane Officers and staff removed dozens of animals from a home where conditions were so deplorable that it was difficult for responders to breathe.  Dogs, cats and kittens, and an assortment of other animals including chickens and baby chicks, other small and large birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, and reptiles were brought to BCSPCA shelters in Lahaska and Quakertown where veterinarians were waiting to treat them. Some had been living leg deep in waste, and many were found with no access to water.  Almost all of the animals have now been legally surrendered to the Bucks County SPCA. The others will remain safely with us until their situations can also be resolved. To read and see more, please click for Philadelphia Inquirer, Intelligencer/Courier Times, and Fox29 coverage.  Our heartiest thanks go out to shelter friends for donations of supplies and kind words of encouragement.  Tough situations like these are made so much easier with all of you in our corner.  We'll keep you posted as the case moves forward...

While many shelters share a common name, such as SPCA or Humane Society, they are most often independent of one another. The Bucks County SPCA is not a branch or chapter of the ASPCA, the PSPCA, or any other national, state, or local animal welfare organization.  Donations sent to national organizations who regularly advertise on television do not trickle down to the Bucks County SPCA. Only donations made specifically to the Bucks County SPCA benefit us. If you would like to support your local animals and your local shelters in Lahaska and Quakertown, we hope you'll think about the Bucks County SPCA! 

Bucks County SPCA's Puppy and Dog Obedience Classes are happening right now!.  Register online and start class within the week with this "no wait" class.  Our dog classes are open enrollment which means you register for class, attend an orientation class without your dog (available three days a week) and get started on the next day we hold class.  We have three days/times to pick from at two locations.  Puppy class is held once weekly every week.   Go to our Public Class page to read all about it and register today!

Become part of all that we plan to accomplish at our new shelter in Richland Township!  Help our animals follow the bricked pathway home...  For a limited time only, we are offering commemorative paving bricks at the new location. Your brick purchase may be used to:

•      Honor or memorialize a family member or a beloved pet                 
•      Make a meaningful and long-lasting gift to a fellow animal lover
•      Express your support of our work on behalf of animals in need

For more information or to order, please click here. Remember, there’s no place like home!

We are currently accepting applications for a part time Animal Care Attendant  at our Lahaska shelter for weekends and holidays and for a Full Time Animal Care Attendant (includes some weekend hours) in our Upper Bucks Shelter. These positions will require you to perform kennel work and various office duties. A driver’s license is required. Duties include and are not limited to kennel cleaning, animal handling and responding to after hours emergencies. Office duties include and are not limited to answering phones, admitting animals and screening for adoptions. Customer service skills are a must. Volunteer coordination and outreach experience preferred. For more information please contact the Lahaska shelter at (215)794-7425 or the Upper Bucks shelter (in Quakertown) at 267-347-4674. 

Cali, a bichon frise, was adopted by Ron and Millie Edmond in December of 2009 from BCSPCA.  Cali was 1 of over 100 Commercial Kennel Breeding Dogs that were offered "Safe Haven" after Pennsylvania's new kennel laws had taken effect earlier that year.  Ron and Millie were no strangers to our shelter, they had adopted their miniature poodle, Farrah, a few years before.  When it was discovered by our veterinarian that Cali had multiple mammary tumors, (as did many of the females from the commercial kennel dogs that resided with us), Millie had no fears of adopting her.  Millie is also a breast cancer survivor.