The Peru Gazette

Allison Monroe brings dogs like Pumpkn to her Casella office.

Plattsburgh, January 11, 2025 –  There were many happy faces at the Elmore SPCA’s Champlain Centre location this morning as Casella Waste Systems kicked off Elmore SPCA’s Capital Campaign with a $10,000 donation. Area Manager Bill Meyers, Shawn Mclean, Hauling Division Manager, and Sean Lukas, Morrisonville Landfill Division Manager, made the presentation. Shawn McLean commented, “Elmore SPCA does great work, and there’s a real need. We’re happy to make this donation.” Casella does more than donate. Two days each week, Casella employees bring two SPCA dogs to Casella’s office for socialization. Shawn McLean said that’s led to four adoptions.

Elmore SPCA’s board president Laurie Parsons said the SPCA had not established the capital campaign’s goal. Architects are at work; the SPCA will announce the goal when the drawings are complete and costs are determined. 

Parsons said the state enacted new animal shelter regulations about three years ago. They cover many areas; however, the required space per animal has the most significant impact. She said, “If we applied the regulations at our Telegraph Road shelter, we’d only be able to accommodate about 4 to 6 dogs.” The shelter historically houses about 25 dogs and even more cats.

Parsons added, “The new regulations sparked our expansion, but many changes are long overdue. We’ll add a 60-foot x 60-foot room at the back of our building. Dogs will be in that room. The space we’re currently using will be for cats and our office.”  The dogs will be much more comfortable in the larger kennels.