News & Press Releases
Humane Society of Berks County Receives Proceeds
from Collection Drive at Hair on the Avenue
 06-18-2010: For several months in early 2010, Dave and Debbie Meas of Hair On The Avenue in Sinking Spring collected goods from the HSBC Wishlist along with cash donations in celebration of their dogs, Sasha and Hanna. Thanks to the generosity of their staff and customers, the HSBC received much-needed cat litter, cleaning supplies and animal food and treats. On June 18th, Dave and Debbie presented the HSBC with two checks totaling $835 (pictured above.)
We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Dave and Debbie as well as the staff and customers of Hair On The Avenue. Hair On The Avenue is a full-service salon and spa located at 3459 Penn Avenue in Sinking Spring. Please consider doing business with the businesses that support the Humane Society of Berks County.
Humane Society of Berks County Announces the First of
Weekly Low-Cost Vaccine Clinics During Summer
06-14-2010: The Humane Society of Berks County (HSBC), the leader in animal welfare, announced that the agency will resume weekly low-cost clinics during the summer months beginning this Friday afternoon at the HSBC’s Lindy Scholar Center at 1801 N 11th St, Reading. Vaccines, including rabies and distemper combinations, identification microchips and deworming will be offered at each clinic.
“We feel this is especially important, given that there is a lot of contagious disease over the course of the summer, especially in the City of Reading,” said Laurel Martin, HSBC Veterinary Practice Manager. “Vaccination of a pet now may avoid significant and expensive medical problems later. For instance, the distemper combination protects against parvovirus, which is highly contagious and often fatal.”
Vaccines will be offered for $20 each, microchips for $10 and deworming for $15, all without regular appointment fees. “Cost is a major factor for some Berks County animal owners right now. There are plenty of great dog and cat owners whose animals aren’t vaccinated – not because the owners don’t want to do so, but because they may not be able to afford it,” said Karel Minor, HSBC Executive Director.
Any dogs being presented for low cost services must have proof of a current Pennsylvania Dog License and will be required to purchase a microchip for their pet if it does not already have
one implanted. “Among the leading causes of death of dogs in Pennsylvania is euthanasia of strays without identification in animal shelters,” Minor said. “When we offer drastically reduced rates for services for dogs, we do have one string attached: we want to ensure that all dogs are licensed and have the best form of ID they can have, a microchip.” Reduced rate services will not be given if microchipping is refused by the owner.
The June 18th clinic begins at noon on Friday and lasts until 4 p.m. Future clinics are scheduled for Friday mornings beginning at 9 a.m. “These clinics are first-come, first-served and we’ll continue to hold them as long as we see a need,” said Minor. “The message we’re trying to send is that there’s no reason why an animal shouldn’t be vaccinated and microchipped. We believe that everyone, regardless of income, deserves a happy and healthy summer with their pet.”
Berks County Representative Thomas Caltagirone
Receives Humane Legislator Award
4-20-10: On Monday, April 19th, 2010, animal advocates from across Pennsylvania gathered at the State Capitol for Humane Lobby Day. Humane Lobby Day, hosted by The Humane Society of the United States, connects citizens with lawmakers to support animal welfare legislation. State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks, accepted the Humane Legislator Award for his leadership on a 2009 bill to require surgical procedures on dogs to be performed by a licensed veterinarian and to prevent puppy mills from performing invasive surgery on dogs without painkillers.
Representative Thomas Caltagirone with HSUS Pennsylvania State Director Sarah Speed (l) and Sen. Roy Afflerbach, Ret. of Humane USA PA PAC.
State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone is accepting the Humane Legislator Award in recognition of his leadership in passing HB 39 in 2009, a bill that prohibits anyone but a licensed veterinarian, under anesthesia, from performing tail docking, surgical birth or debarking on dogs. The bill further cracks down on abusive puppy mills in Pennsylvania by preventing puppy mill operators from performing crude and painful surgeries themselves.
Last year, states across the country enacted 121 new laws for animals. The HSUS works with animal advocates and state legislators to enact laws protecting animals from cruelty, combating animal fighting, halting wildlife abuse and more.
Of course, the HSBC has known for a long time that Representative Caltagirone is a staunch supporter of animal welfare. Click here to read about his 2008 receipt of the coveted HSBC Golden Bone Award.
Humane Society of Berks County Announces
Barkitecture Design Contest to Highlight the
Plight of Perpetually Chained Dogs
03-10-10: The Humane Society of Berks County (HSBC), the leader in animal welfare, announced its first Barkitecture Un-Doghouse Design Contest. Entries are now being accepted in several categories, in amateur and professional divisions. The contest is intended to draw attention to the tragic lives of dogs who are continuously chained in backyards and whose only homes are doghouses. “The Humane Society of Berks County was looking for a novel way to highlight the fact that a doghouse is not a home,” said HSBC Executive Director, Karel Minor. “This contest will show all the great alternate uses that can be found for a doghouse by creating Un-Doghouses—doghouses that can be used for anything but being a functional outdoor doghouse.”....
Click here for full press release...
Press Releases (click on date to read):
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12-20-09 Food distribution Press Release
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12-01-09 Dog Burning Press Release
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11-19-09 Lost Dog Press Release
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10-06-09 K-9 Officer Veterinary Services Press Release
- 09-10-09 Animal Control Prosecution Press Release
- 08-14-09 HSBC Statement on Vick Signing by Eagles
- 04-08-09 Second Cockfighting Bust in 30 Days Press Release
- 03-10-09 Art For Arf's Sake Art Auction Press Release
- 03-10-09 Cockfighting Bust in Berks County Press Release
- 01-06-09 Pet Food Distribution Program Press Release
- 12-19-08 Expanded Low Cost Vet Services Press Release
- 11-20-08 2008 Golden Bone Award Winners Named
- 09-03-08 Burkholder Farm Press Release
- 07-14-08 Cat Mutilation Press Release
- 03-24-08 Animal Control Press Release
- 03-07-08 Pet Loss & Bereavement Expansion Press Release
- 12-21-07 Service and Veterinary Expansion Press Release
- 12-16-07 Berks CART Activation Press Release
- 07-31-07 "Hot Dog Line Alert" Press Release
- 07-31-07 Free To A Great Home Program Press Release
- 06-18-07 Pet Loss and Bereavement Press Release
- 05-25-07 Reading Dog Attack Press Release
- 05-16-07 NJ Wildfire/Disaster Preparedness Press Release
- 05-01-07 Ani-Meals On Wheels Partnership Press Release
- 03-07-07 Joint Statement Endorsing HB 73
- 02-07-07 Pints for Pups Press Release
- 01-26-07 Emergency "Cold-Line" Press Release
- 12-11-06 HSBC and HLLC Partner In Licensing Initiative
- 11-03-06 Pet Owners Pay or Work Program Press Release
- 10-25-06 Proper Identification Press Release
- 09-20-06 Ritual Animal Killing Press Release
- 09-17-06 Cruelty Services Press Release
- 08-16-06 "Free to a Great Home" Press Release
- 07-30-06 "Hot Dog Line" Press Release
- 06-01-06 Rabies Cat Press Release
- 05-25-06 Foot-Trap Cat Press Release
- 04-05-06 Senior Adoption Press Release
- 02-17-06 Stetler Press Release
- 02-11-06 Berks CART Activation Press Release
- 01-31-06 Cordero-Fermin Press Release
- 12-14-05 Cold Weather Press Release
- 12-12-05 Pepper Press Release
- 09-07-05 Katrina Press Release
- 04-14-05 Kitten Press Release
More "In The News" Links (click to read)
Link
HB 39
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