OUTLOOK 2021: Donation illustrates shelter's everyday needs for food, vet care

Feb. 27—HERMITAGE — With fundraising efforts underway toward a new building for the Shenango Valley Animal Shelter, a local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star helped to meet some of the animals' more immediate needs with a donation.

Presenting the check for $460 was Secretary Beth McCracken Griffin, her husband and Worthy Patron Jim Griffin, and Worthy Matron June Yanak of the Farrell Chapter No. 156, who stopped by the animal shelter at on a recent afternoon to drop off the donation.

Greeting them was shelter Manager Angelia Sherman, who said she was "ecstatic" about the donation, as well as Diamond the pit bull, who Beth said appeared to appreciate the donation as well.

"She looked so happy, and her tail was wagging," Beth said of the dog.

Aside from providing a happy face for the visitors from the Order of the Eastern Star, Diamond also serves as an example of what the funds will go toward.

One of the shelter's "middle-aged seniors" between eight and nine years old, Diamond isn't so good around other pets but great around humans and children, often lying at the shelter staff's feet in the office. Before Diamond can be adopted out to a forever home, Sherman said the dog will need to undergo a second radiograph within the next two weeks.

The test will confirm if Diamond has a torn ligament, which would require surgery. Depending on the extent of the surgery, costs could range from about $500 to $2,000, Sherman said.

"Right now with everything that's going on, anytime anyone's willing to collect and donate money, especially organizations like this where it's not all directly coming out of someone's pocket, it's always very helpful," Sherman said.

Beth said the donation was made as part of an annual practice by the Order of the Eastern Star chapter, whose members would normally come together to make a local donation in lieu of a Christmas exchange during the chapter's December meeting.

For this donation, Beth said the chapter originally planned to donate toward the shelter's new building, but animal shelter Board President Duane Piccirilli recommended putting the donations toward pet food and vet care; $230 will go toward each.

Additional funds to help cover vet costs are always needed because the shelter staff provides animal control services to its member municipalities. Piccirilli said its impossible to predict when an injured or abused animal may come through the doors of the shelter, which runs on a tight budget.

"These vet bills are difficult to budget because they are unexpected but necessary," Piccirilli said. "It is so sad because all they want is to be cared for by someone they could show unconditional love."

Aside from the vet costs, Piccirilli said the donation toward food is also welcome because the shelter is unable to store large amounts of pet food. Sherman added that regular donations of food and money help keep the shelter's animals fed.

With the animal shelter currently supporting 22 cats and 10 dogs, Sherman said cleaning supplies are something that the shelter needs that are only recently starting to appear back on shelves. Particularly, supplies such as disinfectant wipes, laundry detergent and garbage bags are used quite frequently by staff, she said.

"Something that we're always in need of are cleaning supplies, because we try to keep everything sanitized and make sure everything's wiped down, because if we get sick, there's no one to take care of the animals," Sherman said.

Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.