Water woes close Quakertown SPCA shelter, impact Lahaska shelter

Pipes burst due to freezing temperatures at the Bucks County SPCA’s Quakertown shelter Christmas weekend, causing major damage and forcing its closure.
On Monday, staff and volunteers sprang into action to transport 81 animals to the safety of the SPCA’s Lahaska shelter and to foster homes.
Adding to the animal welfare agency’s woes, staff awoke to a new challenge on Wednesday: no running water at its Lahaska due to broken water pump. Linda Reider, the Bucks SPCA’s executive director, said its “resilient team” was using jugs of water to clean and fill water bowls for all the animals.
On Thursday afternoon, SPCA spokeswoman Cindy Kelly said, “I am happy to report that our water pump at Lahaska was repaired and we now have water again. No status update on when repairs will be finished at Quakertown.
“Our Lahaska shelter is bustling with adopters and friends of the shelter delivering donations. We are very busy and grateful for it. “
Earlier Rieder said, “We don’t know ... how long it will take to complete the repairs at Quakertown. But we will keep working hard to give each cat, dog, guinea pig, rabbit – and all the animals – the attention and care they deserve.”
The Quakertown shelter suffered major water damage, especially in the clinic areas and will remain closed for repairs until further notice.

Reider said animal lovers can help the SPCA overcome these “unpredictable challenges” by:
• Adopting a pet from Lahaska or encouraging others to adopt (36 of the recently rescued 76 cats and kittens have already been adopted);
• Donating clean towels (no sheets or bedding, the SPCA are currently overstocked with those);
• Making a donation through the BCSPCA website, social media pages, or by calling 215-794-7425;
• Donating supplies from the SPCA’s wish lists to the Lahaska shelter (do not ship to or drop off at Quakertown). Especially needed is Tidy Cat Non-Clumping Litter.
“Every Chewy box of supplies, each bag of donated towels, donations of every size – they all add up to make a difference in the lives of the 191 animals in our care today. Thank you for doing what you can,” Reider said.
The Lahaska Shelter business hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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