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On a desk inside one of the cottages at the serene, sprawling sanctuary of Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, a large paw print paints more than just a picture.

The sketch, with the paw print colored blue and green to mirror the globe, represents the purpose of the farm and the belief shared between its core of volunteers: “Saving one animal won’t change the world, but for that animal their world is changed forever.”

The refuge, 30 acres of tranquil farm space nestled in the hills outside of Dallas, has a contrasting feel to that of another area shelter 18 miles away — the Luzerne County SPCA. While its goal is the same and their group of volunteers are no less dedicated, the SPCA is often maligned for its use of a controversial practice its officials regret to have to perform: euthanizing animals.

While Blue Chip Farm, a limited admission shelter, places a cap on the number of animals it takes in, the SPCA doesn’t turn away any displaced, diseased or unwanted cats, dogs or other pets dropped off at its doorstep.

Limited space triggered by negligence and overpopulation, SPCA officials explained, is at the root of the organization’s use of euthanasia.

But where the two shelters differ, both work together toward the same end: finding a home for forlorn pets and educating the public on reducing overpopulation.

<strong>Euthanasia conflict</strong>

The cages and kennels at the Luzerne County SPCA in Plains Township — many stacked on top of one another to conserve space — house nearly 5,000 animals annually, according to Peggy Nork, director of development.

At one time, the shelter holds as many as 260 animals. Most of those animals are cats, which can reproduce much younger, faster and more often than dogs, Nork said. As the stray population rises, and as the SPCA maintains its open admission status, the unfortunate decision to euthanize animals must be made, Nork said.

“We try our best not to euthanize for space,” she explained, adding that contagious disease, temperament and animals that are feral, overly aggressive or in dire physical condition are considered first. Animals selected for euthanasia are given an anesthetic before a painless injection, she said.

Blue Chip, meanwhile, does not euthanize animals. But its limited access status means it takes in far less animals than the SPCA.

“They have a very hard job,” Marge Bart, owner and founder of Blue Chip said of the SPCA. “At some point, they have to euthanize for lack of space or whatever they have to do, and that’s tough.”

While the decisions are difficult to make, Nork believes they could be reduced.

“The number one reason why shelters exist is overpopulation,” she said. “If everybody spayed and neutered their animals, it would reduce the unwanted litter of animals.”

<strong>Ongoing fiscal issues</strong>

Like abandoned pets, expenses at the SPCA are in no short supply.

Each year, the shelter spends $100,000 in medical fees, $50,000 in building utilities, and $30,000 in vaccines, flea and tick medicines. The SPCA, which employees two full-time humane officers among its 22 paid staff members, also pays $7,000 per year in fuel for the officers’ vehicles.

Food, cat litter and other medical bills to rehabilitate strays are also among costs borne by the shelter.

While both the number of incoming pets and the cost of expenses increase, help is dwindling.

The independent, nonprofit shelter’s $1.2 million operating budget is dependent solely on private donations, Nork said, while debunking misconceptions the SPCA receives funding from community organizations, the county, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

“We’re on our own,” Nork said.

Another misconception about the SPCA, Nork explained, is that it is required to accept all animals. Nork said that isn’t a rule, it’s a choice.

“We could become a limited admission shelter tomorrow if we wanted to but we choose to be an open shelter,” she said. “Where would the animals go if we weren’t?”

While significantly less than the SPCA’s expenses, Blue Chip Farm’s $250,000 budget is just as imposing for Bart, who founded the refuge in 1996. In addition to cats and dogs, the refuge has also been a shelter for horses, rabbits and pigs.

The refuge in 2014 found homes for 470 animals and this year has already surpassed that total.

Bart said she, too, has seen expenses and donations trending in opposite directions, but credits a core of “gracious donors” who have kept Blue Chip afloat.

Nork and Bart credited the other for working together to achieve the same goal.

“It’s important for our community to support any animal welfare organization because we all need to work hand in hand to deal with the overpopulation issue,” Bart said.

<strong>‘It’s just a passion’</strong>

A little over five years ago, Sharon Korba was working with mentally challenged individuals.

The Exeter woman said she liked working with people who need others to be good to them and it wasn’t long after retiring she found herself again looking to help those in need.

“It’s just a passion,” she said. “So I wanted to come here and work with the cats.”

Korba now volunteers between three and four days per week at the SPCA, cleaning cages, brushing cats and attempting to find them a home.

In her first few weeks as volunteer, Korba said she struggled with the euthanasia issue.

“Here, we do have to deal with euthanasia,” she said, adding the practice was “definitely” on the decrease at the shelter. “But it’s because we take in what other places that are ‘no kill’ can’t take in.”

Over time, Korba reconciled to herself the fact there are too many homeless cats in Luzerne County.

“We need every kind of shelter there is,” she said.
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip02.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">A litter of puppies at Blue Chip Farm Animal Shelter takes its afternoon siesta.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip02.jpgA litter of puppies at Blue Chip Farm Animal Shelter takes its afternoon siesta. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters2.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">One of the many stray cats at the Luzerne County SPCA in Plains Township available for adoption.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters2.jpgOne of the many stray cats at the Luzerne County SPCA in Plains Township available for adoption. Clark Van Orden | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters1.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">A stray dog in one of the kennels at the Luzerne County SPCA in Plains Township.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters1.jpgA stray dog in one of the kennels at the Luzerne County SPCA in Plains Township. Clark Van Orden | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters4.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">One of the cat rooms at the Luzerne County SPCA in Plains Township.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters4.jpgOne of the cat rooms at the Luzerne County SPCA in Plains Township. Clark Van Orden | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters3.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Peggy Nork, director of development at the Luzerne County SPCA.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_TTL092015shelters3.jpgPeggy Nork, director of development at the Luzerne County SPCA. Clark Van Orden | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip01.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Blue Chip Farm volunteer Jen Reese takes Gucci for a walk.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip01.jpgBlue Chip Farm volunteer Jen Reese takes Gucci for a walk. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip04.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Blue Chip Farm volunteer Jeff Zaykowski holds a puppy earlier this week at the farm.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip04.jpgBlue Chip Farm volunteer Jeff Zaykowski holds a puppy earlier this week at the farm. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader</div>
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<img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip03.jpg" alt="" />
<div class="neCaption">Blue Chip Farm owner Marge Bart.</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/web1_bluechip03.jpgBlue Chip Farm owner Marge Bart. Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader</div>
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<div class="metaInfo">Overpopulation, education an issue</div>
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By Joe Dolinsky

jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com

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<strong>Animals adopted in 2014:</strong>

SPCA: 1,287

Blue Chip Farm: 470

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Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL

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Despite differences on euthanasia, Luzerne County animal shelters working together toward similar goal