Animal Protective Foundation

History

The shelter was founded by a group of volunteers led by Mrs. Jesse Carpenter and was incorporated as the Animal Protective Foundation of Schenectady, Inc. on August 12, 1931. It was established to provide care and protection to domestic animals and was first operated out of a garage on Balltown Road. Word spread quickly and soon there was too little space for all of the animals in need of help.

This led to the creation of the Foundation’s first shelter, located in the Bellevue area of Schenectady. Within a year the shelter reached maximum capacity and was relocated to a larger facility in Scotia. Again, in response to the community’s growing demand for the care of homeless pets, a third shelter was constructed in 1933 on Fort Hunter Road in Rotterdam. Fire destroyed this shelter and claimed the lives of 44 dogs and cats in January of 1948. Following the tragedy, the Foundation continued to operate by sharing the facility of the Humane Society of Amsterdam for nearly a year.

Frantic efforts took place to rebuild the facility. In July of 1949, after public appeal and several fundraisers, a cornerstone-laying ceremony was held for a new shelter on the old Alplaus Road. This would become the APF’s permanent home. The shelter began operations in December of 1949. The animal population continued to grow and in 1953 and 1955 the APF expanded operations and increased services. An animal ambulance was one method of meeting this growing demand. It was on call 24 hours a day for unwanted, lost, homeless, sick and injured pets. In 1959 the ambulance traveled 15,973 miles and made over 365 emergency calls for sick pets.

In 1981 a building fund was established for the eventual addition and renovation of the aged and outdated shelter. In 1984 that small fund was used to renovate storage into animal care space. During the next few years, incremental steps were taken to improve the facility. But it was not until 1986, as a result of two bequests, that the Foundation was able to seriously consider a major building project.

In 1988 the APF’s board of directors committed to replacing the old shelter with one that would meet the current needs of the animals and create a future of possibilities. After much research and planning, in June of 1993 ground was broken for a state-of-the-art animal care facility. Pledges, grants, savings and loans paid for the $1.3 million facility, thanks to the work of volunteers and numerous kind donors.

The new shelter served as a model for many groups around the state and throughout the nation looking to bring a higher level of care and efficiency to their organizations. Today, this shelter still offers a bright, welcoming setting for human visitors and a clean, healthy and comfortable environment for its residents.

The APF is located at 53 Maple Avenue in Scotia, NY. It shelters stray dogs from several municipalities, including the City of Schenectady, in addition to accepting stray cats and owned cats, dogs and small animals from throughout Schenectady County.

Here is a list of milestones and accomplishments since today’s facility was completed in 1993.

• In 1993 the first “Fireplug 500 Walk for Animals” was held in Central Park. It continues to be the area’s largest walk for animals and the shelter’s biggest annual fundraiser. As an independent nonprofit organization, the APF is funded entirely by donations. 

• In 1996 the APF completed its in-shelter surgical suite, the first in the greater Capital Region. Since that time, the APF has ensured that every pet that leaves the shelter is spayed or neutered.

• In 2001 the Pet Pal Mobile Spay/Neuter clinic was developed to provide subsidized spay/neuter services to economically disadvantaged pet owners and other animal welfare organizations. The clinic operated successfully for just over three years, in that time spaying and neutering over 7,400 animals. The clinic, however, proved to be too costly to sustain. To the disappointment of many, service was discontinued in April 2005.

• In 2002 we established the Pet Guardian Program in partnership with the YWCA of Schenectady. The program provides interim housing and care for pets belonging to women who are in shelter through YWCA’s domestic violence program.

• In 2003 the APF added its “Forget-Me-Not Garden of Reflection.” This beautiful garden provides opportunities for special tributes through engraved bricks for family members, friends and beloved pets, past or present.

• In 2003 the Pet Professor Humane Education Program began. This program features engaging lessons for children of all ages on safety, responsibility and compassion towards animals. The Be Kind to Animals Week Poster and Essay Contest was also established in 2003. Each year hundreds of elementary children participate and an awards reception is held in their honor during Be Kind to Animals week in May. These programs reach upwards of 5,000 young people each year. We are always seeking volunteers with an interest in working with children in order to expand this vital program.

The Animal Protective Foundation also contributes to communities beyond the Capital Region. The APF created funds for pet victims of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and has assisted in the prosecution of those involved in animal cruelty cases. The APF played a major role in a high profile dog fighting case in 2003:

• Much of the underground world of dog fighting was held together by the Sporting Dog Journal and its many subscribers. James Fricchione of Orange County, NY, former publisher of the Sporting Dog Journal, was of particular interest to investigators and was a leader in dog fighting circles. In April of 2003, after nearly two years of investigation, a raid took place. The APF was called upon by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to assist. Ultimately, the APF became caretakers for 13 of the 18 pit bulls taken in the raid and shelter staff provided expert testimony on the condition of the dogs. One year later, in March 2004, Fricchione was convicted of six felonies and five misdemeanors for dog fighting-related activities. Fricchione was sentenced to two-and-a-third to seven years in state prison in April of 2004.
  
  
• In 2005 the APF bid a fond farewell to its Executive Director of 22 years, Gordon Willard, who left to pursue new challenges for the animals. Susan Bobinsky served as Executive Director from April 2005 to February 2007. Rosalie Ault, former Director of Administrative Services, became Executive Director in April 2007.
  
  
• In 2005 the shelter began working with rescue groups in an effort to rehome more pets. Through these partnerships with more than a dozen breed specific groups and shelters hundreds more pets have found forever homes.
  
  
• The APF introduced an in-shelter, low-cost spay/neuter program to replace the mobile clinic in April of 2006. Currently it is a collaborative partnership with five other humane organizations. Through this successful and far more cost-effective program, our veterinary staff now performs more than 70 feline surgeries per week and completed a total of 3,011 surgeries in 2009. Our goal is to build upon this program in order to offer spay/neuter on a much larger scale for the public.
  
  
• In 2008 the APF established a partnership with the Schenectady Inner City Mission (SICM) to provide pet food for their pantry. The mortgage crisis and tough economic times continue to stress pet owners, often leading them to give up their pets. By providing roughly 2,000 lbs. of donated pet food monthly, we are helping struggling families to keep their pets.
  
  
• The APF will celebrate its 80th year of operation in 2011. Through its numerous outreach programs, the shelter provides an ever increasing array of support to the community

The APF has operated continuously since 1931 as an independent nonprofit organization funded by donations. The organization attributes it longevity and success to its many caring supporters and volunteers, without whom the organization could not survive.

Unfortunately, there are periods of time for which there is very little documentation of the shelter’s history. Those with any information or recollections of the first shelters, located on Balltown Road and in the Bellevue area of Schenectady, or on Fort Hunter Road in Rotterdam between 1931 and 1948, are encouraged to contact the shelter at (518) 374-3944, ext. 113.