SPCA of Niagara holds emergency meeting

WHEATFIELD, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Niagara County SPCA is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon. This comes as public anger boils over about animal abuse allegations.

During Wednesday night's Wheatfield Town Board meeting, angry protesters made their voices heard over the animal abuse allegations from the Niagara SPCA and demanding the town sever their ties with the organization.

The Wheatfield Town Board was not planning to talk about the SPCA, but the overwhelming outcry could not be ignored.

Wheatfield resident Leanne Powers said, “We had to beg and beg that board in order to even hear us, and want to have the option of pulling any type of care from the SPCA temporarily.”

Town Supervisor Robert Cliffe suggested suspending its $15,000 yearly payment to the SPCA.

Cliffe said, “Until we find out, get assurances from them that they are indeed doing their part of the contract, and that they're meeting the obligations to the people of Niagara County.”

But that was not enough for the town residents, who wanted to make sure no more stray dogs or cats from Wheatfield would be picked up by the SPCA.

By the end of the meeting, the board agreed to temporarily suspend Wheatfield's contract with the SPCA and reinstated its own animal control officer.

Wheatfield Animal Control Officer Craig Schultz said, “What we're going to do now is, I'm going to take over the dog duties and cat duties in the town. We're going to talk to the Town of Lewiston to cover me. of course, I can't be available 24/7, see if we can set something up, shared services, for now, until the investigation has taken place.”