With kitten season starting soon, Greiner stressed people should make sure female cats are spayed and male cats neutered. The center sells reduced cost vouchers for $50 for a female cat and $40 for a male cat and provides a list of the veterinarians honoring those vouchers for the surgery. The SPCA has vouchers for a male dog at $65 and a female dog at $85.

“There are other organizations that help people with fixed incomes with spaying and neutering such as PA PETS,” she said. “Local vets hold spay days at reduced costs,” she said.

While the Philadelphia headquarters has a staff including veterinarians, the Danville center employs two full-time persons including Greiner and four part-time workers.

Greiner said people should try to find homes for their pets on their own and look at the SPCA as the last resort. People can place “free to good home” ads for free in area newspapers and contact friends, family members, vet hospitals and rescue groups on potential homes.

“This is part of being a responsible pet owner,” she said of the Danville center typically housing 85 to 100 animals daily.

Rodgers said the cost to feed a 40-pound dog per day is $1.20. The cost to feed a cat per day is 30 cents. “That is without factoring in the length of stay, care that has to be given, lights, heat and water,” she said.

While most are cats and dogs, they have had their share of unusual animals such as lizards, snakes, rats, mice and hamsters. The center also has ponies and horses available for adoption. They have housed pigs, goats and chickens in the barn in the past.

Probably the most unique have been a degu, a South American rodent currently in a foster home, and a Savannah Monitor Lizard, recently adopted.

The major reason people cite for bringing their pet to the SPCA is landlord issues, which Greiner said, “Make sure your landlord allows the pet before you get it.”

Next is moving. “They should find a place that allows pets when they move,” she said.

The third reason is behavioral issues. “There are many dog obedience classes held. PetSmart has trainers on hand,” she said. Area kennel clubs hold classes.

If it’s another type of behavior issue, owners should check with their vets first to make sure it isn’t related to a medical problem.

An animal may stay 5 minutes or several months before being adopted from the center.

The SPCA’s partnership with PetSmart, near Selinsgrove, has been successful with a number of SPCA cats adopted from PetSmart. A center employee is available to handle adoptions during the week and volunteers are there on weekends.

The cost to adopt a kitten, 6 months or younger, is $75 and a puppy, 6 months or younger, is $125. Older kittens and cats are $50 and dogs older than 6 months are $75. The fee includes a booster shot, deworming, microchipping, 30 days of pet care insurance, a spay/neuter voucher, a list of vets honoring the surgery, food, a collar and identification tag, pet care information and toys and other supplies if available.