Spca

This winter, Nancy Salus is passing out fliers, asking her Severna Park neighbors to donate clean and gently used towels and blankets for a kind of shelter that sometimes gets overlooked. Her donations help provide nesting material for the 4,500 homeless animals that pass through the doors of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Anne Arundel County each year. "Animals give us so much," said Salus, who adopted two dogs from the SPCA in October. "We get back so much more than they ask. They only want to be with us and want to love us."

Humans had their hands full at Sunday's 18th annual March for the Animals in Druid Hill Park. Adam Mittadam, 30, of Canton, held fast to the leashes of six French bulldogs - Mango, Kiwi, Coconut, Scooter, Vespa and Moped - all wearing colorful capes for the occasion on a nippy spring morning. "Oh my God, they're the cutest things," said Catherine Roberts, 27, also of Canton, stopping to take a photo with her cell phone. Mercy Hospital anesthesiologist Katie Amundson of Annapolis, who weighs 103 pounds, held on for dear life to her Newfoundlands - Simon, 125 pounds, and Maggie, 100 pounds.

ANNAPOLIS resident Galen Irving-Sachs has raised money for the Anne Arundel County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals through its largest annual fund-raising event, the Walk for the Animals, for six of the event's 11 years. For the past two years, he has been the event's top fund-raiser, collecting nearly $3,500 last year and more than $4,000 in this year's event, which was held May 19. It's quite an accomplishment for anyone, but phenomenal for Galen, who is just 10 years old. When he was 4, Galen saw a sign for the event and decided he wanted to participate.

Despite the General Assembly's failure last week to pass pit bull legislation, there are still ways Maryland voters and animal lovers can show their support for this and similar breeds, which are being turned in at Maryland animal shelters in increasing numbers ("Pit bull compromise fails, trial lawyers win," April 10). On April 21, the Maryland SPCA will host its annual March for the Animals, the organization's biggest fundraiser of the year. All donations go directly to provide care, shelter, food and medical care for the animals in the group's adoption center, which last year placed more than 3,000 pets in loving homes.

The Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has received $2,500 in donations for a dog that was severely injured after being set on fire during the weekend, officials said yesterday. The largest donation was $500, said Aileen Gabbey, the society's executive director. The dog, a mixed breed that is about a year old, suffered burns over 50 percent of its body. The animal, whose condition has stabilized, is being treated at the Animal Emergency Center in Timonium. The SPCA has been paying medical expenses.

In 1869, Baltimore businessman William Woodward, shocked by the mistreatment he witnessed of workhorses in Baltimore City, persuaded 50 friends to help him form a society that would protest such treatment and protect all animals from abuse. The organization, named the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Baltimore City, continues today, fulfilling its mission of protecting animals from mistreatment. All photos on this page are from the SPCA Archives.Within the next week, please send old photos of couples dressed alike to Way Back When, Sun Magazine, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, Md. 21278.

The SPCA of Anne Arundel County wants help paying for a facility it falsely claims is unique in this area.The nonprofit Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is seeking government grants, corporate gifts and private donations -- in addition to selling bricks in a memorial pathway for $150 each -- to help repay $200,000 it borrowed to finance its new Oiled Wildlife Rescue Facility."

The Anne Arundel County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is offering a $500 reward for help in finding the sole witness to a suspected puppy strangulation.Delores Guy, 63, saw her son-in-law, police Officer Robert J. Hanlon, 32, of the first block of Hoyle Lane in Severna Park, throttle a family puppy and toss it into a trash can Oct. 25, 1997, according to charging documents. Hanlon later told his wife, Teresa, that the dog's barking annoyed him. The two women took the dead dog to the Eastern District police station.

During a phone-a-thon in the 1980s, Mary Jane Carder promised to bequeath something to the Anne Arundel County SPCA in her will. With no further information about the woman, her name became nothing but a whisper passed down through succeeding board members. But Carder proved true to her word, leaving at her death three years ago a record $1 million donation to the local chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to care for the animals she loved so much during her life.

The self-described "reform" party wants to wrest control, saying that some officeholders' style of governing keeps too many people in the dark. Those in power dismiss the challengers' complaints, arguing that they're a disgruntled minority. Throw in charges of a tainted election, calls for term limits and accusations of over-the-line campaign tactics, and it may all sound like hardball national politics. But the power struggle is playing out at the Anne Arundel County chapter of the SPCA - hampering, some advocates say, the organization's efforts to protect animals.

Sadly, the Maryland SPCA receives pets that are surrendered by neighbors of people who have passed away, because no one has made plans for the animals ahead of time. No pet lover wants to think of their dog, cat, bird, or other animal being put up for adoption, so the SPCA is hosting a seminar to help owners make plans for pets who may outlive them. The seminar will be held Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m., and again Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. at the SPCA's administrative office, 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore.

You and your dog are cordially invited to a happy hour Friday, Feb. 22, in downtown Baltimore to party with and help the Maryland SPCA, and the pets are guaranteed to have as much fun as the people. The March for the Animals Kick-Off Party for people and their dogs will be held Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Downtown Dog Resort & Spa, complete with beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks, pizza, an off-leash play area, and an indoor pool party just for the canines -- all for $10 in advance or $15 at the door with a suggested donation of $3 for drinks.

Keep your pet happy during the holidays, Maryland SPCA experts say, by following some basic tips when it comes to holiday feasting: *Let them eat turkey: Only give pets well cooked and boneless portions of the bird though. *Don't let them overdo it: Too much feasting can upset pets' stomachs or lead to pancreatitis. *Skip the herbs: Sage and other herbs can also upset pets' stomachs and even cause central nervous system depression. *Instead of offering pets people food, give them Nylabones or chew bones.

Black kittens -- victims maybe of the silly idea that black cats are unlucky -- are the least likely color of cat to be adopted, and right now the MD SPCA has many of them that need homes. Get yourself a lucky black kitty through Tuesday, Nov. 6, and pay just $50, half of the regular adoption fee. Your kitty will be neutered, tattooed for identification and be up to date on vaccines and other health-care issues. Not up for a new family member? Help homeless animals at the SPCA by bidding on their silent auction items through Monday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. Auction items include Ravens tickets, vacations, pet items and more -- you can even have your own pets featured on the cover of their 2013 calendar!

Start shopping and help homeless pets at the same time. That's the idea behind the Maryland SPCA's annual Shop-a-Paw-Looza, which started Friday, Oct. 5, and runs through Tuesday, Oct. 30. Last year, the adoption program raised $40,000 through the online auction.  So what can you get? A vacation in Mexico, a football signed by the Ravens' Joe Flacco, tickets to "The Daily Show," wine tastings, cupcakes, dog beds (pictured here) and animal acupuncture treatments are just a few of the items you can bid on. To place a bid, go here .  Also, if you want to donate items, the Maryland SPCA will be accepting goods and services throughout the month.

The folks at the Maryland SPCA are at it again, thinking up another fun, new event to support homeless dogs and cats. Pyrates for Pups will be Friday, Sept. 21, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Baltimore's Swann Park. On the docket: A fleet of food trucks, Heavy Seas beer, live music from Hanover Blue and, of course, adorable pets you can adopt. Bring your dog for off-leash play at the nearby Downtown Dog Resort & Spa if you'd like. Free admission. Concession charages go to help the MD SPCA.

The self-described "reform" party wants to wrest control, saying that some officeholders' style of governing keeps too many people in the dark. Those in power dismiss the challengers' complaints, arguing that they're a disgruntled minority. Throw in charges of a tainted election, calls for term limits and accusations of over-the-line campaign tactics, and it may all sound like hardball national politics. But the power struggle is actually playing out at the Anne Arundel County chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - hampering, some say, the organization's efforts to protect animals.

Dogs that dream of jumping through hoops, eating garlic meatballs, crossing a finish line to the Rocky theme or even wearing a tutu are in luck. On Sunday, the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is throwing its 10th March for the Animals, which transforms the parking lot on the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus into a show for dogs. The afternoon event offers pet lovers some exercise for a good cause, games, a costume and pet trick contest, an agility course, shopping and the chance to win prizes, all alongside their canine friends.

The second annual "Putt for Pets" Golf Tournament to support the Maryland SPCA, sponsored by Atlantic Remodeling Corporation, will be on Friday at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Joppa. "We have supported the Maryland SPCA for many years as a sponsor of the March for the Animals and with our own golf tournament. Being able to adopt a pet has a real and positive impact on people's lives. Making pet adoptions easier is our way on giving back to the community," Bert Lebhar, president of Atlantic Remodeling, said in a press release.

It's time for summer's second MD SPCA Wine & Wag Happy Hour!  What: Beer, wine, muncies and tours of the adoption center PLUS activities for dogs, such as bobbing for hot dogs and paw painting. When: Friday, July 13 from 5:30 p.m.  to 7:30 p.m. Where: 3300 Falls Road in Hampden. Cost: $10 per person in advance and $15 at the MD SPCA gate. Dogs are free. Go to the Maryland SPCA website for more information. Proceeds benefit the non-profit, of course, so you'll be having fun and helping less fortunate creatures.