A Virtual March for the Animals! 

We do it together, just separately.

Once upon a time, in a land far-removed from COVID-19, the SPCA March for the Animals was a leisurely stroll through the Cornell Botanic Gardens led by our March for the Animals chair, our SPCA Board President and all the SPCA supporters, volunteers, staff, and fellow animal lovers followed along with their pets for a paws-itively good time! 

But this year, being the glass half-full (actually glass runneth-over) people we are in the SPCA family, we turn the page to a new chapter for support of the SPCA of Tompkins County, support we deeply rely on to help raise awareness and much-needed funds for the medical care of the 1,800 animals that we take in each and every year.

This year you can show your support for the SPCA by marching in your own neighborhood, proudly wearing your banana-cream-yellow March for the Animals t-shirt and your oh-so-special and highly sought-after SPCA logo mask, handmade right here in socially-distanced Ithaca. 

Our 2020 March for the Animals chairs, Priscilla Hummel and Mike Carroll, (now with baby Lila!) and three- and four-footed family members Pogo, Shadow, and Jack, are charged up and ready to March!   

Longtime SPCA family members, Priscilla and Mike share these thoughts: "We look forward to the March for the Animals every year. It’s so special to see so many animal lovers gathered together in one place and knowing that we are all there to support an organization that does so much good in our community. While we marched last year with Lila in Priscilla’s tummy, we were so excited for her to have her first official March this year. Clearly things are different this year, but we’re so grateful that the SPCA is still holding the March in a new and creative way!"

How will it work in this brave new world?

Fact: The March for the Animals is the most important SPCA fundraiser of the year. 

We rely on the money raised to take care of our animals. You asking your friends for their help to meet your personally-set fundraising goal is what makes the March for the Animals a success each year. 

Don't be shy when asking friends, coworkers and family for support! People love to help animals.

Gifts of any size help, and indeed, add up to support our goal. 

In the last six months we have read so many heart-warming stories on how your pet has helped you weather the COVID crisis, or how adopting a pet allowed you to focus on something happy rather than something scary.  

Many of these adoptions start right here on Hanshaw Road.  Six days a week, we adopt animals--by private appointment--to loving homes.  During this same period last year, we have actually surpassed the number of adoptions from 2019!  We are still operating at full-speed ahead...

When asking your friends and family for a donation, share your story on how much your pets mean to you and why animal shelters are so important in our civilized world. The Scanlon family below are both adopters and long-time kitten fosters for the SPCA.  Funds raised for the March for the Animals make all adoptions possible.

What does my fundraising support?

The same things as always, just needed now more than ever.

ALL of the funds raised help with medical costs and care for SPCA animals. Whether cat, dog, puppy, kitten, ferret, bunny, gerbil, rat, cockatoo, parakeet or guinea pig we provide the medical care they need to find their forever homes. That is just what we are here to do.  Help animals. 365 days and 52 weeks a year.

No matter how many friends you ask, individual participants and adult members of fundraising teams should attempt with all your heart and soul to raise the individual minimum of $100.00 (in addition to your registration fee)  and youth marchers should attempt with all their youthful enthusiasm to raise $50 to really help the SPCA of Tompkins County animals.

We're in!  How do we register?

Click on the REGISTER button at the top to sign up. Your registration fee covers your 2020 March for the Animals t-shirt with environmentally-friendly inks and your uber-fabulous handmade 100% cotton SPCA mask.  We will do socially-distanced pick-ups at the SPCA in late September so you are all ready for October 4!  Remember to take lots of photos and tag the SPCA on Facebook and Instagram with @spcaoftompkinscounty or @SPCAofTC on Twitter and use our hashtag #SPCA2020M4TA. We will be sharing our favorites on the day of the March!

Then, create a team of friends with a fun team name to generate even greater enthusiasm for your fundraising efforts. OR fund raise as your own tour de force! The sky's the limit!

Stay tuned for emails from our SPCA Executive Director, Jim Bouderau

We will be in touch with you by email all throughout September leading up to our virtual March to give you guidance and answer any questions you may have.

In the meantime, mark your calendars for Sunday, October 4 to support the SPCA in your own neighborhood (or any location you desire) when you March for the Animals!

Melissa and Chris say "Start your registration today!"