SPCA Westchester takes in record-breaking number of animals in one day

The SPCA Westchester says all 33 animals are getting the care they need, and some are already in foster homes.

Julia Rosier

Aug 9, 2025, 2:25 AM

Updated 6 hr ago

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Thursday was a record-breaking day for the SPCA Westchester.
"We saw 33 animals come in a six-hour window," says Lisa Bonanno, director of development at the SPCA Westchester.
The 33 local animals were a mix of dogs and cats from all over Westchester County.
"Yesterday was heartbreaking,” says Bonanno.
The SPCA Westchester says the animals included a litter of pit bull puppies that were surrendered to its Humane Law Enforcement Unit and cats that were left in a dumpster in Somers inside a duct-taped box.
"Luckily, someone heard them and that happened in Somers, so our Humane Law Enforcement will be looking into that, because that's obviously animal cruelty," says Bonanno.
Somers residents say it’s disturbing to hear this.
"That box, it was it's heartbreaking to see that," says resident Sue Barbato. "It's concerning, but it's not a surprise," says resident Jerry Whitmore.
The SPCA also took in multiple abandoned and stray dogs and cats on Thursday.
The SPCA says the summertime is when they take in the most animals.
"They're usually pretty rough anyway. There's a lot of kittens being born for whatever reason and there's abandonment," says Bonanno.
The SPCA Westchester says all 33 of the animals are getting the care they need and some already are in foster homes.
"We always need fosters. That is like one of our lifelines to helping all of these animals," says Bonanno.
The SPCA will be investigating the cats found in the dumpster and the dogs that were abandoned. Anyone with information is asked to contact them.