LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk | Pet Friendly A New Champion for our Four Legged Friends Story & Photos By Scott Mierop In March of 2013, the 1.6 million dollar, state of the art, Francis Miller Adoption Center (more commonly known as the North Country SPCA) was completed on 18.5 acres just outside of Elizabethtown, New York. The project began five years ago with the purchase of the vacant land, bought at auction. Construction of the 3400 square foot facility began in August of last year and was completely funded from thousands of donations. The building was designed by ARQ Architects, who took on the job to demonstrate that even small, rural animal shelters could be state-of-the-art. It can house 65 cats and 20 dogs, all enjoying ample, natural light, and clean, fresh air through the abundance of windows and the high tech HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. In order to help manage this extraordinary facility and help guide its vision, the NCSPCA board of directors created a new Executive Director position to handle the job. Their choice to fill this important role was a person with a lifelong love of animals, a passion for the non-profit service sector, and a true love for the Adirondacks. Her name is Jessica Hartley. The question on many peoples' minds may revolve around the cost of putting this new shelter into service, and they may even wonder why shelter animals need a building this "state of the art." Jessica is quick and eager to educate and helps us learn that this is no ordinary no-kill shelter; nor does the organization have a short term outlook on the future. Right here, in our own Adirondack back yard, a model for no-kill shelters in rural communities across the United States has opened its doors for business. Jessica and her team, as well as the original benefactors and donors, want to invite other shelter professionals from Maine to California to come visit, and collaborate about how best practices can be developed and put to work. The NCSPCA is breaking new ground in its field of practice and is one of only a handful of small, rural, no-kill shelters coast to coast, built and managed in a way designed to inspire and instigate change. 22 LOCALadk Magazine Summer 2013 Jessica Hartley Jessica began her long journey to the Adirondacks when she was a young girl growing up in California, rescuing feral cats and taking them to be spayed and neutered. She and her family also always had dogs in their home, which fostered her love for animals from a very young age. Jessica was able to continue her passion of caring for animals during her internship at the San Diego Zoo's "Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species". She studied Psychology as an undergrad at Williams College and started working with nonprofit organizations. It was at this point she realized the non-profit service sector of society was her true calling. She'll openly tell you that working in a typical corporate setting is something that just doesn't feel right for her. In 2010 she began working with the NCSPCA as a consultant, and it was then that her relationship with the current board of directors took root. The board worked with an outside organizational consultant, employees of the shelter, and Jessica, to create the Executive Director position, which she began on May 1st of this year. Now that the shelter was ready to open, they wanted a passionate individual

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