OLEAN – The SPCA of Cattaraugus County has just closed their holiday store, Pawtique in the Olean Center Mall. It was a shop of a wide variety of items with all sales benefiting the animal shelter. Sheryl Anderson, a volunteer at SPCA had donated many items to the store. One in particular was a framed art piece towering height of 4’x5’ – it hung in the Anderson’s daughter’s bedroom for years. This item just wouldn’t sell. Sheryl, a huge Buffalo Bills fan as well as an avid painter/crafter, decided to create a Bills painted art piece.
Sheryl connected with the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss ways of selling this item. A silent auction was the best route. It was placed on the Chamber’s Facebook site right before Christmas with it ending (the auction) on New Year’s Eve. Many bids were turned in such as a bid for $34 in honor of Bills Thurman Thomas. However, the winning bid that came in and was accepted was $251 from Ray and Jeanne Diffenderfer.
Jeanne and Ray Diffenderfer, Olean residents, are big Buffalo Bills fans AND huge supporters of the SPCA – so it was a double win for all! The funds donated from the Diffenderfers will to go towards the SPCA medical funds. Although the physical store has closed, their online store (https://spcapawtique.com/) continues to sell items with pick up options for purchases. GOACC also has some Buffalo Bills spirit items from the SPCA to sell at its office on North Union Street.
Jason Berube, SPCA Shelter manager stated, “We thank all of our volunteers at the Pawtique and all you customers who continue to support the shelter. Sheryl and Galvin (Sheryl’s husband) are our jack of all trades volunteers – Galvin did the carpentry work on the Bills piece with Sheryl doing the draw/paint of it.”
The SPCA has several ways that community folks can help: fostering – take animals into your home and provide them with nurturing and a comfy home until they get adopted; volunteering – anything from dog walking, facility cleaning, painting, grooming, etc.; donating – donations and fundraisers account for approximately 70% of their yearly income. For more information on the SPCA, please call Jason at 716-372-8492 or Sheryl at 716-244-1809. The SPCA In Cattaraugus County, is a private, non-profit, no-kill charity animal shelter, and was founded In 1905. They are dedicated to saving the lives of animals, and providing adoption services for homeless and neglected animals.