Paws Up For Mental Health Event Held In SUB

Two of SUNY New Paltz’s Greek Life organizations, Alpha Phi Delta (APD) and Sigma Delta Tau (SDT), came together to raise funds for the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (UCSPCA). On Oct. 2 the fraternity and sorority hosted their Paws Up for Mental Health event inviting the UCSPCA to bring some of the kittens up for adoption to campus. Students were then given a chance to play with the kittens for a $5 donation at the door. 

In the fall of 2023, APD hosted this event for the first time and now aims for it to be a biannual event each semester. Christian Parascandola, third-year communications major and APD brother, played a large role in organizing the event this year. “We essentially just reached out to the shelter, and we had an idea of charging an entrance fee to make sure all profits go to the shelter,” said Parascandola. Previously, they had a free entry but accepted any and all donations. One of their main goals at both this year’s and last year’s events has been to sign people up as volunteers for the UCSPCA.

Another goal of theirs is to benefit the campus by providing this stress-relieving event and raising awareness around mental health. “As students, we’re mid-semester already. It’s a very stressful time,” Parascandola said. “It’s important to just take some time off, pet some cute kittens and just have a fun time and relax.”

The UCSPCA is a private, nonprofit organization located in Kingston, New York that operates as a no-kill shelter. This means no animal in their care will ever be euthanized due to lack of space or lack of adoption interest. Their mission is to prevent animal cruelty and to find adoptive homes for animals. According to their mission statement, they aim to do so by “conducting cruelty investigations, eliminating the crisis of homeless animals by providing low-cost spay/neuter services for cats and by spaying or neutering all animals offered for adoption; providing humane education and by working to improve laws to end animal cruelty.”

The shelter is largely able to operate with the help of their volunteer staff. One volunteer, Dorraine Scofield, aided in running the event on campus. “On the volunteer application, you can pick your areas of interest. Whatever the need is what I like to do,” she said. “When you volunteer that’s a cool thing too, because if you’re allergic to animals, you can still volunteer in another way, mowing lawns, fixing roofs or whatever it is. Donating is always a welcome thing. There’s always certain things that are needed like paper plates, cleaning supplies, towels, old blankets and sheets.” 

All of the kittens brought to the event were up for adoption or fostering. For both, there is an application process where the applicant will be vetted by the shelter and deemed fit or not to take on a pet. For an adoption, they would then go ahead and make an appointment with the potential adopter to come meet the animals they’re interested in. 

There is an adoption fee based on the type of animal. Kittens have a $145 fee, which pays for the care provided by the shelter prior to their adoption and ensures they can continue to provide care for other animals. However, for the month of October the UCSPCA is partnering with the BISSELL Pet Foundation for Empty the Shelters. All adoption fees for adult cats are $25 and adult dogs are $50. 

At the end of the kittens’ visit to New Paltz, the fraternity and sorority raised over $480 for the UCSPCA. “It’s a fantastic event. We’re doing amazing things for the shelter, and we hope to continue having a fantastic relationship with them,” said Parascandola said. “Sigma Delta Tau and Alpha Phi Delta, we care about philanthropy. We care about serving our community and caring about our school.”