Briarcliff Manor, NY - New York State Senator Pete Harckham announced today that SPCA Westchester has purchased a new emergency response vehicle and vital medical equipment thanks to a $100,000 grant that he secured. 

"This grant is an investment in compassion, health, and community,” Harckham said. “SPCA Westchester plays an essential role in protecting vulnerable animals and ensuring they receive the medical care and safe shelter they deserve. I’m proud to support their extraordinary work with the resources needed to continue saving animals’ lives.”

The funding enabled the SPCA to purchase a 2025 Ford Escape to enhance its animal protection patrols, as well as to buy other vital equipment designed to support the SPCA Westchester’s mission to provide lifesaving medical care and compassionate shelter for 5,000 homeless, abused, and abandoned animals a year.

Shannon Laukhuf, CEO of SPCA Westchester said: “Thanks to Senator Harckham's advocacy, the SPCA is now better equipped to meet our commitment to protecting and caring for Westchester’s animals. As the County’s sole Humane Law Enforcement Unit, our new vehicle will enable officers to swiftly respond to calls of potential cruelty, ensuring animals are removed from harm’s way and their abusers arrested. Further, this generous grant made it possible for us to purchase state-of-the-art medical suites and caging, giving our rescue animals a healthier and more enriching space as they recover from surgery and await adoption.”

The SPCA Westchester is one of the oldest humane societies in the country and the only organization operating a low-cost public veterinary clinic in Westchester County. 

In addition to the new vehicle, the grant helped fund the construction of 15 serenity suites, the purchase of a surgical/exam lift table, a cautery machine, SurgiVet monitor with EKG and a Tono-Pen Tonometer. The grant also helped pay for a project to build 16 outdoor dog kennels to provide safe, enriching daytime environments for dogs awaiting adoption.

SPCA Westchester is a No-Kill Animal Rescue Center and an independent organization (not affiliated with the ASPCA). It never euthanizes animals except in cases of terminal illness, extreme aggression, or inability to maintain a reasonable quality of life. All adoptable animals are cared for until a permanent, loving home is found—no matter how long it takes.

The grant was funded through the New York State Local Community Assistance Program (LOCAP), which is designed to assist non-profit organizations. Since taking office in 2019, Harckham has delivered $35 million in grant funding for towns, cities, villages, and non-profit organizations in Senate District 40.