The Chester County SPCA has been contracted by the Delaware’s Office of Animal Welfare, to take over enforcement of animal control for the state at the start of next year, to house animals which are caught or rescued and brought in by Delaware’s animal control officers.

“The CCSPCA has a solid reputation for delivering progressive and innovative programs to rehabilitate and rehome stray and abused animals,” said director of the OAW, Hetti Brown.

“The organization also prevents animal homelessness through pet owner counseling and the delivery of compassionate resources. This is the key to ensuring every healthy and treatable animal has a home in Delaware.”

The contract that the OAW has signed with the CCSPCA is a three-year agreement with the possibility of a two year extension that will amount to a total of $6,514,500.

With this contract, the CCSPCA will continue the temporary operations it has been performing in Delaware since September, when it took over animal care and emergency services for the city of Wilmington and Kent County.

This situation was caused after poorly designed legislative changes caused the sudden and unexpected exit by the First State Animal Center and SPCA.

Brown also noted that CCSPCA services will be provided at a permanent facility which is located in New Castle County, as well as in satellite facilities in Kent and Sussex Counties, as a way to ensure that animals from Delaware stay in the state for care and adoption.

“It was a condition of the request for proposals that any bidder needed to provide conveniently located shelters and kennels so people could be reunited with their pets,” she stated.

“We are a proud partner of the Office of Animal Welfare in the collective goal of aiding the most vulnerable animals in Delaware,” said Adam Lamb, the Chester County SCPA’s Executive Director.

“We are also excited to continue to be part of a community so dedicated to the advancement of animal welfare.”