Must Watch TV: SPCA of Westchester in NBC Special Aug. 22

The SPCA of Westchester will be featured in a national television special called “Clear the Shelters” airing on NBC stations across the country.

Here in New York, the segment will run at 7 p.m. August 22nd on WNBC channel 4.

Hosted by the Today Show’s Natalie Morales, the segment will feature the SPCA of Westchester as it rescues and transports puppies and young adult dogs from high kill shelters in North Carolina to its campus in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

The rescued animals are then adopted by loving families in the tri-state area.

Last year, the SPCA found homes for 1,417 dogs and cats, many of whom would have been euthanized due to lack of space in other shelters.

The special will also look back at NBC’s “Clear the Shelters” an adoption initiative that took place on August 15th in which more than 400 animal shelters participated across the country, finding homes for over 18,000 cats and dogs. As part of its participation in “Clear the Shelters”, the SPCA of Westchester has been featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, NBC New York and even brought puppies on the Today Show.

“We are so grateful for the amount of visibility NBC has brought to the ‘Clear the Shelters’ initiative and for advancing our animal welfare mission by leaps and bounds.” said Shannon Laukhuf, the SPCA’s Executive Director. “Millions of viewers learned of the advantages of opening their hearts and homes to shelter animals in need of a second chance.”

Founded in 1883, the SPCA of Westchester is the only animal welfare organization in Westchester County that is mandated by New York State to enforce its animal cruelty laws. The shelter receives no federal, state or county funding.