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Thursday, January 21, 1999 Page: 11A
PLAINS TWP.- Workers at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals of Luzerne County were in better spirits Wednesday because a popular
fund-raising auction will probably go on.
Shelter Development Director Ed Gross said Rainbow Auctions in Swoyersville
has agreed to continue holding an auction that raises $5,000 to $6,000 a year
for the animal shelter.
Auctioneer Marva O’Gorman announced earlier this week that she would cancel
the auction, which she has held in May for two years.
Rose Marie Wateski of Rainbow Auctions in Swoyersville said several people
urged her to be auctioneer for the SPCA.
“People were very disappointed the auction was being canceled,” Wateski
said. “I want to help because animals can be your best friend.”
O’Gorman said she would stop holding the auctions because she believes the
shelter charges too much to adopt pets and money at the shelter might not be
carefully spent. Shelter officials said O’Gorman was bitter because they did
not move her name up on a waiting list to adopt a purebred cocker spaniel.
Gross said he received at least 20 phone calls from people willing to
volunteer to hold the auction or some other fund-raiser.
“There’s a silver lining on our cloud. The valley with a heart has really
come through,” Gross said.
O’Gorman said she also has been receiving phone calls with complaints about
the shelter. She said she still loves animals and has no grudge against the
shelter because she did not get a cocker spaniel.