United Medical & Brandywine SPCA: Showing the Humanity in Humane Animal Treatment
Brandywine SPCA was founded in 1929 as Chester County SPCA. In 2014, Adam Lamb took over as CEO, and Chester County SPCA became Brandywine SPCA in 2016. Brandywine SPCA services West Chester, PA, and began servicing the entire state of Delaware in 2015. They have locations in New Castle and Dover as well as 2 locations in Georgetown. Their mission is to put the “human” back in humane animal treatment and to advocate for the welfare and well-being of animals. According to Chief Advancement Officer Tanner Polce, Brandywine SPCA has grown rapidly in the past 5-7 years and one of the biggest reasons for recent growth is United Medical’s CEO Kemal Erkan.
Kemal is the newest member of the advisory board at Brandywine SPCA, but Polce said that he has hit the ground running in his first couple of months on the board. “He instantly asked how can I help and how can I get involved,” said Polce, “He is constantly emailing and calling.” Polce believes that his background in human health is really beneficial to his understanding of the impacts of owning a dog on someone’s mental and physical health. “Kemal is an animal owner and lover,” said Polce, “He understands the therapeutic benefits of coming home and seeing his dog every day.” Kemal has a 13-year-old golden doodle named Buddy who is a big part of his life.
Brandywine SPCA is currently in the middle of their New Castle campus capital campaign. The campaign is raising money for a 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art shelter and animal health center. It will be the first shelter-based ICU in the state of Delaware. The shelter would increase the quality of animal care in communities as it would offer a more affordable option for advanced treatment. The goal of the campaign is to raise $4.6 million before their future 2021 opening date. Kemal has been a “champion of the campaign” and has been a major donor through “generous financial donations.” “Kemal embraced this challenge and delivered on a promise on frankly writing a personal check and then moreover working to further the mission that we have,” said Polce.
Kemal has also advanced the way that the SPCA reaches their communities and has used his connections to further relationships and partnerships within the SPCA. “He is innovative and it really helps to connect dots that would previously have not been able to be connected,” said Polce. Polce went on to say that Kemal wants to amplify the SPCA’s voice and that he is always trying to move the organization’s priorities forward. “Kemal is a real testament to a person that the SPCA really appreciates getting involved with,” said Polce, “I’m excited to have him and his involvement for a long time coming and it’s going to be a great partnership.”
As for the science behind the connection between pets and owners, the person benefits greatly. The AKC & CDC have listed a collection of benefits, both mentally & physically of having a dog to rely on during a time of need. As of now, the AKC lists that:
● Dogs make us feel less alone
● Dogs are good for your heart
● Dogs help you stop stressing out
● Dogs help us cope with crisis
● Dogs encourage you to move
● Dogs make you more attractive—even virtually
● Dogs make us more social
● Dogs are so adorable they make us love them
● Dogs make us happier
● Dogs help seniors with cognitive function and social interaction
As for the CDC, studies have shown a plethora of benefits for physical health when having a pet. By developing a bond with an animal, your fitness level, mental health, and amount of stress decrease. Below is the exact list provided by the CDC:
● Decreased blood pressure
● Decreased cholesterol levels
● Decreased triglyceride levels
● Decreased feelings of loneliness
● Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
● Increased opportunities for socialization
Ultimately, the benefits of having a pet outweigh the cost. Obviously, there is an actual cost involved in regards to buying your pet, its food, general maintenance including checkups and costs for shots and neutering/spaying your pet. But the long-term physical & mental health benefits will surely provide more to your life than take away. If you’re looking to add a pet into your life, visit the Brandywine Valley SPCA website https://bvspca.org/ to learn more about helping the cause!
Citations:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health-benefits/index.html
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog/