Hope has been restored to the Lycoming County SPCA to help pets and pet owners around the community thanks to a benefactor’s offer to match up to $20,000 in donations.

Back on Jan. 2, the SPCA announced on their Facebook page, “Unfortunately, the Lycoming County SPCA was not granted the funds that have historically enabled the spay/neuter voucher program, so we are unable to offer this program in the 2025 year.”

Members of the pet rescue group were “deeply saddened as we know how needed and appreciated this program is by our community.”

This program has proven important to Lycoming County owners for “helping low- and moderate-income pet owners care for their animals and control the local pet population.”

Joel Harris, county SPCA development director, explained the decision to no longer provide low cost spay and neutering for cats and dogs “wasn’t an easy one.” Last year, he said, the shelter helped 419 dogs and cats in the county. With funding cut, there was fear of seeing an increase in kittens and puppies that would need care.

Yet, according to a statement released on Jan. 10, “In response to recent concerns about the Lycoming County SPCA’s capacity to provide low-cost spay/neuter vouchers, a generous donor has come forward to rally the community behind this critical program.”

Harris confirmed that Pamela (Hershberger) Jensen pledged to match community donations, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000 to restore funding for the SPCA’s spay/neuter.

With donations and Jensen’s matching funds, the shelter could see a total of $40,000 for the program.

“When Pam came to us, we felt like hope was restored,” Harris said.

Jensen explained she offered this to honor the “memory of her late mother, Joyce Simpson Hershberger, [who was] a respected community leader and longstanding animal welfare advocate.”

Jensen added, “My mom would be delighted to help fill this need. She was always ready to serve her community, stepping up to lead dozens of organizations, often under challenging circumstances.”

Though her mother has been gone, her contributions to the county still live on.

“She is greatly missed by her family and by this community. I want to honor her memory with this donation, and I hope others who love animals and understand the SPCA’s vital role in Lycoming County will join me in supporting this worthy cause,” Jensen said.

Harris agreed. He said that he did not work with Jensen’s mother, but she earned the reputation of someone who was “very much focused on animals. She did her best to make sure the animals were cared for and the organization doing what it needed to accomplish its mission.”

Other SPCA employees said, “Together, the community can help bridge the funding gap and honor the legacy of Joyce Simpson Hershberger. Undoubtedly, her dedication to animal welfare will remain a source of inspiration for many years to come.”

With Jensen agreeing to match every dollar, up to $20,000, to keep the low cost spay/neuter moving forward, the local SPCA has urged “the community to take advantage of this matching opportunity to ensure the spay/neuter program’s continued success.”

The Lycoming County SPCA has urged “the community to take advantage of this matching opportunity to ensure the spay/neuter program’s continued success.”

Checks can be made to “SPCA, Jean Marie White S/N” and mailed to the SPCA at 2805 Reach Road, Williamsport, PA 17701, or follow the QR code.