When they broke it down, Carol said, they found it costs $26 per animal per day at the Elmore SPCA.

"We really rely on the generosity of the North Country. Some people are really, really generous and caring about animals."

Without that, animals like Tony the pit bull, Clover the rabbit or Cuddles the hamster may not have the care they need.

They even have a cockatiel named Elmo who shrieks, "Let me out!" and perches on Carol's shoulder.

The shelter is also home to some 60 cats and kittens, a number Carol attributes to owners unable or unwilling to spay or neuter their pets.

"It's not like New York doesn't have a program," she said.

Many can apply for vouchers that will cover the majority of the neutering costs.

And dogs fill the shelter too, with most of them coming in as strays, she said.

"For those of us who really love animals it's hard to understand."

But sending the animals to better homes is always rewarding, she said.

The adoption process is extensive, with the board examining the adopter's lifestyle and personality, discovering whether he or she rents or owns and if they've had pets before. They even contact previous vets to confirm that the owner kept the pets up-to-date on vaccines.

The process is one that seems effective.

"The rate of return is practically zero," Carol said. "You take time, you're going to be rewarded."

mbesaw@pressrepubican.com