PERU — Sadie is a lively young beagle with big, brown eyes and long, floppy ears.

She came to the Elmore SPCA in Peru almost three weeks ago, barely alive and pregnant with four dead puppies.

“We had to spend almost $900 in medical expenses to save her life,” said Kelly Allen, the shelter’s manager, animal-cruelty officer and certified animal behaviorist.

“The vet said Sadie probably wouldn’t be able to walk again … if she even survived.”

Today, Sadie is walking around and doing better, but her hips and legs are still weak.

She was lucky the shelter saved her, but dozens of animals like her will not have that chance if Elmore SPCA does not raise $30,000 by June.

The Peru shelter needs a minimum of $67,000 in 2009 to remain open and continue helping the cats, dogs and other animals of Clinton County.

“After calculating the amount we get from local towns in contract fees, fundraisers and donations, we are still coming up short,” said Inger Joy, the shelter’s treasurer and board member.

“Simply put, annual operating expenses are exceeding the total amount of income from all sources.”

The shelter has served the surrounding communities since 1945; and it has helped more than 20,000 animals in need.

On average, Elmore takes in 400 animals every year. The majority are strays collected by dog-control officers in Plattsburgh, Altona, Dannemora, Peru, Saranac, Schuyler Falls, AuSable and Black Brook.

A large portion of the shelter’s cats and dogs are also owner-surrenders, abuse cases and court-ordered seizures.

“We really need about $110,000 to comfortably take care of all the animals,” said Carol Solari-Ruscoe, the shelter’s secretary and a board member. “Each animal costs about $26 a day. That includes food, medical bills, utilities and additional costs.”

Currently, Elmore has about 100 cats, 30 dogs and even a few horses.

“We are trying to raise the money,” Solari-Ruscoe chuckled as she opened Sadie’s kennel to let the beagle walk around. “It’s not like we are just sitting around waiting for thousands of dollars to fall into our laps.