Hearts & Hope on Four Paws: Clinton County’s Heroes on the Frontlines of Animal Rescue
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN— On any given day at the Clinton County SPCA, the phone rings incessantly, kennels echo with barks and meows, and stories of desperation unfold from behind every kennel. For Crissy Lehmann, SPCA Shelter Operations Manager, and Joy Russell, an independent Clinton County-based animal rescuer and owner of Bark Around Town Pet Sitting, these are the rhythms of life—demanding, exhausting, yet immeasurably rewarding. Both of their paths and passions showcase how local animal advocates are making a profound difference for Clinton County’s most vulnerable four-legged citizens.
Both women are Clinton County natives, driven by a lifelong devotion to animals. Crissy Lehmann, who oversees shelter operations at the Clinton County SPCA in Lock Haven, has been an animal lover from early childhood, claiming that she always felt the need to “pet and say hello to every animal” growing up. “I was always drawn to dogs, and during a really rough time in my life over 10 years ago, I needed to get involved in something I enjoyed doing,” she shared. “Being around animals was such a wholesome feeling that I visited the SPCA one random weekday, and it was shortly after that I expressed my interest in learning more.” Today, Lehmann manages nearly every detail when it comes to handling animal intakes, adoptions, abuse investigations, and the shelter’s innovative Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program at the SPCA.
Russell’s journey began over a decade ago when her pet-sitting business brought her face-to-face with animals in desperate need of help. “In 2013, I met a lady from Mill Hall through my pet-sitting business. Her husband had just passed, and she was having a hard time because he had two labs: Tucker, who was blind, and Sammy,” Russell recalled. “She needed to rehome them, or they were going to be euthanized. I told her to let me see what I could do, and I put my first plea out for help. From there, I met some of my rescue friends.”
Thanks to the connections she’d made, Russell was able to find homes for Tucker and Sammy. This experience marked the beginning of her commitment to animal rescue and support, expanding her efforts beyond pet-sitting. Today, Joy’s Bark Around Town Pet Sitting serves Lock Haven, Jersey Shore, Mill Hall, Lamar, and the surrounding communities. The business provides care for pets of all sizes, offers dog walking for busy families, and ensures that pets have safe shelter or receive necessary medical attention if needed when a family is on vacation, among other services.
Both women agree: Clinton County is facing an unprecedented crisis for stray animals, with shelters and rescue networks stretched to their limits.
“Today there is a crisis in the rescue world,” Russell says bluntly. “There are so many animals and no place for them— The county SPCA and the rescues are struggling for space. There is way too much backyard breeding, and we cannot keep up with all the dogs that need help,” she said.
Russell points to several recent situations involving local residents in apartments, where dozens of cats or puppies have been found. In some cases, the animals were mistreated and had never seen a veterinarian. While Russell receives support from the county SPCA, a few friends who assist her with rescues, and a few nonprofit animal organizations, the need continues to outpace available resources. Most local rescues and shelters are already operating at full capacity, leaving an overwhelming number of animals still searching for homes.
Lehmann echoed these challenges and highlighted the condition in which many animals arrive at the county SPCA. “The top challenges are the animals that were neglected or abused, as well as those left ‘unclaimed’,” she said. She described how these animals often arrive at the shelter “in a state of trauma” or “shutting down” from fear and confusion, sometimes even refusing to eat.
“The overcrowding is very overwhelming, with loud noises, unfamiliar smells, and constant surrounding activity [that] can make them shut down even worse, or act out behaviorally,” she explained. Behavioral issues, she emphasized, are a major concern. “The behavioral challenges are key—nine out of the 10 pets surrendered have not been socialized with humans other than in their own homes, where they are often accompanied by other animals. They have never received any type of training or reinforcement, which makes it harder for them to find homes that are suitable for their needs.”
Despite their efforts, both say the need far outpaces available resources—especially when it comes to larger dog breeds and cats. “Pitbulls are always turned away, unfortunately, because there are so many that need homes,” Russell explained. “Cats are extremely sad because there are so many, and again no place to take them.”
Russell shared that she’s facilitated the removal of nearly 70 cats from an apartment building in the Lock Haven area alone. “Our SPCA helped, as well as Hope’s Dream Rescue & Sanctuary, Pets Come First, Monica Bee, Lisa Tesselli, and Christine Hess, but we still have around 23 cats in fosters.”
When asked how they learn about animals in need of rescue, both Lehmann and Russell explained that community members are their main source of information. “It is all through the community contacting me,” Crissy shared. When she isn’t alerted by the public, she manages a mix of SPCA surrenders, unclaimed strays, and animals taken in by local law enforcement as a result of evictions or incarcerations. Russell has also become a well-known contact for those seeking help with animals. “I am always contacted by the community,” she said.
However, rescuing animals often involves dangerous situations. When asked whether they commonly encounter unsafe conditions during rescues, both Lehmann and Russell confirmed that risk is frequently a part of the job. “Absolutely— bites happen, sometimes out of fear and sometimes not,” Lehmann said, describing the hazards of handling frightened animals as well as dealing with frustrated or upset members of the public.
“I have been in a lot of ‘hostile’ situations where I was fearful, like situations involving home evictions when I’m called to take the animals in, as well as arrests,” Lehmann explained. “Members of the community have made many threats about things that are not my fault; we are just here to house, feed, and care for the animals.”
Lehmann expressed gratitude for the support of local law enforcement, noting that on several occasions, she has found herself in situations that “quickly resulted in needing police assistance to stay safe.” For Russell, the dangers she encounters as a local animal rescuer often involve unsanitary conditions. “I’ve encountered filthy living conditions where I’ve had to rescue animals,” she confirmed.
The emotional toll is perhaps even harder for animal rescuers. “From the outside, an animal shelter seems like the happiest place on earth, and many times a day, I hear, ‘I don’t know how you do it’. And to be honest, I don’t really know either,” Lehmann confided. “Yes, there are wagging tails and hopeful eyes waiting for families to arrive, but for those of us who work inside the SPCA, or who volunteer, the reality is far more complicated.”
“Each day begins with uncertainty. A box of abandoned kittens might be the first thing seen at the front door that needs 24/7 care and bottle feeding. A dog may be carried in that day, withering away to just skin and bones. A senior pet may be walking in the door because their owner passed away, and the family didn’t help,” Lehmann continued. “SPCA workers are the first to witness their fear and confusion, and all of these moments stay etched in your mind as an employee or volunteer. The days go by, the heartache continues, you turn the lights off, and you have to go home and pretend like it all didn’t happen.”
Russell, too, feels the weight: “The challenges I face are mostly with people. They are the roadblocks that often arise when working to get an animal safe,” she shared, underscoring that she commonly encounters individuals who are quick to get rid of an animal by any means possible “if the animal is not perfect”, making animal rescues a very emotional experience at times. “For me, that is a huge trigger, and the same applies to anyone else who rescues,” she added.
Because the county lacks a Humane Officer, animal advocates like Russell and Lehmann are required to work closely—and often persistently—with law enforcement. They shared that this role sometimes leads to misunderstandings with the public, who may view their advocacy and rescue work as disruptive. “More often than not, I personally feel that I’m viewed as a troublemaker because I am an animal advocate, and people would rather I not speak up, but that is not who I am; I will always be a voice for the animals,” Russell emphasized.
Lehmann echoed Russell’s sentiments, highlighting the challenges faced by those working in animal welfare. “If there is something I feel so deeply about, it’s that people in the animal industry are looked down on so much because, in others’ eyes and opinions, we ‘don’t do enough’, yet they honestly have no idea exactly how much we are doing,” she explained. “Despite the emotional and physical burnout, we stay because of the moments when we see a once-broken animal begin to heal, learn to trust, and finally find a loving home, which outweighs all the pain. This balance of heartbreak and hope defines life inside an SPCA and makes the work both difficult and meaningful at the same time.”
At their best, both women orchestrate complicated turnarounds for these animals. Each rescued animal gets decompression time—a safe, quiet period to adjust—before medical treatment, behavioral care, and eventually, adoption matchmaking.
“Each animal’s process is different,” Lehmann explained. “Upon arriving, they’re in a decompression timeframe for however long they need so that we can safely interact with and handle them. This can take anywhere from days to months.” In Lehmann’s experience, some animals that have suffered severe neglect or abuse require a decompression timeframe that can last up to a year.
“When they’re ready and we can safely handle them, each dog goes through a thorough vetting process, which includes testing, blood work, examinations, and treatment, and all animals are sterilized and microchipped,” Lehmann explained. From there, each dog is evaluated by a certified animal behaviorist.
Reflecting on her experiences rehabilitating rescue animals, Russell shared, “It’s a process to get the animal healthy; it is expensive in itself, depending on the situation. The animals need decompression time, and then they need to learn about love and gentle touch, which are experiences they haven’t had before.” Over the years, Russell has fostered many dogs, some so traumatized by past abuse that they lived in a state of constant fear. In some cases, the dogs were afraid to even touch grass because they had never been taken outside and exposed to it.
Russell recalls, “For me, watching a dog learn to trust me and progress into acting like a dog, or trapping a feral cat, keeping it, getting it healthy, and then watching the cat begin to trust me little by little over the course of months— that’s what this is all about,” she expressed. “Watching what someone’s gentle touch does for a rescued animal is what my mission is all about.”
Both women collaborate closely with local veterinarians and are increasingly supported by community members. Funding, however, is a constant challenge—Lehmann and the SPCA rely on fundraisers, grants, and donations. She reports that the SPCA requires hundreds of thousands of dollars each year just to stay in operation. Meanwhile, Russell depends on help from fellow animal rescuers, generous supporters, and small rescue organizations, since she is not registered as a non-profit.
Thanks to a recent donation from fellow animal advocate Lesa Knupp Eckert, Russell will soon have a new shed to serve as a temporary safe haven for a limited number of animals in need. “Recently, through my efforts to help cats on Water Street in Lock Haven, I was blessed to meet and speak with Lesa Knupp Eckert through social media, and I believe that she personally understands the struggle of trying to save these animals when there is no place to house them,” Russell shared. “She selflessly wanted to change what she could for the animals because she is a passionate animal lover and advocate. Lesa purchased the beautiful shed in order to create the space that is needed. At this time, I am not a nonprofit organization, but we will see what the future holds. For now, the way I have rescued animals all these years will continue to be the way I do it, except that now, if we get into a dilemma, there will be a place for the animal until a rescue can be found.”
Russell, who is well-versed in the legal requirements of animal rescue and establishing a non-profit organization, emphasized that she cannot keep animals long-term or operate as if she were a registered non-profit. She insists that before officially housing rescues long-term, “everything will be done legally, and the required paperwork will be filed.” The new shed will not be ready for immediate use, as several steps still need to be completed, but preparations are underway. Russell clarified, “At no time will an animal be living in that shed long-term; it will serve as a bridge for the animal until they are safe and rescued.” In the meantime, she expressed heartfelt gratitude for Lesa’s donation: “There are not enough words to express how thankful I am for Lesa’s support and for the shed. I am forever grateful to her.”
So, what keeps these rescuers going, even on the tough days? Russell will tell you the answer is simple: “The animals themselves, because if we don’t, who will?”
Despite the long hours, overwhelm, and heartbreak Lehmann often faces, she shares the same sentiment: “it’s the animals themselves that keep me going. Every small success matters. I may have spent two months just talking to a dog until I get that first tail wag, but the day you get to see them really flourish and leave the building for good, that’s what keeps me going.”
For Lehmann, stories like that of “Legend”—a long-term shelter dog who spent more than three years at the SPCA waiting for a home—are sources of hope and motivation. “Legend was my first long-term shelter dog,” she explained. “For over three years, I watched that dog grow up in an animal shelter. He will forever be imprinted on me and others. He was my ‘shelter soul dog’.” Legend’s impact on Lehmann continues to inspire her; his story serves as a reminder to never give up on an animal and to always hold onto hope that each one will eventually find their forever home.
For dogs like “Bunny”—a pitbull who was found shot and abandoned in the snow but ultimately adopted into a loving home—every hardship faced along the way becomes worthwhile. “‘Bunny’ landed herself in the most selfless, amazing family that could not have been more perfect for her, and for that I am grateful… for that I am happy, because if she is able to experience even a couple years of what real love and tenderness is, I know that for her, it outweighs what was once done to her.”
Russell will always remember Chipper, the black lab she discovered in a cemetery in 2013. He was covered in fleas, starving, and limping from two torn ACLs. With swift intervention, support from community fundraisers, and months of care, Chipper was able to spend eight happy, healthy years in Russell’s home. “My husband and I ended up adopting and keeping Chipper, and we loved him for eight years until he passed away. We never did find out who grossly abused him and allowed him to get to the state that he was in, or how he ever ended up at the cemetery, but for eight years, he knew love,” Russell shared.
Both women emphasize that community support—whether through donations, fostering, adoption, volunteering, or attending fundraising events—is essential to their mission. “Donations are always needed to support the animals. The amount of money spent on saving one animal is astronomical, and if that animal has any illnesses, it’s quadruple that amount,” Russell pointed out.
For those who would like to support their efforts, the Clinton County SPCA invites the community to visit their website at www.clintoncountyspca.org and follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clintonspca for updates, fundraisers, and events. To donate or volunteer, call the SPCA at (570) 748-4756 or email ccspca@comcast.net.
Joy Russell can be reached through her Bark Around Town Pet Sitting website, www.barkaroundtown.org, or by email at barkaroundtown@yahoo.com.
Animal rescue work in Clinton County is not for the faint of heart. As Crissy and Joy’s stories demonstrate, it is a calling defined by hope, heartbreak, and hard-won victories—all driven by the unwavering belief that every animal deserves compassion.
