'We Try Very Hard to Save Lives'

Beaver County 2021 WPIAL football preseason rankings SPORTS, 1B THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021 | ELLWOODCITYLEDGER.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK ‘We try very hard Visibility is a priority to save lives’ with growth Hispanic, Latino population continue to rise locally Nicholas Vercilla Ellwood City Ledger USA TODAY NETWORK Hispanic and Latino Americans launch businesses at higher rates than any other ethnic group in the country, with Latinas starting 50% of every new job, according to Stanford University. Only 2% of nonprofit dollars go to Hispanic businesses and organizations, though, and these groups are least likely to complete higher education or re- ceive startup funding. The number of Hispanic and Latinos in Beaver, Lawrence and Allegheny counties are soaring com- pared to a decade ago, according to 2020 United States Census Bureau data. Community leaders are stressing the importance of economic access and visibility as the region, and country, becomes more diverse. Pennsylvania’s overall population rose by more than 300,300 since 2010, with Hispanic/Latino com- munities representing the largest increase. State- wide, this demographic rose by 45.8% from the previous decade, adding 329,955 people. Beaver County’s Hispanic population grew to 3,611 people – an 80.7% increase. Lawrence and Allegheny counties grew by 77.7% and 80%, respectively. Melanie Marie Boyer, executive director for the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said it’s vital, more than ever, to elevate business and educational opportunities for Hispan- ics in the Pittsburgh region. Educating the public on their invaluable community contributions, too, is an This year, the Beaver County Humane Society saw a 90% average save rate for its dogs and cats. ongoing priority. DANBRANDENBURG / ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES “These Latinos are making positive strides in the areas of all lives,” Boyer said. Many have come to America for better opportuni- Beaver County Humane Society save rate of 90% or higher — like the Beaver County ties, she said, including employment, political stabil- Humane Society. In 2020, an estimated 34.74% of ity or rebuilding after a natural disaster. tops statewide save rate for pets state shelters measured above the 90% bench- Boyer said the amount of Hispanic/Latino-owned mark. businesses in the area has “exploded” in the past 10 Dani Fitzgerald The county humane society’s policy is clear: an- years. No matter where in Pittsburgh you go, she said, Beaver County Times imals are only euthanized if they’re deemed non- USA TODAY NETWORK adoptable. Animals considered non-adoptable are See GROWTH, Page 3A either severely ill or highly aggressive. Community Pets brought much-needed comfort to many members can also have their pets euthanized at during the pandemic — especially at the height of the shelter if they cannot afford a private veteri- lockdown. narian. Although many shelters had to partially close “We do not euthanize adoptable animals due to during the COVID-19 crisis, the state’s save rate for lack of space or length of stay,” Salyards said. Mark your calendars shelter cats and dogs in 2020 inched a little higher Take Birdie for example. She’s a two-year-old than the previous year. tan and white Beagle and Labrador Retriever mix. Ricardo Kaulessar According to Best Friends Animal Society, a She’s been at the Beaver County Humane Society NorthJersey.com nonprofit animal welfare organization, last year since May 2020. USA TODAY NETWORK – NEW JERSEY 83,515 dogs and cats entered Pennsylvania shel- Birdie is feral, meaning she was never socialized ters, and 68,776 were saved, giving the state an ag- with humans before coming to the humane soci- Summer 2021 finally saw the adoption of June- gregate save rate of 82.35%. ety. She lived in a shed with other dogs and had teenth as a national holiday, bringing to 12 the num- Beaver County’s live release rate, or save rate, is minimal exposure to humans. ber of permanent federal holidays. Its advocates had a little above the state average. “We’ve been working with her and we’re com- pushed for decades for a national holiday that would This year, the Beaver County Humane Society mitted to finding her a home,” Salyards said. “We’re recognize the day in 1865 when enslaved people in saw a 90% average save rate for its dogs and cats. not giving up on her.” Texas became the last in the U.S. to find out they were “We try very hard to save lives,” said Susan Sa- The humane society sees an average of 30 to 40 free. lyards, executive director of the Beaver County adoptions per week. Partnerships with other local Yet advocates have long sought federal recogni- Humane Society. “That’s our mission and goal.” rescue groups is a large reason for the shelter’s tion of two other observances: Election Day and In- high save rates. digenous Peoples Day. Are there really “no-kill” shelters? “If we have a dog that is a specific breed, we will Indigenous Peoples Day is a local and state holiday give it to that breed-specific rescue,” Salyards said. in some parts of the country — usually held on Co- While many shelters are touted as “no-kill” fa- That relationship works both ways. If one shel- lumbus Day — thatcelebrates the cultures of Native cilities, there’s more to it than that. ter or rescue group doesn’t have space, they might Americans. It was created in 1992, the 500th anniver- “All shelters euthanize animals. That’s a big send that animal to the humane society, and sary of explorer Christopher Columbus’ coming to misconception,” Salyards said. the Americas. Shelters are considered “no-kill” if they have a See PETS, Page 5A Election Day has been proposed as a national holiday at least since 2005 to increase voter turnout in a country with low voter participation. Pushes for both moved to the forefront in 2020 in The county humane society’s policy is clear: animals are only euthanized if the wake of heightened calls for social justice and in- creased accessibility to voting. Like the path to June- they’re deemed non-adoptable. Animals considered non-adoptable are teenth, the drive for these days to become nation- either severely ill or highly aggressive. Community members can also have wide holidays has been anything but a picnic. Now that Juneteenth is on the books, what’s the their pets euthanized at the shelter if they cannot afford a private likelihood that Election Day and Indigenous Peoples veterinarian. See HOLIDAYS, Page 2A Spotting signs Volume 101 | No. 170 Subscribe: 855-303-2660 Afghanistan: US to prioritize evacuations from Kabul until final hours. How to talk about aging, make News Tips: 724-758-5573 ©2021 $1.00 YDDCEJ-00010q 12A decisions on needs, care. 9A 2A| THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 2021| ELLWOOD CITY LEDGER Holidays Continued from Page 1A Day, both occurring in the fall, could be added to calendars nationwide? A look at the road to reality for other holidays tied to representation may provide clues. Getting on the calendar By now, the story of Opal Lee as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” is well- known. The 94-year-old Fort Worth, Texas, resident has for decades championed the day that had been celebrated in her home state for over 150 years. On June 19, 1865, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Gran- ger arrived in Galveston to give enslaved Black people the news that their owners never told them: President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier. The years that followed saw June- teenth celebrations across Texas, which later spread across the South and to var- ious other areas in the U.S. Lee helped organize many of them in the Fort Worth area, some of which involved doing 2.5- 1 mile walks in tribute to the 2 ⁄2 years it took for slaves to get the information about their freedom. But then in 2016, she pushed further to make this day a national holiday, with Cynthia Rasbury of Teaneck wears a themed mask as she waits to vote at Bryant Elementary School in Teaneck, N.J. last a 1,400-mile walk from her home to the November. Proponents of making Election Day a national holiday point to the extra time citizens would have to cast their White House. Five years later, Lee was ballots. TARIQ ZEHAWI/NORTHJERSEY.COM front and center when President Joe Bi- den signed the bill on June 17. The long path to federal recognition mont and Wisconsin — and Washing- wa Indians. have reached that mountaintop we will of Juneteenth follows in line with some ton, D.C., as well as more than 130 cities Payment cited as hope the height- make a renewed push to finally make other holidays receiving that eventual observe Indigenous Peoples Day in- ened awareness of Native American is- Election Day a federal holiday,” Pascrell status. stead of or along with Columbus Day. sues through social justice movements said. Years before Biden picked up a pen in Indigenous Peoples Day has been brought about by Black Lives Matter Saladin Ambar, an associate profes- the White House to make Juneteenth a celebrated by Native Americans and and the police killing of George Floyd, sor at Rutgers University and the Eagle- federal holiday, then-President Ronald their allies to counter the honoring of a and efforts to remove Indian mascots ton Center on the American Governor, Reagan did the same on Nov. 2, 1983, man who critics charge ushered in ex- from sports teams. doesn’t see Election Day following Ju- when he signed the bill to mark the ploitation and enslavement.

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