Shop The SPOT, Save Spot: Calvert County Thrift Store Helping to Stop Pet Overpopulation

Story by Jamie Clark Tiralla and Photography by Ed Mann

If you are looking for some retail therapy you can feel good about, The SPOT in St. Leonard is the place to go. The SPOT, short for Stop Pet Overpopulation Thrift-shop, is a nonprofit organization that provides low-cost spay and neuter services for Calvert County residents. Run by Southern Maryland Spay and Neuter, Inc. (SMSN), the goals of the organization are to prevent unwanted pets and end the euthanasia of healthy companion animals.

SMSN and The SPOT were founded by Ellen McCormack, along with her mother, Mary Keeler, and sister Fabienne Ament. McCormack remembers having a yard sale to pay for the initial rent at The SPOT’s first location in the Chesapeake Marketplace. “I thought no one would bring anything – that it would just be us and a few items from our homes – but we were flooded with donations and an outpouring of interest.”

The SPOT soon grew from one room at the Marketplace to two, then three, eventually outgrowing the space entirely. That’s when it moved to the former St. Leonard Post Office building. Now even that space is near capacity. The thrift store features two levels full of treasures. When you enter the shop, you will immediately find housewares of all kinds, from vintage dishes and stemware to modern cookware, lamps, collectibles and decorative items. The shop also has a small library of books, a jewelry counter and a room dedicated to children’s books and toys. Another room showcases small furniture, paintings and some electronics.

The basement of the store is filled wall to wall with clothing, which is the store’s most popular item, both in terms of donations and purchases. Volunteer Christy Baker says when people visit the basement for the first time, “they are truly amazed. We have everything, even name brands and new items with the tags still on them.” The SPOT has women’s and men’s clothing, shoes and accessories. There is also an extensive children and teens department with popular name brands, along with plus-sized clothing, formal wear, sleepwear and scrubs.

All of the proceeds from The SPOT go to a spay/neuter fund. For every $60 in profit, one cat can be spayed or neutered. The store relies on the generosity of veterinarians in Calvert County, who provide low-cost services to SMSN and allow the organization to keep a monthly account. There are no background checks or paperwork for people who need to use the fund. McCormack says, “The only thing a person needs to do is ask.” Those who access the fund must prove they are Calvert County residents, however.

Another way SMSN is helping with pet overpopulation is through adoption. The pet rescue program is managed by Ament and full-time volunteer Janice Page. Animals are fostered by the organization’s volunteers and available for adoption at the Prince Frederick PETCO on Saturdays. Page says that in the first three months of 2011, 12 cats and 12 dogs were adopted through SMSN. 

The SPOT enjoys a loyal following, with shoppers who visit daily so as not to miss out on the good deals. Donations pour into the store throughout the week, but Saturdays are the busiest because people drop off unsold items from yard sales. “The job is very labor intensive,” says McCormack. “We get everything from antiques to dirty socks. We save everything we can for the store. What we can’t sell gets recycled; very few items are thrown away.” And she promises to get the most value possible out of each donation. “We aren’t frivolous with donations; we try to get every penny we can while giving good deals to the shoppers.” ✦

The SPOT is located at 4860 St. Leonard Rd. (formerly the St. Leonard Post Office) in St. Leonard. The store is open Wed. through Sat. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. from noon to 5 p.m. Donations are accepted Wed. through Sat.; The SPOT does not accept mattresses, baby furniture or car seats, large furniture, or stained or broken items. For more information and to see pets available for adoption, visit www.spayspot.org.