Suffolk SPCA narrowly averts shutdown

The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has found insurance, barely beating a deadline Tuesday that could have forced it to stop investigating animal abuse complaints.

After its previous insurer, the Granite State Insurance Co. of Boston, said it was not renewing the nonprofit organization's policy, the Suffolk SPCA said it would have to shut down if it did not find an insurer or persuade the county to indemnify it before the current policy ran out. Legis. Tom Cilmi (R-Bay Shore), who worked to help the SPCA get insurance, said Granite and others were deterred by a pending suit against the local organization.

Two weeks ago, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy offered to indemnify only SPCA's investigators if they became volunteers directly with the county and if unions affected by the move did not object. But the plan was scuttled when the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association objected, saying the volunteers would have taken on police functions.

SPCA chief and board president Roy Gross said the organization will be insured by the Philadelphia Insurance Cos. Dan Bier, underwriting manager for the nonprofit division, said the company specializes in nonprofits and insures other state SPCA organizations.