DATE: Saturday, July 19, 1997               TAG: 9707190250

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   24 lines

BEACH SPCA SEEKS DONATIONS TO RECOVER COST OF AIR CONDITIONING

The cooling system that went kaput a few days before the July 4th holiday is fixed now, but the Virginia Beach SPCA is still howling over the bite to its budget.

For three weeks, man and beast were left to their best devices to dodge the dog days of summer. The air conditioning repairman won barks and meows of appreciation when the cool air began to blow again at the Holland Road building.

``We had to get it fixed right away,'' spokeswoman Elisabeth Martingayle said Friday. ``We didn't want them panting their tongues all the way to the floor.''

But the sudden $15,000 repair bill hurt the agency's budget enough that it is still trying to raise money to replace the lost money. So far, the agency has raised $6,000, but it's still seeking more.

``People have been responding very generously,'' Martingayle said. ``But we're always in need of help.'' If you want to join the effort, call 427-0070.

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