The SPCA of Texas stands by loving pet owners when the going gets ruff

Oliver is a 7-year-old Tabby cat who was attacked by another animal and ended up with severe injuries to his tail. Oliver’s human mom treated and wrapped it, but the tail was not healing and needed further medical attention. Her and Oliver had been together since he was only four weeks old and she couldn’t bear that her once sweet and loving cat was now traumatized and hurting. However, she could not afford the $2,000 surgery she was quoted to heal his tail.

Oliver’s mom reached out to the SPCA of Texas and asked if we could help. Through the Russell H. Perry Pet Resource Center (Perry PRC), we quickly connected her to a clinic that offered more affordable prices.  After some communication and a pre-op appointment, Oliver was able to get his tail amputated for one-fourth of the cost and the Perry PRC surprised Oliver’s mom with another gift – they were going to cover the cost of the surgery for her during her difficult time.

The SPCA of Texas believes that all pets should live their best lives in loving homes. The doors of the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center and the Ellis County Animal Care Center open every day to adopters just for that purpose. The Animal Cruelty Investigations team rescues animals from cruelty and abuse, and the shelter and medical staff, as well as the volunteers, work to rehabilitate and find new and loving homes for all the animals in the SPCA of Texas’s care. And none of this would be possible without the support of donors and the community.

Even the best pet owners face financial struggles sometimes. And when those moments come up, the SPCA of Texas is there to help keep pets where they belong – in their loving homes.

“After speaking with the community, you realize how much a program like this is so urgently needed,” said Perry PRC Manager Maggie Mendoza. “With the current economic challenges, pet owners are faced with limited availability of products and services to keep their pets healthy. And there’s where the Perry PRC can step in. I am grateful to be part of such an impactful program. We wouldn’t be able to do this without the support from the SPCA of Texas staff, volunteers and community.”

The move toward caring for animals outside the shelter environment began in 1975, when several board members of the Dallas SPCA (which became the SPCA of Texas in 1990) traveled to San Francisco and returned with the vision of opening a low cost spay and neuter clinic. This vision was realized on November 26 the following year, in a modest space of 620 square feet.

In 1990, funds were allocated for setting up a food bank for pet owners in need, and the program is still thriving today. In addition to food distributed throughout the community in the Perry PRC’s routine operations, the SPCA of Texas also hosts special events for outreach. Last month, more than 135 families received pet food during a drive-through food pantry event!

In 1991, fundraising began to modernize the original spay and neuter clinic, with Mrs. Phoebe Perry, SPCA of Texas board member and wife of Russell H. Perry, contributing the first gift for the project. This time, the goal was to create a state-of-the-art facility – still geared toward providing low-cost services – and the first surgery was performed in the Myron K. Martin Spay/Neuter Clinic on Jan. 5, 1993. The new clinic, named for long-time SPCA of Texas supporter Ms. Martin, expanded the organization’s capacity to partner with people in the community to make the Metroplex a safer and healthier place for pets and their people.

The SPCA of Texas exists because of the community’s support and belief in our mission and work. Together, we will always be looking for new ways to make North Texas – our home – a safer, more humane home for all pets and the people who love them.

You can be a part of this vision with a gift to the SPCA of Texas during North Texas Giving Day. Our birthday is on the same day as this giving extravaganza, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by helping dogs and cats find their fur-ever homes. Mark your calendars to give during #NTxGivingDay from September 1-22.