(McKINNEY, TX); April 2, 2021 — The SPCA of Texas announces that it is closing the Russell H. Perry Animal Care Center and Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic (Perry Campus) in McKinney on April 30, 2021. The future of the building and property is still under consideration. All other SPCA of Texas locations will remain open, their programs and services unchanged, including the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center and Myron K. Martin Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic in Dallas, the Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair in South Dallas and the Ellis County Animal Care Center in Waxahachie, TX. The SPCA of Texas also features adoptable cats at five North Texas-area PetSmart Stores.

The SPCA of Texas merged with the Humane Society of Texas in 1993, providing the organization with a northern branch. In 1997 and 1998, the SPCA of Texas purchased two adjoining properties that make up the now 30-acre lot that would later house the Perry Campus. Construction of the facility began in 2000, and animals were moved in on March 25, 2002.

“The organization completed a facility and operational review of the Perry Campus and determined that with the changing nature of animal sheltering versus pro-active community pet support and cost to repair or replace the facility would not be feasible financially at this time,” said Karen Froehlich, SPCA of Texas President and CEO.

“As the SPCA of Texas considers its organizational future in relation to the community’s needs, we will continue to keep top of mind our array of programs and services that are so critical in helping more vulnerable pets and their people, specifically including caring for animals who come to our shelters with higher behavioral and medical rehabilitation needs, providing animal cruelty investigations in the North Texas area, supporting pet owners who are at risk of having to surrender their pets and providing medical care for underserved communities,” said Froehlich.

Staff will remain at the Perry Campus to care for the animals on site until the facility permanently closes. The dogs, cats and small mammals currently housed on site will continue to be up for adoption until the facility permanently closes, when any remaining will be transferred to the SPCA of Texas’ other locations for continued care and adoption. In the case of equine and livestock, these animals will be housed at the Perry Campus or partner boarding facilities in the coming months until a permanent location is secured. The SPCA of Texas expects that the Perry Campus will be permanently closed by the Summer of this year. As always, the SPCA of Texas does not euthanize animals for time or space, and maintains a more than 95% live release rate.

The SPCA of Texas will also explore options for its continued presence in the Collin County community as it ensures that it will continue to be a resource for the animals and the people who love them across North Texas. Many other entities in the Collin County area will continue to serve animals, including Collin County Animal Services, Allen Animal Services and many others.

The dedicated staff of the Perry Campus will be offered potential other positions within the organization or severance packages and assistance of employment transition support. Once the facility closes, all volunteers will have opportunities to assist in other areas and locations of the organization once safely able to do so based on guidelines from the CDC and local authorities.

The organization is tremendously grateful for the donors, adopters and clients who have supported the Perry Campus over the past 20+ years, and for the facility’s staff members’ and volunteers’ dedication to providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home and to their legacy of lifesaving efforts since the facility officially opened to the public in the Spring of 2002.

FAQs
Why is the SPCA of Texas closing the Perry Campus?
The organization completed a facility and operational review of the Perry Campus and determined that with the changing nature of animal sheltering versus pro-active community pet support and cost to repair or replace the facility would not be feasible financially at this time. As the SPCA of Texas considers its organizational future, we will continue to keep top of mind our array of programs and services that are so critical in helping more vulnerable pets and their people, specifically including caring for animals who come to our shelters with higher behavioral and medical rehabilitation needs, providing animal cruelty investigations in the North Texas area, supporting pet owners who are at risk of having to surrender their pets and providing medical care for underserved communities.

Is the property for sale?
The future of the building and property is still under consideration. The SPCA of Texas will make any further announcements regarding the Perry Campus in the future.

When will the facility permanently close?
April 30, 2021 for dogs, cats and small mammals. In the case of equine and livestock, these animals will be housed at the Perry Campus or partner boarding facilities in the coming months until a permanent location is secured.

What about the SPCA of Texas’ other locations, programs and services? Will they change how they operate?
All other SPCA of Texas locations will remain open, their programs and services unchanged. This includes the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center and Myron K. Martin Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic in Dallas, the Mary Spencer Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic at Village Fair in South Dallas and the Ellis County Animal Care Center in Waxahachie, TX. The SPCA of Texas also features adoptable cats at five North Texas-area PetSmart Stores. After the facility closes, the animals that the SPCA of Texas takes in through our Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit, including livestock, will be housed at either the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center (in the case of dogs, cats and any small mammals) and at partner boarding facilities (in the case of equine and livestock).

What will happen to the animals from the facility after it closes?
Staff will remain at the Perry Campus to care for the animals on site until the facility permanently closes. The dogs, cats and small mammals currently housed on site will continue to be up for adoption until the facility permanently closes, when any remaining will be transferred to the SPCA of Texas’ other locations for continued care and adoption. In the case of equine and livestock, these animals will be housed at the Perry Campus or partner boarding facilities in the coming months until a permanent location is secured. The Perry Campus will be permanently closed by the Summer of this year. As always, the SPCA of Texas does not euthanize animals for time or space, and maintains a more than 95% live release rate.

Will the pets of people who live in Collin County still have access to similar services in the area?
Yes, and the SPCA of Texas will be exploring options for its continued presence in the Collin County community as it ensures that it will continue to be a resource for the animals and the people who love them across North Texas. Many other entities in the Collin County area will continue to serve animals, including Collin County Animal Services, Allen Animal Services and many others.

Will these other groups see a spike in the number of incoming animals as this facility closes?
The SPCA of Texas does not expect that other groups in the area will see an unmanageable increase in demand for services. For the last several years, the Perry Animal Care Center has served as an outlet for rehabilitating and adopting pets rescued from animal cruelty. The organization will remain a community partner across North Texas, with two other shelters to assist pets from across North Texas and continue to take in animals from all across North Texas at the Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center and the Ellis County Animal Care Center via Animal Cruelty Investigations cases, by transferring animals from other organizations and animal care and control facilities and via owner surrender.

When did the facility first open?
The SPCA of Texas merged with the Humane Society of Texas in 1993, providing the organization with a northern branch. In 1997 and 1998, the SPCA of Texas purchased two adjoining properties that make up the now 30-acre lot that would later house the Perry Campus. Construction of the facility began in 2000, and animals were moved in on March 25, 2002.

What about staff and volunteers? What happens to them?
The dedicated staff of the Perry Campus have been offered potential other positions within the organization or severance packages and assistance of employment transition support. Once the facility closes, all volunteers will have opportunities to assist in other areas and locations of the organization once safely able to do so based on guidelines from the CDC and local authorities.

Does the SPCA of Texas plan on opening another facility in the area?
The SPCA of Texas will be exploring other options for its continued presence in the Collin County community as it ensures that it will continue to be a resource for the animals and the people who love them across North Texas. Many other entities in the Collin County area will continue to serve animals, including Collin County Animal Services, Allen Animal Services and many others.