Reservation Required Policy

By mandate of the SPCA of Texas' board of directors, we do not euthanize animals for lack of space. Due to limited resources, the SPCA of Texas is not able to take in unlimited animals. We are a Reservation Required shelter and requires payment of a set surrender fee at the time of relinquishment.

Additionally, the SPCA of Texas does not take in stray animals for surrender in an effort to increase the likelihood of a stray being reunited with their owner. Instead, people finding a stray animal will be directed to the animal control agency closest to where the animal was found. We're asking the community to be a partner in the process of finding new homes for animals.

The decision to not euthanize animals for lack of space was enacted in 2006 to take the SPCA of Texas into the 21st century as a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge animal shelter while remaining more intensely focused on its core mission, to provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home.

Finding homes for and keeping animals in homes is of the utmost importance to us. Furthermore, we will never euthanize an animal for lack of space.

Animals will be taken in by reservation only, based on available space, which will be made on a first come, first served basis. Calls to make reservations for the surrender of an animal will be answered starting at 9 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The phone number to make a reservation is 214.742.SPCA (7722).

Reservations will be seen between Tuesday and Saturday from Noon and 5 p.m. Each reservation will be scheduled 30 minutes apart so that all animals under six months can be assessed with health evaluations and all animals six months and older can be assessed with health and behavior evaluations while the owner waits.

Upon completion of the evaluation(s), notification will be given whether or not the animal will be eligible to be placed in the SPCA of Texas’ adoption program. After they are fully briefed on the evaluation outcome, each person will be given a final option to leave the animal with the SPCA of Texas or take it with them.

Due to limited resources, the SPCA of Texas requires payment of a reservation fee at the time the reservation is made and a set surrender fee at the time of relinquishment.

The SPCA of Texas will never euthanize for lack of space and never turn an animal away because of their looks, age, breed or non-contagious treatable health condition based upon available space and SPCA of Texas policies. Furthermore, if an injured animal is brought in that the SPCA of Texas is unable to assist, it will be humanely euthanized if the person who brings in that animal so chooses and the SPCA of Texas concurs. We do not take in strays, which in turn means we no longer take in injured strays.

Upon surrender, SPCA of Texas staff will conduct a health assessment and administer the S.A.F.E.R. test (Safety Assessment for Evaluation Re-homing)—a standardized behavior assessment tool that gives shelters a consistent, accurate way of measuring temperament in dogs—and inform the person who brought the animal in of their options.

Due to limited resources, the SPCA of Texas requires payment of a set reservation fee at the time of reservation and a surrender fee at the time of relinquishment.  The following fees are required of persons wanting to surrender an animal or animals:

Reservation Fees:

The non-refundable reservation fee is due at the time the reservation is made. We are able to accept reservations via telephone made by credit card.

We are unable to accept reservations via cash or check over the phone, so all reservations made via check or cash must take place at either the Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney or the Dealey Animal Care Center in Dallas.

Non-refundable Reservation Fees (which holds an appointment space for an animal surrender reservation). 

• $20.00 per dog, cat, puppy or kitten.
• $20.00 per litter of 3 or more (12 weeks of age or younger).
• $50.00 for owner requested euthanasia for individual dogs, cats, puppies or kittens when an owner requests the service at the time the reservation is made.
• $30.00 for owner requested euthanasia for individual small mammals and fowl when an owner requests the service at the time the reservation is made.
• There is no reservation fee for animals other than cats or dogs.
• This fee is to be considered non-refundable regardless of the length of consultation by the admitting department or the outcome of the animal’s evaluation.

Surrender Fees:

The following fees are required of persons wanting to surrender an animal or animals:

• Fee is waived for individual dogs/puppies or per litter (3 or more under the age of 12 weeks)
• Fee is waived for cat/kitten or per litter (3 or more under the age of 12 weeks)
• $10.00 per small animal (small mammals, fowl)
• $40.00 per small livestock (pigs, goats, sheep)
• $50.00 per large livestock (horses, cows, donkeys)
• $30.00 for owner requested euthanasia when an owner opts to have an animal euthanized after the animal does not pass the evaluation (if the SPCA of Texas concurs)
• $10.00 for animals deceased on arrival.

The SPCA of Texas will waive the surrender fee on a litter (3 or more) of puppies or kittens 12 weeks and under if the owner has the mother of the litter spayed at an SPCA of Texas Clinic.

The SPCA of Texas will not require a reservation but does require a surrender fee of $30.00 be paid for owner requested euthanasias (if the SPCA of Texas concurs).

The SPCA of Texas will not require a reservation or surrender fee on animals that fall into one of the circumstances listed below:

• Adoption returns
• Animals admitted under R&I compliance
• A stray SPCA of Texas alumni 

If an animal is deemed not adoptable at the time of their reservation, the person who brought the animal in is given the following options: to keep the pet and/or to take the animal to a veterinarian for treatment, to seek placement at a local animal shelter or rescue group or owner requested euthanasia (if the SPCA of Texas concurs). A surrender fee of $30.00 will be required for owner requested euthanasias.

Additionally, animals who are brought to the SPCA of Texas through the organization’s Rescue and Investigations department will remain separate from the regular intake of owner surrender animals, not affecting the number of spaces available to owner surrendered animals each day. 

The Reservation Required system allows the SPCA of Texas to do more for the animals waiting for homes in our shelters. We are able to pursue our mission statement with a renewed purpose and drive, and, as always, to make a difference, one animal at a time.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the SPCA of Texas a Reservation Required shelter?

By mandate of the SPCA of Texas’ board of directors, the SPCA of Texas does not euthanize animals for lack of space. Due to limited resources, the SPCA of Texas is not able to take in unlimited animals, is a Reservation Required shelter and requires payment of a set surrender fee at the time of relinquishment.

The SPCA of Texas does not take in stray animals for surrender in an effort to increase the likelihood of a stray being reunited with their owner. Instead, people finding a stray animal will be directed to the animal control agency closest to where the animal was found. The SPCA of Texas is asking the community to be a partner in the process of finding new homes for animals.

How does the Reservation Required process work?

From a resource standpoint, we are unable to take in an unlimited numbers of animals and not euthanize for space. Therefore, in order to surrender an animal to the SPCA of Texas, a reservation and surrender fee is required. 

Animals will be taken in by reservation only, based on available space, which will be made on a first come, first served basis. Calls to make reservations for the surrender of an animal will be answered starting at 9 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The phone number to make a reservation is 214.742.SPCA (7722).

Reservations will be seen between Tuesday and Saturday from Noon and 5 p.m. Each reservation will be scheduled 30 minutes apart so that all animals under six months can be assessed with health evaluations and all animals six months and older can be assessed with health and behavior evaluations while the owner waits.

Upon completion of the evaluation(s), notification will be given whether or not the animal will be eligible to be placed in the SPCA of Texas’ adoption program. After they are fully briefed on the evaluation outcome, each person will be given a final option to leave the animal with the SPCA of Texas or take it with them.

Due to limited resources, the SPCA of Texas requires payment of a reservation fee at the time the reservation is made and a set surrender fee at the time of relinquishment.

Reservation Fees:

The non-refundable reservation fee is due at the time the reservation is made. We are able to accept reservations via telephone made by credit card.

We are unable to accept reservations via cash or check over the phone, so all reservations made via check or cash must take place at either the Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney or the Dealey Animal Care Center in Dallas.

Non-refundable Reservation Fees (which holds an appointment space for an animal surrender reservation). 

• $30.00 per dog, cat, puppy or kitten.
• $30.00 per litter of 3 or more (12 weeks of age or younger).
• There is no reservation fee for animals other than cats or dogs.
• This fee is to be considered non-refundable regardless of the length of consultation by the admitting department or the outcome of the animal’s evaluation.

Surrender Fees:

The following fees are required of persons wanting to surrender an animal or animals:

• $20.00 per dog individual dogs/puppies or per litter (3 or more under the age of 12 weeks)
• $10.00 per cat/kitten or per litter (3 or more under the age of 12 weeks)
• $10.00 per small animal (small mammals, fowl)
• $40.00 per small livestock (pigs, goats, sheep)
• $50.00 per large livestock (horses, cows, donkeys)
• $30.00 for owner requested euthanasia. This means that regardless of whether an animal is coming in for the purpose of being humanely euthanized or an owner opts to have an animal euthanized after the animal does not pass the evaluation (if the SPCA of Texas concurs), no additional fee will be charged beyond the original $30.00 paid at the time the reservation was made.
• $10.00 for animals deceased on arrival.

The SPCA of Texas will waive the surrender fee on a litter (3 or more) of puppies or kittens 12 weeks and under if the owner has the mother of the litter spayed at an SPCA of Texas Clinic.

The SPCA of Texas will not require a reservation but does require a surrender fee of $30.00 be paid for owner requested euthanasias (if the SPCA of Texas concurs).

The SPCA of Texas will not require a reservation or surrender fee on animals that fall into one of the circumstances listed below:

• Adoption returns
• Animals admitted under R&I compliance
• A stray SPCA of Texas alumni 

What are the benefits of this process?

There will be less euthanasia, however the option will still be available for those animals that do not pass the health and/or temperament evaluations or for those animals that are injured or too sick to be treated. 

Once a reservation is secured, an animal will not be turned away because of looks, age, breed or non-contagious, treatable health conditions based upon available treatment space and SPCA of Texas policies. The only factors that determine whether an animal is adoptable are the results of the health and behavior evaluations.

More animals will be treated for minor health issues. All animals with treatable conditions will always be treated under veterinary supervision until the animal is healthy or the condition is no longer treatable.

With more decision-making directed towards people bringing in their animals, there is hope of more pet ownership responsibility and less surrenders.

Why do you require a non-refundable reservation fee and a surrender fee?

The SPCA of Texas requires a fee at the time of making a reservation to surrender animals and at the time of the surrender of animals because of limited resources. We want to ensure the best care for all of the animals in our shelters and these fees will help us provide the care and support all of our animals need.

The reservation and surrender fees help us cover the costs of housing and caring for each animal, including spays/neuters, vaccinations, food, care and more. We are asking the community to partner with us to help animals in the Metroplex. These fees help us provide the care and support all of our animals need. We want to encourage the community to help us help the animals of the Metroplex. This fee is a way the community can help us help more animals.

Is there any time a surrender fee is not required?

The SPCA of Texas will not require a reservation or surrender fee on animals that fall into one of the circumstances listed below:

• Adoption returns
• Animals admitted under R&I compliance
• A stray SPCA of Texas alumni

How is it determined which animals are considered adoptable?

Upon surrender, each dog will go though a health evaluation and our S.A.F.E.R. (Safety Assessment For Evaluation Re-homing) dog behavior evaluation program. The S.A.F.E.R. test focuses on learned behaviors, sensitivities and problem solving. This test provides shelter staff with the ability to evaluate a dog’s behavior accurately and efficiently. 

A cat’s behavior will be evaluated based on its temperament shown during the intake procedures and the health evaluation. 

What happens when an animal is deemed un-adoptable?

If an animal is deemed not adoptable at the time of their reservation, the person who brought the animal in is given the following options: to keep the pet and/or to take the animal to a veterinarian for treatment, to seek placement at a local animal shelter or rescue group or owner requested euthanasia (if the SPCA of Texas concurs). A surrender fee of $30.00 will be required for owner requested euthanasias.

Does the SPCA of Texas take in stray animals?

The SPCA of Texas does not take in stray animals for surrender in an effort to increase the likelihood of a stray being reunited with their owner. Instead, people finding a stray animal will be directed to the animal control agency closest to where the animal was found.  

Will there be space for Rescue and Investigations animals?

Animals that are brought to the SPCA of Texas through the organization’s Rescue and Investigations department will remain separate from the regular intake of owner-surrendered animals, not affecting the number of spaces available to owner-surrendered animals each day. These animals will be given the same evaluations as any other animal that comes through the system in order to determine whether or not they are adoptable.

Will the SPCA of Texas be working in conjunction with Animal Control?

We work closely with animal control agencies in the surrounding areas through the transfer of animals to the SPCA of Texas for adoption from the animal control agencies to the SPCA of Texas as space permits.

How long will animals remain in shelter?

All healthy, treatable and non-aggressive animals will stay in the shelter until adopted unless the animal contracts a contagious, non-treatable illness or becomes behaviorally un-adoptable.  The SPCA of Texas has never placed a limit on the amount of time animals stay in the shelter. As long as they stay happy and healthy, they’ll stay at the SPCA of Texas, waiting for homes.

Are there any circumstances that would not require a reservation for an animal to be taken in to the SPCA of Texas?

The SPCA of Texas does not require a reservation for animals that have been previously adopted from the SPCA or owner requested euthanasias (if the SPCA of Texas concurs). A surrender fee of $30.00 will be required for owner requested euthanasias. 

I need to have my pet "put to sleep." Can the SPCA of Texas help?

Yes, we can euthanize your pet at your request if the SPCA of Texas agrees that the euthanasia is appropriate. 

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