By mandate of the SPCA’s board of directors, the SPCA does not euthanize animals for lack of space. Due to limited resources, the SPCA 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 will also no longer 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 is asking the community to be a partner in the process of finding new homes for animals.
The goal to no longer euthanize for space was first proposed in 2000 as a part of a comprehensive five-year plan designed to take the SPCA into the 21st century as a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge animal shelter while remaining more intensely focused on its core mission, to improve the welfare of all animals.
“Finding homes for and keeping animals in homes is of the utmost importance to us,” said James Bias, SPCA of Texas president. “We will never again euthanize an animal for space.”
As a part of this policy change, owner surrendered animals are taken in by reservation only, based on available space, which will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are available every day beginning at 9 a.m.
The SPCA will never euthanize for 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 policies. Furthermore, if an injured animal is brought in that the SPCA is unable to assist, it will be humanely euthanized if the person who brings in that animal so chooses and the SPCA concurs. We no longer take in strays, which in turn means we no longer take in injured strays.
Upon surrender, SPCA 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 surrender fee at the time of relinquishment. The following fees are required of persons wanting to surrender an animal or animals:
- Surrender Fees:
- $50.00 per dog/puppy over 12 weeks of age
- $50.00 per litter (3 or more) of puppies 12 weeks of age or younger
- $40.00 per cat/kitten over 12 weeks of age
- $40.00 per litter (3 or more) of kittens 12 weeks of age or younger
- $10.00 per small animal (small mammals, fowl)
- $40.00 per small livestock (pigs, goats, sheep)
- $50.00 per large livestock (horses, cows, donkeys)
- $25.00 for owner requested euthanasia
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 $25.00 be paid for:
- Owner requested euthanasias (if SPCA 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
- Severely injured owned animals (non-stray)
- Animals admitted under R&I compliance or ambulance service.
If an individual’s animal is deemed not adoptable or the SPCA is full at the time of their call, the person bringing in the animal will be advised to check back with us on a daily basis, and they will also be offered tips on how to make the pet more adoptable (have it spayed or neutered, vaccinated, trained), how to attempt to place that animal into another home themselves or directed to an SPCA of Texas Pet Placement Partner (shelters and breed rescue groups the SPCA has relationships with). If it is a stray, the person will be advised to take the animal to closest local animal control agency to ensure the pet stays near the area where it became lost.
Additionally, animals who are brought to the SPCA 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 will allow the SPCA to do more for the animals waiting for homes in its shelter,” said Bias. “We will be able to pursue our mission statement with a renewed purpose and drive, and, as always, to make a difference, one animal at a time.”
Top 14 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the SPCA of Texas becoming a Reservation Required shelter?
By mandate of the SPCA’s board of directors, the SPCA of Texas will no longer euthanize animals for lack of space at its Dallas shelter at 362 S. Industrial Blvd. Due to limited resources, the SPCA 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 will also no longer 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 is asking the community to be a partner in the process of finding new homes for animals.
The goal to no longer euthanize for space was first proposed in 2000 as a part of a comprehensive five-year plan designed to take the SPCA into the 21st century as a state-of-the-art, cutting-edge animal shelter while remaining more intensely focused on its core mission, to improve the welfare of all animals.
2. 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 will now be required.
Animals will be taken in by reservation only, based on available space, which will be assigned 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. each day until the reservations for that specific day have been filled. The phone number to make a reservation is 214.742.SPCA (7722).
After all reservations are filled for the day, all callers will be asked to call back the following morning in order to make a reservation, and will also be given information about other options. Reservations will be seen between Tuesday and Saturday from Noon and 5 p.m. Each reservation will be scheduled 15 minutes apart so that all animals six months and older can be assessed with health and behavior evaluations while the person waits.
Upon completion of the evaluation, notification will be given whether or not the animal will be eligible to be placed in the SPCA’s 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 set surrender fee at the time of relinquishment.
Surrender Fees:
The following fees are required of persons wanting to surrender an animal or animals, whether the animal is owned or stray:
- $50.00 per dog/puppy over 12 weeks of age
- $50.00 per litter (3 or more) of puppies 12 weeks of age or younger
- $40.00 per cat/kitten over 12 weeks of age
- $40.00 per litter (3 or more) of kittens 12 weeks of age or younger
- $10.00 per small animal (small mammals, fowl)
- $40.00 per small livestock (pigs, goats, sheep)
- $50.00 per large livestock (horses, cows, donkeys)
- $25.00 for owner requested euthanasia
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 $25.00 be paid for owner requested euthanasias (if SPCA 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
Severely injured owned animals (non-stray)
Animals admitted under R&I compliance or ambulance service
3. What are the benefits of this new 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 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.
4. Why do you require a surrender fee?
The SPCA of Texas requires a fee upon the surrender of animals because of limited resources. We want to ensure the best care for all of the animals in our shelters and this fee is a donation that will help us provide the care and support all of our animals need.
The surrender fee helps 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. This fee is a donation that will 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.
5. 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
Severely injured owned animals (non-stray)
Animals admitted under R&I compliance or ambulance service
6. 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 Rehoming) 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.
7. What happens when all available reservations for the day have been filled?
If the SPCA is full at the time of their call, the person bringing in the animal will be advised to check back with us on a daily basis, and they will also be offered tips on how to make the pet more adoptable (have it spayed or neutered, vaccinated, trained), how to attempt to place that animal into another home themselves or directed to an SPCA of Texas Pet Placement Partner (shelters and rescue groups the SPCA has relationships with). If it is a stray, the person will be advised to take the animal to the closest local animal control agency to ensure the pet stays near the area where it became lost.
8. What happens when an animal is deemed unadoptable?
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 (information for SPCA Pet Placement Partners will be provided) or owner requested euthanasia (if the SPCA concurs. A surrender fee of $25.00 will be required for owner requested euthanasias).
9. How are we different from other shelters?
The SPCA of Texas will accept any previously owned animal for which we have space and that passes the behavior and health evaluations. Once a reservation is made, an animal will never be turned away due to looks, age, breed or non-contagious, treatable health conditions based upon available treatment space and SPCA policies, and the person surrendering the animal will always be given their options in order to make an informed decision on whether or not to surrender the animal. We also have a variety of programs such as our clinics, Rescue and Investigations, educational and social outreach and offsite adoptions that ultimately help in finding homes and keeping animals in homes.
10. Will we still take in stray animals?
The SPCA will no longer 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.
11. Will there be space for Rescue and Investigations animals?
Animals that are brought to the SPCA through the organization’s Rescue and Investigations department will remain separate from the regular intake of owner surrender and stray animals, not affecting the number of spaces available to owner-surrendered and stray animals each day. These animals will be given the same tests as any other animal that comes through the system in order to determine whether or not they are adoptable.
12. Will we be working in conjunction with Animal Control?
We will be working closely with animal control centers in the surrounding areas through the transfer of animals to the SPCA for adoption from the animal control centers to the SPCA of Texas as space permits.
13. 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 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, waiting for homes.
14. Are there any circumstances that would not require a reservation for an animal to be taken in to the SPCA?
The SPCA will not require a reservation for animals that have been previously adopted from the SPCA or owner requested euthanasias (if the SPCA concurs. A surrender fee of $25.00 will be required for owner requested euthanasias).
Thank you Ron Chapman 
