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Since 1924
Serving our Community for more than 100 Years!
100 Years of Life-saving Work
The Beginning
In an era when animal welfare was starting to become a widespread concern, a group of community leaders were propelled to establish the Houston SPCA. Its first leaders were initially committed to the welfare of Houston’s horses and women and children in need. The first location, affectionately called The Shelter, was located at 216 Jackson Street. Help for animals in need at the time included horses, sheep, cats, and dogs.
Animal Cruelty Investigations
In the 1930s, the rescue and protection organization began relying on the community’s eyes and ears to report animal cruelty. They encouraged Houstonians to dial “Wayside 1744” to speak with a humane investigator about potential animal abuse. By 1945, archive records show they conducted 2,368 investigations and yearly inspections for animals in need.
Animal Rescue Ambulance
A donated rescue van with a ladder secured to the top was used to respond to reports of animals in need, including those trapped in sewers, car engines, or even on roofs of homes as early as the 1930s. It was often called “Houston’s Animal Ambulance.” Born out of necessity, it was another service that the community needed, and the Houston SPCA was there to step in for the city’s most vulnerable animals: animals unowned and injured. Today, the Houston SPCA still has the only 24-hour Animal Rescue Ambulance in the Gulf Coast region.
Veterinary Services
In the early 1970s, Dr. L.D. Eckermann, a longtime Houston SPCA supporter, board member, and award-winning veterinarian, was among the local veterinarians who began volunteering on days off to lend his expertise and provide medical care to shelter animals. The Houston SPCA hired its first full-time veterinarian in 1985, along with several graduate technicians.
Disaster Response
Since the 1980s, the Houston SPCA has been at the forefront of responding to natural disasters to help animals in need, such as Hurricane Ike in 2008, Tri-County Fires in 2011, the Bahamas in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in 2019, and the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in 2024. In 2017, Houston SPCA rescued 2,300 dogs and cats and 80 displaced horses, farm animals, and native wildlife in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. In 2024, Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center cared for over 1,800 native wildlife in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center began when passionate and dedicated wildlife rehabilitators Sharon Schmalz, Margaret Pickell, and Debbie Mitchell recognized the urgent need for a dedicated facility to support all the injured, orphaned, and ill native wildlife impacted by urban expansion and environmental challenges in Houston. An estimated 92,591 wild animals have come into our care since 2008.
Exotics Rescue
The Houston SPCA saw a surge in the popularity of exotic pets around the early 2000s, and with it came cases of inadequate care, neglect, and abandonment. In 2000, cruelty investigators rescued four tigers, four lions, two leopards, and a wolf. The organization partners with sanctuaries and zoos around the country to ensure the rescued animals now imprinted by humans could live the rest of their lives in environments that closely resemble their natural habitats.
Veterinary Partnerships
In 2013, the Houston SPCA partnered with the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (SVMBS) for fourth-year veterinary students. These aspiring veterinarians spend a two-week graded rotation immersed in the operations of our animal welfare programs. This program provides students with invaluable hands-on experiences including surgery, emergency medical care, wildlife rehabilitation, and so much more. We hope to make a lasting impact on their education and community by enriching and advancing their clinical skills.
Expansion
In 2018, Houston SPCA’s William and Evelyn Griffin Campus for All Animals opened to the community at 7007 Old Katy Road. The state-of-the-art, 12-acre campus provides sanctuary and healing to animals in need and serves as an educational hub for the community to foster love and respect for all living beings.
Pet Wellness Veterinary Clinic
The Houston SPCA opened our Pet Wellness Clinic to the community, specializing in preventive and affordable veterinary care. The clinic now treats common illnesses such as heartworm disease, respiratory infections, skin infections, diarrhea, and ear infections.
2025 Upcoming Events
Take advantage of the fun we have in store for 2025!
A Message From President & CEO, Patricia Mercer
