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Admissions
The Houston SPCA requires an individual who wants to give up an owned or stray pet to first participate in a 15-minute counseling session with a trained Houston SPCA team member. The goal is to help pet owners make an informed decision before they give up their pets due to destructive or aggressive behavior, an inability to be housetrained, health issues or because the animal does not get along with children or other pets. This is about giving owners a plan to work through the issues they have with their pets.During each session, a veterinary technician performs a medical evaluation on the animal and speaks with the owner about the pet’s adoptability. Pet owners also meet with behavior specialists who suggest ways to address specific behaviors that may be leading the owner to give up the animal for adoption. The session also allows Houston SPCA team members to gather information about the pet which can be shared with a prospective new owner.
Counseling sessions can be scheduled by calling the Houston SPCA facility, 713-869-SPCA. Sessions are conducted daily from 9 am 6 pm at Houston SPCA, 900 Portway Drive.
Pet owners need to partner with us to do what is best for the animal. This approach is about creating a path for a better life.
Admissions Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: I can no longer keep my pet. Will the Houston SPCA accept him/her?
A: Yes. The Houston SPCA accepts animals by appointment only and we require that pet owners join us for a brief meeting with a trained Houston SPCA team member. Our goal is to help pet owners make an informed decision before giving up their pet due to destructive or aggressive behavior, an inability to be housetrained, health issues or because the animal does not get along with children or other pets. This meeting is about providing a plan to work through these issues. During each meeting, a veterinary technician performs a medical evaluation on the animal and speaks with the owner about the pet’s adoptability. Pet owners may also meet with behavior specialists who suggest ways to address specific behaviors that may be leading the owner to give up the animal for adoption. The session also allows Houston SPCA team members to gather information about the pet which can be shared with a prospective new owner.
Q: Is there a fee to admit an animal?
A: Yes. The Houston SPCA does charge a fee to admit an owned or stray animal. The admissions fee structure is as follows, effective Saturday, April 25, 2009:
$35: Adult dog
$20: Adult Cat
$15: Puppies and kittens under 6 months old (Maximum of $50 per litter.)
$35: Medium to large parrots
$15: Small to Medium Birds
$3: Small Birds
$15: Rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, goats, pigs, sheep
$3: Small rodents
$3: Poultry, waterfowl
No fee if individual opts to take animal home again
$100: Horses, donkeys, mules
-Must have all vaccinations (rabies, west nile, equine encephalitis, tetanus)
-Must have current worming (within 1 month)
-Must have current Coggins test (within 6 months)
-Males must be gelded
Q: Why does the Houston SPCA charge an admissions fee?
A: The Houston SPCA charges a very nominal fee to admit your animal to our shelter. We do not euthanize animals for space or at the end of a certain time period and we proudly place 100% of our healthy, behaviorally sound canines and felines animals that are healthy and free of serious behavior issues into loving new homes. Once your dog or cat arrives at our shelter and is accepted into the adoptions program, he/she is vaccinated, dewormed, spayed or neutered and microchipped. While at our shelter your pet’s health and behavior is continually monitored. We estimate that it costs us between $300 and $500, excluding staff time, to place your pet into a loving, new home. Did you know that the average adult dog or cat stays with us between 14 and 19 days before being adopted and puppies and kittens are with us between four and seven days? The very small admissions fee we charge doesn’t come close to covering the cost of giving your pet a second chance at life.
Q: Doesn’t the Houston SPCA get my tax dollars to accept unwanted animals?
A: No. The Houston SPCA is a private non-profit charity that receives NO tax dollars or funding from the government, the United Way or “national” animal protection organizations like the ASPCA or HSUS. Your local animal control agency is the mandated authority funded by your tax dollars that enforces animal control laws and houses strays.
Q: Can you guarantee that my pet will be adopted since I have to pay a fee?
A: No. We do our best and proudly place 100% of our adoptable canines and felines animals that are healthy and free of serious behavior issues into loving new homes. But we cannot guarantee that your pet may not be humanely euthanized if he/she develops medical or behavioral issues after being accepted into our adoption program. The Houston SPCA places more animals into loving new homes than all other private and public shelters combined.
Q: Will I be charged a fee if I choose to take my pet home?
A: No. If after your consultation you choose to take your pet home, you will not be charged an admissions fee.
Q: Will there be a fee for adoption returns?
A: An admission fee will not be charged for any adopted animal that is returned within 30 days of placement.
Q: Is my admissions fee tax deductible?
A: No, because you are receiving a service in exchange for your fee. However, a donation over and above the standard admissions fee IS tax deductible and deeply appreciated and will help us protect and save Houston’s homeless, abused and neglected animals!
Q: What do you consider an “owned” animal?
A: If you have been confining and caring for an animal for 14 days or more on your property, we consider that animal to be your property and not a stray.
Q: What if I change my mind and want my pet back?
A: The adoptability and disposition of your pet will be discussed in detail at your counseling session. If you leave your pet with us you will sign a contract relinquishing ownership and all rights to that animal. There is no remorse period and we will not contact you regarding final disposition.
Q: Will the Houston SPCA accept my stray animal?
A: We encourage people to take stray animals to the appropriate animal control agency for their area. The local animal control agency is the mandated authority funded by tax dollars that enforces animal control laws and impounds and houses strays and the first place pet owners will look for their animal. At the Houston SPCA, our ability to accept stray animals changes daily. It depends on our available space and the number of animals currently in our shelter. If we have space available, the Houston SPCA will accept an animal as a stray if the animal has been in your possession for less than 14 days. If space is unavailable at our shelter, you have several options: (1) Be referred to your city or county animal control agency; (2) Keep the animal in your possession, post neighborhood signs, post on shelter web sites, etc. and attempt to reunite the animal on your own, OR wait until Houston SPCA has a space available.
Q: What if the animal has been in my possession for more than 14 days?
A: If you have been confining and caring for an animal for 14 days or more on your property, we consider that animal to be your property and not a stray. Please admit him/her as an “owned” animal through our admissions program so that he/she can be evaluated and, if found to be healthy and behaviorally sound, immediately placed into our adoptions program if possible.
Q: Doesn’t the Houston SPCA get my tax dollars to accept stray animals?
A: No. The Houston SPCA is a private non-profit charity that receives NO tax dollars or funding from the government. Your local animal control agency is the mandated authority funded by your tax dollars that enforces animal control laws and impounds and houses strays. The Houston SPCA shelter is an adoption center and was never designed to serve as an animal control housing facility for strays. The majority of animals received by animal charities are owned animals that are being given up by their owners and the Houston SPCA is no exception. However, as a service to our community, we have set aside about 25 % of our animal housing spaces to accommodate strays. We cannot accept more strays than we have spaces available for, as we will not inhumanely overcrowd them.
Q: Does the Houston SPCA euthanize strays?
A: In accordance with Texas law, stray animals will be held for at least three days to give owners an opportunity to reclaim. If they are not reclaimed by their owners they will undergo health and behavioral evaluations. Healthy, behaviorally sound animals will be placed into our adoption program. The Houston SPCA proudly places 100% of our healthy, behaviorally sound canines and felines animals that are healthy and free of serious behavior issues - into loving new homes. No animal is ever euthanized at the Houston SPCA to make room for incoming animals.
Q: How do I find my local animal control agency?
A: We have information available on the animal control agencies in the city of Houston, Harris and our surrounding counties.
Q: What if I need to have my animal euthanized?
A: There is no fee for owner requested euthanasia. The service is donation based for dogs, cats and exotic pets and we will provide disposal as well. However, there is a $25 fee for horses and owner must haul in and must take care of body disposal.
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