Founded in 1938, the SPCA Dallas animal shelter has saved thousands of vulnerable animals each year.The SPCA is the longest-serving animal welfare center in North Dallas, and have racked up significant statistics showcasing their dedication to helping animals. In 2023 alone, the shelter saved 790 animals from cruelty and placed 3,517 pets in adoptive homes.
In order to achieve these numbers, the SPCA employs many volunteers, such as former volunteer Shannon Smock, who joined in 2017 as a result of the events of Hurricane Harvey. During her time at SPCA, Smock has amassed 1,000 volunteer hours at the SPCA, aiding in rescuing and adopting many animals.
“I was aware that the SPCA would be setting up a temporary shelter in an abandoned city garage downtown so that the evacuees from Hurricane Harvey could bring their pets,” Smock said. “They made room in the Houston shelters for the displaced animals that became homeless because of Hurricane Harvey.”
At SPCA Dallas, each animal’s health is the top priority. Many doctors are employed to help with many types of procedures. While some animals may only require just a spay or neuter, other animals might be in need of more intensive care.
Doctor Tynes, an employee from the SPCA shelter, has committed her career to rescuing animals from harmful environments and neglect and ensuring their future wellbeing.
“We want to give them the best care possible while they’re here and to find them loving homes.” Dr. Tynes said. “We also have additional priorities, one of them being a lot to do with animal cruelty investigations.”
Animal shelters often struggle with accommodating a large number of animals that come in. Many shelters have begun to face issues with overcrowding, as the amount of animals they have rescued outnumbers the amount of kennels they have available. One way the SPCA fights overcrowding is through adoption placements. By adopting, people can help shelters prevent overcrowding and space shortages.
And this lack of space is directly harmful to the animals that the shelters are trying to help. Many shelters are overflowing with pets that are having to be euthanized because of the lack of space. Each year, approximately 7.6 million animals are being added to shelters, with 2.7 million of them being euthanized as a result of having nowhere to go.
“Adopting doesn’t just save a dog’s life,” Smock said. “It saves two dogs’ lives, because you’re saving the one that’s in the shelter, and then you just opened up a spot for the one that needs shelter.”
Smock said that in the process of caring for the animals, she came to realize that just like people, dogs have their own personalities and needs. They have different pasts, which often include traumatic experiences such as abuse and the loss of their families.
“I started animal training. I did the green dogs [dogs with minimal issues] and then the blue dogs which are the timid, shy, and fearful,” Smock said. “They could just be overwhelmed in the shelter environment and it’s scared to death because it’s loud and it’s not their home.”
Volunteers like Smock are a major part of SPCA. They can help support the shelter in expenses, take care of animals and community outreach. Many shelters depend on their volunteers to help keep the care of these animals going.
“We have a huge volunteer program, and they give us many hours of their help. I think a lot of times we try to let them know how much we appreciate that,” Dr. Tynes said. “It saves the shelter an enormous amount of money. So volunteering is very valuable to us.”
As a dedicated foster parent, Smock has experienced firsthand the importance of opening one’s home to an animal in need. Often, these cats and dogs are scared and in need of medical care. All of them just want to feel loved.
“My passion is to get the animals adopted or fostered, and if you foster from the SPCA, they provide everything you need,” Smock said. “And you just give a loving home to the animal and help it either recuperate from surgery or help it get bigger and stronger so it can have surgery.”
The SPCA also takes a step further than most shelters to ensure that animals get to have the care that they need. They provide medical treatments that other shelters would not be willing to pay for.
“One of the things we do that not all shelters do is we treat animals that have ringworm,” Dr. Tynes said. “In some places and many years ago, animals with ringworm would just be routinely euthanized because it is very contagious and difficult to isolate in the shelter.”
Mindy Judge, a former volunteer at SPCA and Highland Park graduate, underscores the importance of adopting animals from shelters rather than buying.
“There are so many animals out there that don’t make it and versus going to buy a dog, there’s so many that need to be rescued,” Judge said.
There are many reasons why people should consider rescuing or fostering a pet and also becoming a volunteer at one of the many shelters, but to Smock, the most important thing is the feeling of helping an animal in need.
“It just feels so good to help an animal in need, and they can be just the most devoted, best, sweetest, loving companions. They’re so thankful and grateful,” Smock said.
