We know we can’t save them all, but we try to save as many as we can,” says Patricia Mercer, president of the Houston SPCA, the 2006 ASPCA Shelter of the Year winner. “We love what we do, and it’s why we wake up in the morning and come to work every day,” Mercer adds.
That tireless dedication to the care and safety of its animals is what the Houston SPCA was recognized for. It’s “a shelter that excels in cutting-edge community programs and serves as a safety net for the entire region in times of catastrophe,” says Julie Morris, ASPCA senior vice president for national outreach.
In addition to providing services to more than 100,000 animals a year, the Houston SPCA’s exemplary programs include a 24-hour ambulance and rescue service for injured animals; Pet Safe, which offers free temporary boarding for pets of people fleeing domestic abuse; and a free vaccination and sterilization program for pets belonging to the needy and elderly. Houston SPCA also played a major role in the 2005 pet rescue and relief efforts after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Other Houston SPCA services include animal cruelty investigations, an animal behavior helpline, dog training classes, pet-facilitated therapy teams, a summer Critter Camp for children, and a pet loss support group.
“The ASPCA believes the Houston SPCA’s dedication to its many programs and services heightens public awareness of the well-being of canines and elevates respect for not just the shelter industry, but animal welfare as a whole,” Morris says.
Mercer says, “People say that what we do is so unusual, but for us, it’s what we do every single day, and it’s nice to be recognized for it.”