Our mission at the Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County is to be the community’s primary resource for promoting the humane treatment of companion animals by providing education and adoption services.

Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County Goals

• Find homes and provide temporary shelter for abandoned and unwanted animals.
• Prevent cruelty to animals.
• Promote the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.
• Educate the community on responsible animal care. Ultimately reducing the number of stray and unwanted animals!

HISTORY
....................................................................................................
The HS/SPCA is a non-profit organization that has served Bexar County and its surrounding areas since 1952. Every year the Humane Society SPCA, shelters, medically treats and rehabilitates over 5,000 animals that have been injured, abused, owner surrendered or found as strays, until ready for adoption. As an adoption guarantee organization, the HS/SPCA only euthanizes animals for untreatable illnesses, severely contagious, or certain behavioral problems. Through our volunteer, foster care programs and other educational programs such as, Camp Humane, we educate the public of the importance of micro-chipping and spaying/neutering. We offer adoptions and support the community’s 2012 No Kill Plan by transferring animals from the San Antonio and Bexar County government shelters. In the near future, we plan to expand our facility with a shelter medicine hospital for spay/neuter and treatment wards.

FUNDING
....................................................................................................
The HS/SPCA relies entirely on private donations, self-generated income (adoption and receiving fees), foundations and corporations for all funding. The HS/SPCA is not a branch of any national organization, such as the Humane Society of the United States, nor do we receive funds from any city, county, state or federal source.

POPULATION SERVED
....................................................................................................
The HS/SPCA serves the Bexar county area covering 1,247 square miles with a population of 1.5 million people and San Antonio.

Services Provided by the
Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County Include:

Pet Adoption Center
....................................................................................................
The Humane Society SPCA has many dogs, puppies, cats and kittens that are available for adoption. The adoption fee is $25-$125. This includes the cost of the animal's spay or neuter (all animals must have this surgery before going home), first set of vaccinations, bath, nail trim, de-wormer, flea medication, heartworm medication, heartworm test (for dogs over 7 months old), FLV/FIV Combo test for cats, collar and tag, microchip implantation and registration, 30 days of free pet insurance and a free bag of Science Diet Food. This is quite a bargain considering the cost of these services at any veterinarian's office.

We want to make sure that our furry friends go to loving and caring homes. We ask that you spend 20 - 30 minutes with the pet you would like to adopt to make sure that it is the right companion for you. All prospective new pet owners are then asked to complete an adoption application. Once the application is completed, an adoption counselor will talk to you about your application and about the pet you have chose to adopt. You must be approved by the adoption counselor in order to adopt. In most cases the pet will be spayed or neutered and ready to go home the day of adoption

Receiving of Animals
....................................................................................................
If you are looking for a home for your pet or a stray you have found, the Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County can help. We receive animals Tuesday thru Saturday by appointment only. Appointments can be made by calling the Receiving Department on receiving days at 8:30 a.m. The later you call, the less chance you have of reserving a space for your animal. Animals accepted are determined by the number of cages we have available on that day. If we do not have space the day you call, we encourage you to call back the next receiving day. A small receiving fee is requested to help offset some of the expense while the animal is in our care. It ranges from $5 - $25 depending on the animals age.

Lost and Found Animal Search
....................................................................................................
If you have lost your pet or found a lost animal, the trained staff at the Humane Society/SPCA can be of great assistance. The staff maintains a lost pet and found animal pet log and searches for possible matches in the computer. Furthermore, you may come to our facility with a flyer to put on display on our lost and found bulletin board. Our staff will also offer advice as to what other steps you can take.

Pet Information and Referral Services
....................................................................................................
The Humane Society/SPCA can be a valuable resource to help you answer any questions you may have on responsible pet care or medical information. We can provide you with information regarding low cost spays and neuters, animal pickups, animal cruelty and abuse, dog training, and many other topics.

Community Outreach and Education
....................................................................................................
The Humane Society/SPCA conducts educational presentations to children and adults that highlight responsible pet ownership, pet needs, pet overpopulation, animal cruelty and respect towards all animals. In addition to our offsite educational programs, tours of the facility are offered for any age group. Humane and other educational materials are also available at the Humane Society/SPCA for visitors to take home. Call the Education Department (ext. 123) for more information or to schedule a tour or presentation.



Canine Cadet Program
A partnership with the San Antonio Dog Training Club
....................................................................................................
"The Cadet Trainers are members of San Antonio Dog Training Club as well as volunteers at the shelter.
We work with various dogs at the shelter who need improvement in their manners to become more adoptable.
We use the clicker method of positive reinforcement to train the dogs in the fundamentals of a well behaved dog. We want them to walk on lead without pulling, sit on command, wait at doors, come when called, and the valuable command: "Leave it!" We also work on socializing the shy dogs, calming the exuberant ones, and teaching them self control."

--Trainer Vee Davison

ORIGINAL TRAINERS:

Vee Davison

Joan Pheifer

Gary Patterson

Sherri Allen

Carolyn Simpson

NEW TRAINERS:

Cheryl Trial

Susan Gould

Reagan Tucker

Melissa Brunson

Through this partnership with the San Antonio Dog Training Club, the Humane Society hopes to help older dogs develop some skills that will make them more appealing to potential adopters. To contact San Antonio Dog Training Club, please call (210) 738-1030.

THE ORPHANED ANIMALS THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST!