SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare

We are determined to reduce the homeless dog and cat populations that plague the Central Savannah River Area of South Carolina. Unwanted births and the subsequent animal control issues that they create can be diminished through education and the opportunity to access affordable spay and neuter services and through common sense ordinances that are acceptable to the general public and are not onerous to those who are not at fault for the problem.

Convinced governments to enact TNR programs for cats and pass ordinances that charge a significant fee for fertile dogs.

We employ many strategies for accomplishing our goal of ending the homeless and unwanted pet problem here in the CSRA.
Number one is to operate our Regional High Volume, Low cost Spay and Neuter Clinic with high quality care, performance,and follow up.
Number two is to educate the general public in such a way that visiting an animal shelter to acquire a pet is a first choice and that visiting a shelter is pleasant experience and in our case, a destination that they want to go to and bring their friends and relatives.
Number three.....educate children about humane and character values, so as they grow into adults they treat animals well and with respect.
Number four....work with elected officials to understand the health and societal problems that accompany out of control homeless dog and cat populations and offer reasonable solutions and cooperation to solve the problem.
Number five...enrich the lives and through reward based training teach our adoption dogs good citizenship so that they are ambassadors for shelter animals and have a greater chance of being a successfully rehomed pet.
Number six...through our Pet Therapy program help the community with its needs and foster the human -animal bond.

Compared to most we are a small organization, but committed to excellence.
The SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare was built with our animal and program needs in mind.
Architecture, engineering, and construction were purposed to provide an animal centric, healthy, pleasant, enduring, attractive, environmentally friendly(solar hot water, geothermal wells, low E glass), and hygienic facility.
Our Spay/Neuter Clinic has four operating tables and is a Humane Alliance Model. We employ the very best of surgeons and technicians for surgery, the medical well being of our animals, and services such as vaccinations, testing, and product sales to the general public.
Our Education Center is equipped with audio and visual media, internet access, soft floors, and a capacity for education of classrooms and large groups.
Our Adoption Centers and temporary holding areas for our small animals, cats, and dogs includes windows to the outside, 100% outside air, sound proofing, MP3 Rescue music, aromatherapy, indoor/outdoor free access colonies for the cats, and large rooms with windows, furniture, toys, and enrichment activities for our dogs. There is no over crowding.
We employ a Director of Enrichment and Training who works with a set of trained volunteers in our Pedigree Foundation Innovation Award winning Phideaux University Program that teaches our dogs self calming skills and basic good citizenship.
We reach out to rescues and animal control agencies within our area if they need help and we work closely with them to offer our services, facilities if need be, and input on animal control issues. We believe in partnerships and customer service
We employ a Volunteer Coordinator who does a great job matching volunteers to tasks, tracking their hours, and encouraging and rewarding their contributions to our organization.
We operate a Dog Park with a pool that encourages camaraderie among animal owners, traffic to the Center, and opportunities for our dogs to interact and be seen by potential adopters.
We have a very strong, diverse Board Of Directors.
We offer a Planned Giving Legacy Program to care for pets when owners pass on or are incapacitated.
We have an energetic, committed staff and friendly working atmosphere.
We undergo annual audits to insure accountability and we routinely have job performance evaluations for staff and administrative personnel.
We operate a network of Thrift Shops that provide revenue and offer opportunities to spread our message.

How much progress are we making??? Alot!
The SPCA in Aiken was founded in 1935. In 1981 the organization built the first Spay/Neuter Clinic and a small adoption area.
In 2005 the Board Of Directors re-energized and focused on solving the homeless pet population, rather than just reacting to it.
Community leaders from all walks of life spent a few years working and implementing a new strategic plan, creating awareness of animal control issues, and creating partnerships. In 2008 the organization began the process of working toward new facilities that would meet the community's needs and the organization's goals.
By 2012 the SPCA had completed and built its 22,000 sq ft Center for Animal Welfare on 13 acres with a 2 acre Dog Park.
The city of Aiken has 29,000 residents and the county has about 150,000 residents. The project in total was about $6million dollars. Private individuals contributed $5 million and the city contributed another $1m so that its Environmental Control Department would have a home with the SPCA.
This project would not have been possible or subsequently successful in this relatively short period of time unless the public and ultimately the donors had a great deal of confidence that the SPCA would do as it said it would.
We are committed to excellence and to the welfare of the animals and public we serve.