Greater Fredericksburg Area Regional SPCA

The Fredericksburg Regional SPCA is a non-profit, No-Kill humane organization dedicated to the principle that every life is unique and worthy of protection. As a local leader in humane care and education, the Fredericksburg SPCA's mission is to tackle the problem of pet overpopulation through education, adoption, rehabilitation and spay/neuter. The organization saves the lives of many homeless animals each year and cares for approximately 400 cats and dogs daily.

The Fredericksburg SPCA is not affiliated with any other animal welfare organization. We are an independent No-Kill shelter that must raise 100% of our annual budget . We receive no funds from Federal, State or surrounding counties. We also receive no funds from large, well known animal groups such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals (ASPCA) or the American Humane Society (AHS).

about Fredericksburg Regional spca

What is the difference between a public animal control agency and a private humane organization?

Public animal control agencies are legally charged with enforcing animal control laws and the laws protecting animals from abuse or neglect. They respond to citizens' complaints about animals and impound stray animals (thus the name "pound"). They are responsible for investigating instances of animal abuse or cruelty and are supported entirely by government funds.

Private humane organizations receive no government funds and carry no legal authority. The role of a private humane organization, such as the Fredericksburg SPCA, is to provide resources to save healthy, treatable animals from death, to treat animals with compassion and understanding, and to help people have happier, more fulfilling relationships with their pets.

What do you mean when you say that the Fredericksburg Regional SPCA is a No-Kill humane organization?

By "No-Kill", we mean that once we admit an animal into our care, we treat that animal no differently than we would expect a loving pet owner to do. We do not take the life of any animal in our care for reasons of length of stay or our shelter capacity. If it is determined that a pet in our care requires veterinary care, we provide that care so as to return that pet to a healthy or a manageable state. We only euthanize a pet if that the pet is too sick or injured to recover to a life of quality and is suffering or if a pet is so behaviorally aggressive as to present a material danger to human safety.