Central California SPCA — Local services in Fresno

Just had the SPCA officer come by and pick up a stray female sheperd. The dog had found her way to our shaded porch. For the few days she had come. She would wander off and then return when the heat peaked. She'd bar the doorway when we needed to leave home. Something needed to be done. And although we were not comfortable calling the shelter, we did. The officer came by shortly after we called into the SPCA. After he arrived and stood in front of the dog. She barked at him to keep him at a distance . Prior to his visit I had had a similar experience with her. Despite her protest, the officer was very patient and spoke to her kindly. Eventually he caught her. Still as they drove off together, I was concerned for - as many know the plight that dogs face in shelters.

I got online to see what reviews there were that might be reassuring. While there were some negative ones, there were positve ones as well. The most helpful ones were those that provided a broader perspective about the over population of pets and the abuse to animals. These issues are not select to Fresno. Neither are the financial constrictions that befall shelters including the Fresno SPCA.

I recognize that not all volunteers in shelters sometime relate better to animals I am thankful I have had good experiences with both regular staff and those that are volunteers.

In the past over a period of time, I have gotten three puppies from this shelter. As of the last time that I saw my two last dogs one was was 12 years old (Elsa my very friendly golden retriever). And Z was 8 years old, a sheltie mix who turned out to have stubby short legs. Z when inside of my yard would run to the fence and with much bravado bark to send the alarm that strangers were approaching, and then Elsa would back him up with an even louder bark. Still an intruder got in through the gates one day and took them away.

One of the things that consistently occurred as I searched for my dogs quite amazed me and gave me hope. I grew up at a time when you were familiar with many of your neighbors. Now, that is not so. People have become more distant and put up personal walls. So it surprised me how many doors opened wide and the number of people who showed their great concern and gave well wishes. The common denominator for the opportunity to have these conversations was the care for their own dogs and fear they could lose them too. Some had their own stories they wanted to tell.

I see it as a blessing for the opportunities I had to speak and be heard by people. It gave me a new hope in people and in humanity. Love holds no bounds.

I am thankful for the Fresno SPCA. Their door was always open during the time frames they are set up to work for such a great cause. I regularly stopped there weekly for 3 months after my dogs were gone. I wish I had a better ending to my experience. MY dogs were never found.

I am also thankful for the compassionate woman who worked there at the shelter who always listened, and when I was further into my search I told her I wasn't so sure how long to keep coming. She quietly said, "You will know."

While it has been a few years back that my dogs were taken, I still...

As a new and current volunteer, I am learning so much on the resources, services, and departments that the CCSPCA provides the public with. I have taken it upon myself to educate myself on learning more on how I can help and contribute to the CCSPCA. As I was reading the reviews some clients have left, I will definitely take into consideration how I approach and provide useful services to ANYONE AND EVERYONE who walks into our doors. Growing up, I believed the stereotype that the CCSPCA will kill your furry friend, and that idea hunted me. After taking the initiative to volunteer and find out how the CCSPCA functioned, I discovered that unfortunately some of these animals are indeed euthanized due to the lack of responsibility our society has. CCSPCA would love to proclaim that they are not a No-Kill shelter, but the unfortunate truth is that they have to take certain measures due to the negligence of pet owners who abandon, mistreat, abuse and or surrender their pets. Unfortunately the lack of space the facility has cannot accommodate all the animals coming in even with the efforts of transferring some of these animals to other shelters etc. CCSPCA would love to keep and find a home for every single animal that steps into their doors, but IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU! OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SOCIETY, AND OVERALL UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU DECIDE TO CARE FOR AN ANIMAL, YOU ARE MAKING A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT. Animals are not a toy you can have for a few days, weeks, or a few years, they deserve a home where they will be loved, cared for, and not have to worry if their owner will toss them out the first time they misbehave or do something that gets you upset. My goal as a current volunteer is to eradicate the stereotype that CCSPCA is not a place to consider when your furry baby needs care, assistance, and or a service performed. This is one of the main reasons as to why I've decided to take the first step and become a volunteer at the CCSPCA. My last advice/review, would be that if you’re not sure if you'd like to commit to a long term commitment, you are more than welcome to FOSTER AN ANIMAL. When you foster you do your part in saving another animal from being euthanized, plus you learn how to properly care and learn about the different support services the CCSPCA has; who knows, maybe you find the extra love you needed in your life by fostering. Regardless of what your experience has been with the CCSPCA, (Positive or Negative) I encourage you to become a volunteer, because when you do, you contribute to a good change versus just complaining about how bad the CCSPCA is. And if you cannot foster at the moment, you can also do your part in donating or making supplies, treats and much more. On a side note, I just became a volunteer about a week ago, and let me just say, that I am learning really cool information, so I hope that after reading this you too become motivated to join and help make a great impact...

BUYERS BEWARE!!!! Very disheartened about our experience!! You would think this is a puppymill or factory. They treat these animals like a hotel turning rooms!!! Their only concern is making money!!! We visited this place and put a dog on hold. We walked away buying 2 dogs from them that day. A black G.S. that had kennel cough that we had to pay for his meds even tho he had kennel cough untreated from their facility. The 2nd dog was an Alaskan Husky. They didn't tell us the Husky breed we put on hold was dangerous around small animals. We told them we had a small dog and cats and they said if we kennel for introduction they should be fine. For the first four days they were all fine together and then late at night on the 4th day, he walked up to our small dog in a playful nonthreatening way and picked her up and shook her twice. We didn't know it was coming. They ate and spent time alone outside together w/o any problems, slept in livingroom together w/no problem for 4 days. We took him back and they said b/c we didn't do a "meet and greet" at their facility they would not refund us. So now they have all the money we paid for, for not only fixing him, but meds and immunizations, heartworm blood test, grooming (the works) they also have HIM!!! Buyer beware!! I've been chasing this for over a month now!!! They said well that's what "prey drive" means. I said no one told me if I have small animals I shouldn't adopt him...they said well if we told you that he wouldn't be adopted...they said usually we give u a pamphlet on the breed. I said no one did that either. AND the girl that helped me owned the same breed and NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING!! The supervisor is good at NOT calling you back as well. He has been NO HELP!! VERY POOR communication, customer service and general care about others. We truly loved that dog and never would've returned him if this hadn't happened. There was no reason for them to keep our money if they have the ability to readopt him out. Especially after we paid for all the care for heartworm test, 1 month of heartworm meds, all immunizations needed, and grooming and being fixed. We used to volunteer there so we thought this was a good plc to go to save not just the one adopted but another off the street. WE DEFINITELY WERE WRONG. To make matters worse, it was my 15 yr old daughter's money that they took and kept. This was her dog so she paid for them. We alsp paid for grooming for the G.S. that was sick, $45!!! Which the supervisor Anthony told me to call him to schedule after our G.S. was better. He won't return my...