Additional FAQs About Our New Veterinary & Foster Care Center

When will construction begin? And, how long will it take to complete?

• Building construction is slated to begin in September 2024 and is expected to be completed sometime between late summer and early fall of 2025.

What is the operating model for ongoing costs?

• Placer SPCA receives donor support to fund and provide services to the homeless animals in our care, but some require care we are not currently able to provide in-house. The new facility may actually lessen costs as we will not have to seek out and pay for outside veterinary services for shelter animals needing x-rays, diagnostics, or specialized surgeries and treatment, etc. We will also be collecting (scalable to income/need) fees for services provided to the public that will help to balance expenses.

Will service fees be pro-rated for low-income and the elderly?

• While a formal fee structure has not been established, our hope would be to provide affordable services to those who need them.

Does Placer SPCA contract with different vets?

• The Placer SPCA has their own staff and on-call veterinarians. For services we are unable to perform at the center for shelter animals we partner with certain vets who will often assist (with paid x-ray services, specialized surgeries, etc.). We issue coupons to pay a small amount to veterinary clinics toward spay/neuter services for owned animals. The reality is the coupon amount we pay would cover the entire cost of a spay/neuter surgery in our shelter clinic, but we currently don’t have the facilities to meet the demand for service.

Will there be the opportunity for a veterinary college or training facility?

• We occasionally provide training now and we hope to do more from within this facility.

What does/will Placer SPCA do in response to wildfires and other disasters with respect to pet food and shelter for animals?

• Every disaster requires different types of support from outside agencies. We have successfully collaborated both locally and nationally with other organizations during times of crisis and to the best of our abilities, will continue to do so.