At the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA (SPCA), our mission has always been clear: to provide compassionate care for animals in need and work tirelessly to create a more humane community. As we look to the future, we face challenges that require immediate and sustained support from our local government partners, the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The SPCA and the City and County have had a contract in place for over the past 15+ years, but with the current contract set to expire at the end of Q1 2025, we are deeply concerned about the lack of a contract and contingencies for a shelter in place next year. Without a new agreement, the continuity of essential services for animals in our community could be at risk.
The Current Landscape
The SPCA currently operates the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s public shelter – a cornerstone of our work. Public animal shelter mandates are simple: provide housing and care to animals from our community. Virginia State Law has codified the need for animal shelters to house stray animals running at large, dangerous/vicious animals and animals under protective custody awaiting their court date. Additionally, Virginia State Regulations governing and overseeing animal shelters require shelters to provide medical care, enrichment, and to give adoptable animals an opportunity to be seen and have a positive outcome.
Virginia ranks second in the nation for most devoted dog owners according to Forbes, and over 46.5 million households in the US have at least one cat. In Virginia, 55.5% of all households have at least one pet. This means approximately 24,437 homes in Albemarle County and 10,828 homes in the City of Charlottesville have at least one pet. This statistic does not account for free-roaming cat populations. The SPCA currently touches over 7,000 households each year between their public and private shelter services.
As we all have seen in recent years, the price of goods has increased substantially. You walk into the grocery store now and are lucky to get bread, eggs, and a gallon of milk for less than $10, where it used to cost $6. Since 2020, the cost of labor has increased dramatically, with the living wage in Albemarle County for a single adult exceeding $23 per hour this year, up $5 from last year. We are all feeling it, and without the generosity of our donors the CASPCA would not be able to operate the public shelter.
Our Current Contract
As it stands, the City and County only pay around 20% of the costs associated with operating the public shelter, which, per Virginia law, they are legally required “to maintain or cause to be maintained.” The SPCA and the City and County have had a contract in place for over the past 15+ years, but the current contract is set to expire at the end of Q1 of 2025. Unfortunately, we are unaware of any contingencies in place for the City and County to have a shelter for the whole of next year, and they have yet to negotiate a fair contract extension with the SPCA.
Our contract, originally agreed upon in 2009, no longer reflects the current, increased cost of labor and goods, which has far outpaced inflation. It is important to note that private donations help fund many community, solution-focused programs that are not publicly funded and are not part of our contract with the city and county, such as our low-cost Compassionate Care Clinics, Microchip and Vaccine Services, Pet Food Pantry, and Community Cat Program. As we look towards the future of the SPCA, we know that expansion of these programs will be critically necessary to solve the problems facing pet guardians today.
This expansion will require use of private donations to enhance and expand the infrastructure of our shelter. For those who have not been to our shelter, we encourage you to contact our team and schedule a comprehensive tour. Animal sheltering standards have advanced so dramatically in the past decade that our facility no longer meets the needs of our community. We are excited to get this work started, but in order to do so, we need the City & County to cover the majority of the cost of the services we perform for them. It is imperative that we receive an adjustment to our funding that aligns with current economic realities.
The Role of the City and County
The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County have a legal obligation to maintain a public animal shelter. Currently, the SPCA covers the majority of these operational costs, a responsibility we have shouldered out of dedication to our mission. However, it is time for our local government to step up and provide the necessary support to ensure the sustainability of these services.
Contracting with the SPCA remains the most efficient option. Building a new facility would cost the City and County between $10.5 and $16 million in taxpayer dollars, with an annual operating budget of $5-8 million to maintain no-kill status. The SPCA has maintained a no-kill shelter since 2006 and proudly achieved a 96% live release rate in 2023. By renewing and adjusting our contract to meet current needs, we can avoid these excessive costs and continue to provide high-quality care efficiently and effectively.
The Importance of Sustainable Funding
Relying on our reserves is not a viable long-term solution. Currently, our reserves stand at 70% of our annual operating budget, a figure that, while within non-profit norms, limits our ability to invest in solution-based programming and crucial updates for our 20-year-old facility. Without additional funding, our ability to expand preventative programs and meet future capital needs is severely constrained.
In our negotiations with the City & County, it was argued that the CASPCA “don’t need the money” to maintain the status quo, since we can fundraise to cover the costs associated with the public shelter. It was also suggested that we apply for grants from the city and county to get in the queue for potential funding in the future. As a not-for-profit private organization, this approach does not solve the underlying issue covering the costs associated with operating the public shelter. The SPCA filled out the request for funding in 2023 and were denied because we “have a contract”, and the City & County adhere solely “to the formula in the contract”.
To be clear, the SPCA has worked miracles over the past decade. We are scrappy, innovative and a true testament to exhausting every dollar we have for the betterment of our mission – and we are not unique. Many private shelters are canceling their public contracts because they are undervalued by their municipality. The public services are the most expensive part of sheltering. With the localities’ denial of increased funding again in 2024, the SPCA has been put in the difficult position of being practically unable to move forward with the current public contract.
In our requests and discussions with the City & County we have taken a proactive approach that aims to reduce the number of animals needing shelter services over time, ultimately lowering operational costs for the public shelter. However, this is a long-term effort spanning 10-20 years, and rising costs are anticipated in the short term as the foundation for a sustainable future is built. Investing in preventative measures now will lead to significant savings and a more humane community in the future.
While donations are a key lifeline for any non-profit, in order to maintain a public shelter staffed and resourced for serving up to 4800 animals a year, the generosity of our supporters will not be enough to keep pace with the level of care and service our community expects and deserves. We believe that citizens generous enough to donate should not have to cover the shortfall left by the city and county. Instead, these donations should go towards extra benefits like special medical cases, advancements for the organization, or special programs like our Pet Food Pantry and Compassionate Care Clinics.
We Have Strived for Fairness and Good Faith
We have attempted to work with the City and County over the past 10 months and have requested a new contract to reflect updated regulations, roles and responsibilities, standards of care, and a current funding model rather than continue to operate off the 2009 contract. However, we have yet to receive even a counter to our revised proposal given in March of 2024.
While we are committed to working with the City and County to reach a fair deal that allows our organization to operate and provide these contracted services, that deal must provide the community with a high-quality shelter staffed with individuals who are able to earn a living wage and which ensures the animals in need receive the high standards of care that this community expects. Regardless of the outcome, the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is not going anywhere whether we serve as the public or a private shelter. We are forever committed to our mission of fostering a compassionate community where every animal thrives, and, if necessary, we have private shelter models to follow, like the Richmond SPCA that operates independently.
Looking Ahead
The failure to reach agreement on a new or extended contract for services that the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA currently provides to the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County will require those jurisdictions to find alternative means for sheltering, protecting, and caring for displaced community animals. That transition would take time to plan and execute.
We find ourselves at a critical juncture, where we must ask the city and county to decide now if they will move forward with adequately compensating the CASPCA for the essential services we perform on their behalf. We strongly urge the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to recognize the immense value of our work and the necessity of supporting our mission. Updating our funding to reflect the true cost of operations in 2024 is not merely an investment in the SPCA, but in the well-being of our entire community.
Together, we can ensure that every animal receives the care they deserve and that our community receives the services it requires and continues to be a compassionate and humane place for all.
Ways You Can to Help:
The support from our community has always been incredible, and we are now asking for your help once again.
Email Your Elected Officials:
Your voice matters! If you believe the SPCA should receive the proper funding and investment it deserves, we encourage you to speak up. Let your local leaders know by sending a message to the City of Charlottesville ([email protected]) and/or Albemarle County ([email protected]):
Hello,
I am writing to urge you to support fair and timely negotiations between the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. The SPCA plays a critical role in our community, providing essential services and care for animals in need. It is vital that our local government partners with the SPCA to ensure they have the resources and support necessary to continue their work. I strongly encourage you to prioritize these negotiations and advocate for a fair agreement that reflects the invaluable contributions of the SPCA to our community. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Email the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors | Email the City of Charlottesville
Tell Your Friends/Share on Social Media:
Share on social media: Important! The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA is currently negotiating to update its contract with the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The SPCA is simply asking for the city and county to pay an adequate amount for the services it performs on their behalf. If you care about helping our homeless animals and the people the SPCA serves, please share this message and let your elected officials know that we urge them to recognize the value and necessity of helping animals. It’s time to update our funding to reflect the true cost of operations in 2024. This investment is not just in the SPCA but in the well-being of our entire community.
Call Your Elected Officials:
City of Charlottesville: (434) 970-3113 | Albemarle County: (434) 296-5841
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