Who We Are
We help create families
SPCA of Northern Nevada is a non-profit organization supported by individual donations, program fees, thrift store proceeds, foundation grants, and special events. We are not affiliated with any other SPCA, nor do we receive funding from the ASPCA or any government entities. What you give matters!
“We truly believe there is a person for every animal.”
– Jill Vacchina Dobbs, Executive Director SPCA of Northern Nevada
Our Animal Welfare Coalition
SPCA of Northern Nevada’s top priority is helping pets in need.
We are, and will continue to be, a strong advocate for animal welfare in our community and beyond. We believe that maintaining the highest standards and best practices in managing our clinic and Adoption Center are critically important, and we strive to achieve that goal every day. We are a wholly independent organization. We are not directly affiliated with any other SPCA, the national ASPCA, nor any other animal welfare organizations. Please explore our website for more information on our adoptions and community programs. You can also learn more about us on Guidestar.com.
We are part of a robust northern Nevada animal welfare coalition for the benefit of pets in need. Our coalition believes in the highest standards in animal welfare. Northern Nevada shelter coalition members currently include: SPCA-NN, WCRAS, CRCCS, Pet Network, and HSTT. If you’re a regional shelter/rescue needs help, then please contact us directly to arrange a transfer of pets to our Adoption Center: admissions@spcanevada.com. Priority is given to northern Nevada organizations at or over capacity.
Please understand that we are unable to comment directly on the operations of other organizations. Please send all such questions directly to the organization you’re interested in learning more about. Please direct all SPCA-NN related questions directly to our organization: info@spcanevada.org.
We welcome your questions and enjoy the opportunity to continue improving our communication and transparency! We ask that you please keep your comments kind. We are hardworking, trained, professional humans who dedicate our lives to helping pets, and pet lovers, in need. We have feelings and our work is difficult and highly emotional. Please respect us as we certainly respect you. We assure you we wake up every day determined to serve our pets and incredible community!
Community Impact Report
We continually collaborate with our community to make positive impacts beyond our adoption center walls.
1,487
pets saved
98%
live release rate
3,914
total pets fixed
11,236
pets vaccinated
History
In 1997, a small group of volunteers, motivated by the unnecessary deaths of thousands of adoptable pets in our local shelters, decided that Washoe County was in need of a new type of animal rescue facility — a facility dedicated to giving the dogs and cats at our municipal animal control shelter a second chance at life before their time ran out.
Originally founded as the “Reno SPCA,” this new charitable organization began its work by taking dogs and cats from the Reno Animal Services shelter to off-site adoption locations every weekend, successfully placing over 700 pets in new homes during that first year.
Volunteer founded in 1998 to save at-risk homeless pets, SPCA of Northern Nevada has grown to also provide affordable community programs to help keep pets healthy and in their loving homes.
Our top priority is helping pets in need. We maintain high standards and follow best practices in managing our clinic and adoption center with highly-trained, caring staff and volunteers led by a passionate volunteer board of directors. We are an independent, local adoption center that does not receive funding from the government or the ASPCA, nor are affiliated with other SPCAs.
We partner with a robust northern Nevada animal welfare coalition to improve the lives of pets right here in our community.
The SPCA moved into the Stanley James Walker Pet Care & Adoption Center located at 4950 Spectrum Blvd in June, 2011.
Are you a "no kill" shelter?
The answer is YES. We will place every healthy or treatable and safe pet. Period.
Most importantly, we are pro-pet and people! We offer daily enrichment to our animals, use training partnerships and behavior modification training when needed to get them ready for adoption, and work our tails off to quickly find them loving homes.
We are dedicated to humane treatment of pets in our care even when that means making appropriate, humane euthanasia decisions. If they’re suffering, or a danger to our community, then we lovingly guide them over the rainbow bridge.
Let’s remember that compassionate, humane euthanasia is a gift, and every decision must consider the welfare of the individual animal. SPCA-NN will only humanely euthanize for poor medical prognosis or if the animal is too dangerous to place. Our team is highly trained and we work closely with a nationally-renowned, certified shelter animal behaviorist.
Like most catch phrases, the term “no kill” has limitations. For a more in-depth look at current issues in the U.S. shelter overpopulation movement, click on the button below!
Board of Directors
A volunteer board of directors governs our 501(c)(3) Nevada nonprofit organization. It oversees an annual operating budget of approximately $5 million (2023). Our board is committed to leading our organization and shares in our mission to create families, and in our vision to save and improve lives.
Staff Leadership
Our executive and front-line teams work tirelessly to create families, and sustain our vision to save and improve lives. We are dedicated to teaching staff sheltering best practices, and engaging in professional development to benefit our animals.
Adoption Center
Connecting people and homeless pets to bring joy, love, and compassion to our community.
Adoption Hours:
Monday – Sunday : Noon – 6 p.m.
Established in 1998
SPCA of Northern Nevada (SPCA-NN) offers quality adoptions, affordable spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchipping, and education programs. We strive to provide top level care for the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our homeless pets while we find them loving homes. We focus on rural rescue partnerships to provide more underserved animals with the second (or third) chance they deserve.
Our dedication to saving lives is shown in our consistently high save rate for over 20 years!
All of our pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, examined by our veterinarian clinic team, receive necessary medical care, and loving attention.
They also receive daily exercise, socialization, and enrichment based on their individual needs. Additionally, some receive extra behavior modification to better prepare them for loving home.
Are you a "no kill" shelter?
The answer is YES. We will place every healthy or treatable, and safe pet. Period.
Most importantly, we are pro-pet and people! We offer daily enrichment to our animals, use training partnerships and behavior modification training when needed to get them ready for adoption, and work our tails off to find them loving homes.
We are dedicated to humane treatment of the pets in our care even when that means making appropriate, humane euthanasia decisions. If they’re suffering, or a danger to our community, then we lovingly guide them over the rainbow bridge.
Let’s remember that compassionate euthanasia is a gift, and every decision must consider the welfare of the individual animal.
Like most catch phrases, the term “no kill” has limitations. For a more in-depth look at current issues in the U.S. shelter overpopulation movement, click on the button below!
Sponsors
Our Sponsors
We are grateful to these sponsors for supporting our life-saving mission. When we work together as a community, we can accomplish amazing things!
Lithia Reno Subaru
Lithia Reno Subaru is a long-time supporter of the SPCA of Northern Nevada. They regularly host adoption events at their dealership and donate to our cause through their #ShareTheLove program.
Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation
Maddie’s Fund
Thanks to the generous founders of Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation and Maddie’s Fund® for covering all adoption fees for Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days and funding many of our life-saving programs including our ringworm program!
PetSmart Charities
PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 10 million pets connect with loving homes. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families.
Tahoe Pet Station
Pet Station is a locally-owned, full service pet store offering a wide variety of pet supplies at competitive prices. They are also a proud supporter of the SPCA of Northern Nevada! Pet Station sells many different brands of high quality dog and cat food, along with a complete line of supplies and accessories for dogs, cats, small animals, reptiles, birds, fresh and saltwater fish. Pet Station also has an assortment of small pets, such as reptiles and fish, but they do not sell dogs or cats as pets; rather, the staff actively works with local animal shelters - like the SPCA of Northern Nevada - to promote local adoptions of homeless pets. We are so grateful for their support and their help with improving the lives of pets and people in the community.
Consign Furniture
Whenever items don’t sell on their showroom floor, Consign Furniture gives sellers the option to donate the items to the SPCA of Northern Nevada, which they deliver to our thrift store! These donations make a HUGE impact in our life-saving capacity.
Whitney Peak Hotel
Whitney Peak loves to partner with the SPCA of Northern Nevada for fun events, promotions, as well as by offering financial contributions.
Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel
The Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel is a long-time supporter of our lifesaving mission. They are a hip, pet-friendly hotel that offers riverside dining, gaming at Bundox Bocce, and rooms with beautiful views.
One Nevada Credit Union
One Nevada Credit Union holds annual Spring and Fall shred events, offering free shredding services to the public and collecting donations at that event for our organization. We are grateful for their continued, generous support of our lifesaving work.
Zoom Room Dog Training
The Zoom Room at Reno Summit provides exceptional dog training classes using only positive reinforcement. They are a proud supporter of the SPCA of Northern Nevada and host us every week for an adoptable dog to utilize their services, complimentary. When you support our partners, you support homeless pets.
Animal Emergency & Specialty Center
The Animal Emergency and Specialty center in Reno provides exceptional emergency, critical care, and specialty services delivered with compassion by dedicated professionals practicing evidence-based, state of the art veterinary medicine. They also take in our pets to give specialty and emergency care when needed.
Eldorado Hotel Casino
In the heart of Downtown Reno, the Eldorado Resort Casino offers timeless luxury and friendly, personal service. With luxurious hotel rooms, award-winning restaurants, and exciting shows and gaming, the Eldorado is a great place to stay. They are a proud sponsor of our lifesaving mission, and provide generous gifts to our organization.
VCA Animal Hospitals
VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital in Reno, Nevada, is the premier veterinary medical facility in northwest Reno. They are a Todd's Medical Fund partner and a primary partner of our dental voucher program, in which adopters can receive dental care for their new pets at no cost to them.
Wild River Grille
For two months out of the year, Wild River Grille invites diners to enjoy dinner on the patio every Monday. They donate 10% from every entree to the SPCA of Northern Nevada, giving our community the opportunity to enjoy a great meal with their dog while supporting homeless animals in their community.
West Coast Pet Memorial Services
West Coast Pet Memorial Services is a best-in-class pet cremation service that provides an unmatched level of service to address your specific needs with respectful, compassionate care. We provide pet families with personalized cremation services, a wide product offering, as well as guidance in a difficult time. West Coast Pet Memorial Services is also a Todd's Medical Fund end-of-life care partner.
Smith's Food and Drug
With Smith's Community Rewards, shoppers can donate to our organization every time they shop. Smith's gives to our organization regularly through this program, as well as with grants from their parent company, Kroger.
Natural Paws
This local pet supply store has everything community members could need for their pets. Plus, they give back to our organization and other local rescues to help save the lives of homeless pets.
Rover Veterinary Care
Rover Veterinary Care has been serving families of Reno, Nevada since 2020. Their house call veterinary services are provided by Dr. Katie Matzke, who provides our clinic team with support as needed. Rover is also our primary provider for Todd's Medical Fund end-of-life humane euthanasia at-home services.
AndCo Consulting
AndCo Consulting delivers customized services to meet each client’s unique needs. They offer a full range of investment and fiduciary consulting services, and are proud to support our lifesaving mission.