So how exactly do animals come into our shelter? It’s more intentional than you might expect—and that’s by design.

Our Intake Model: Rooted in National Best Practices

Our admissions process follows national best practices and is guided by one central goal: to give every animal the best possible chance at a live outcome. We do not euthanize animals for space. Instead, we actively manage intake in a way that protects animals, supports the community, and ensures our team has the capacity to provide quality care.

The York County SPCA only accepts animals from within York County, Pennsylvania, and proudly fulfills our contracts with most York County municipalities to provide stray animal services.

We Prioritize Urgency and Community Impact

Outside of our municipal stray housing contracts, we carefully evaluate other types of animal intakes to ensure we are prioritizing the most urgent cases. This includes:

• Pets in crisis due to owner hospitalization, eviction, or death
• Pets living in a dangerous or unsafe environment
• Injured or ill animals requiring urgent medical care

By managing non-stray intake intentionally, we ensure our shelter remains available to those animals with the greatest need, without compromising care or outcomes.

Keeping People and Pets Together

One of the most effective ways we manage shelter intake is by helping to prevent unnecessary surrender in the first place. Our human service programs are designed to support York County families through tough times so they can remain united with their furry family members, because often, a little help can make the difference between a pet staying in their home or entering the shelter system.

Our safety net services include:

• Pet Food Pantry: Free pet food for families facing temporary financial hardship
• SafePet Program: Emergency boarding for pets of individuals fleeing domestic violence, loss of housing, or entering medical care.
• CARMA Program: Low-cost emergency veterinary care for urgent but treatable medical conditions
• Rehoming Resources: Support for families who need to rehome a pet, including our partnership with Adopt-a-Pet.com for owner-to-owner adoptions

These programs are part of a growing movement in animal welfare that recognizes the importance of keeping the bond between people and pets intact whenever possible.

Stray Dogs

When stray dogs are brought in from contracted municipalities by local law enforcement, animal control officers, or PA state dog wardens, we welcome each one with open arms, no matter their age, breed, behavior, or condition. We then follow Pennsylvania’s legal 48-hour stray hold process. This period gives families time to reclaim their missing pets, while we provide food, shelter, veterinary care, and safety. For example, instead of the public chasing a stray dog with unknown health and behavior, it’s safer for a trained professional with proper safety equipment to lawfully capture the dog, collect appropriate information, and safely transfer the animal into our care. If these pets are not reclaimed, our staff and volunteers work to find them loving, permanent homes.

Community Cats

Not all cats seen outdoors are lost or in need of rescue. Many are what we call community cats—a broad term that includes feral cats, loosely owned neighborhood cats, indoor/outdoor pets, and other free-roaming cats who are accustomed to living outside. These cats have often spent their entire lives outdoors and are well-adapted to their environments.

For healthy community cats living in stable locations, removal and shelter intake is not in their best interest. Confinement in a shelter can lead to extreme stress, illness, and—in the case of unsocialized cats—behavioral challenges that make adoption nearly impossible. For cats over three pounds, we focus instead on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR): humanely trapping the cat, spaying or neutering, vaccinating, and returning it to its original location. This proven strategy reduces overpopulation, supports public health, and improves the long-term welfare of outdoor cat populations.

We evaluate each situation individually. If a cat appears sick, injured, or without any consistent caregiver, we will bring it into our care for treatment. Suppose the cat cannot safely return to its original environment. In that case, we may consider placement through our Working Cat program, a lifesaving alternative for cats who are not suited for indoor living but still deserve a chance at a meaningful life. These cats are placed with barns, warehouses, breweries, and other facilities where they receive food, shelter, and basic care while helping control pests naturally.

Suppose a cat cannot be returned outdoors for medical or safety reasons and is behaviorally suitable for indoor life. In that case, we make every effort to place that cat through our traditional adoption program.

A Lifesaving Shift in Practice

Many people are surprised to learn that feral or unsocialized cats are often not candidates for traditional adoption. For years, shelters across the country struggled to find safe and humane solutions for community cats. The result was heartbreaking.

In 2018, the cat euthanasia rate at the York County SPCA was 70.1%. Many of these were healthy, free-roaming cats whose only barrier to survival was a shelter system that wasn’t built to serve them.

A few years ago, we implemented a data-supported win-win strategy that saves cat lives while simultaneously reducing their numbers. Today, thanks to strategic changes in our intake policy and a stronger focus on programs like TNR, Working Cat placements, and community education, our cat euthanasia rate fell to 4.5% and our spay/neuter efforts increased over 85% since 2019. By boosting our spay/neuter and vaccination efforts, we fill the community with healthy sterilized cats, which will reduce their numbers over time while keeping the public safe.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight—it required commitment, innovation, and an honest reckoning with what it means to save lives and reduce population growth rates effectively. These policies have spared thousands of animals and the people who care for them the pain of unnecessary loss.

Found Kittens

Each year, especially from spring through fall, we receive an influx of kittens—some just hours old. While it’s natural to want to help, the best thing you can do for a tiny kitten is pause before intervening.

If you find a kitten under three pounds, we recommend leaving it where it is unless it appears injured, ill, or in immediate danger. In most cases, the mother is nearby, hunting or hiding, and will return shortly. Removing kittens too soon can put them at higher risk, mainly because their immune systems are not yet strong enough for a shelter environment. If you come across a kitten who is hurt, unwell, or in a dangerous situation, regardless of their weight, please contact us immediately to determine the best next steps.

If you’re sure the mother is not returning or is deceased, we encourage you to consider becoming a temporary foster. With your care and our support, the kitten can grow big enough (around three pounds) to be vaccinated, sterilized, and adopted. We’re here to support you every step of the way with fostering, providing food, supplies, and medical care. But if fostering isn’t an option for you, that’s okay, we’ll still take in the kitten(s) and work with our foster network to help keep them out of the shelter.  Thanks to our dedicated network of foster families, hundreds of kittens each year are given the chance to grow, thrive, and eventually find loving homes. Every situation is unique, and we encourage you to visit our Community Cats page to learn more before taking action.

Owned Pets: Intake By Appointment

We understand that giving up a pet is often the result of a personal crisis—whether due to housing, finances, or changes in health. When a family can no longer care for a pet, we’re here to help.

To provide the best outcome for each animal, we accept owned pets by appointment only. This allows us to:

• Understand the pet’s history and needs
• Prevent overcrowding and stress-related illness
• Create individualized placement plans for adoption, foster, or rescue transfer

We also offer alternative solutions, like medical assistance or support with rehoming, to help the animal safely transition without entering the shelter.

Working Together to Save Lives

Modern animal sheltering is about more than housing—it’s about building a community-based safety net that protects both animals and people. At the York County SPCA, we’re proud to follow a proven, best-practice model that supports our municipal partners, honors our role in protecting public health and safety, and ensures all the animals in our care have the best chance at a live outcome.

By understanding how animals enter our care, you help us ensure that every pet receives the time, attention, and support they need to thrive.

If you have questions about our admissions process or need support, visit our Shelter Admissions page or email info@ycspca.org.

Now, while we are prepared to answer this question with a few simple sentences, it runs deeper than that. Unfortunately, we receive a large influx of Pit Bull-type dogs because they are the most overbred type in York County and in the country. Many Pit Bull-type dogs end up as strays due to overbreeding and end up at animal shelters. Our staff and volunteers love them just the same as any other dog we care for; in fact, many of them end up becoming favorites.

A common mistake we hear people make is referring to a specific dog’s breed as “Pit Bull.” What many do not realize is that “Pit Bull” is an umbrella term which refers to three registered breeds of dogs: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and American Pit Bull Terrier. Most Pit bull-type dogs are a combination of different breeds of unknown pedigree or purebred dogs. What most often occurs is a dog being labeled as a “Pit Bull” due to their physical appearance and characteristics: a stocky stature, wide mouth, square-shaped head, and short coat. Pit Bull-type dogs tend to vary in size, depending on what combination of breeds they are made of and their parents’ genetics, however, most fall between 30 and 85 pounds.

Let’s break down the registered breeds that make up the category of “Pit Bulls”: 

• The Staffordshire Bull Terrier: Recognized as a breed in 1974 by the American Kennel Club, this breed holds the traits of courage and tenacity. Their defining characteristics are a short and broad head, pronounced cheek muscles, a tight-fitting coat coming in several colors, and a height of 14 to 16 inches.
   

Photo Credit: https://www.bil-jac.com/breed-library/staffordshire-bull-terrier/
 

• The American Staffordshire Terrier: This breed was recognized by the AKC in 1936 and is known for confidence, intelligence, and loyalty to their people. AmStaffs, another name for them, stand between 17 and 19 inches, have a broad head, well-defined jaw, pronounced cheekbones, and dark, round eyes set wide apart. They have a stiff, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns. This breed is highly trainable. 
   

Photo Credit: https://www.orvis.com/american-staffordshire-terrier.html
 

• The American Pit Bull Terrier: While the AKC does not recognize this breed, the United Kennel Club (UKC) did in 1898. They exhibit muscular, stocky builds with large square heads. They also have strong, well-defined chests. American Pit Bull Terriers typically stand between 17 and 21 inches. Best known for their active, loyal, and eager-to-please temperaments, they make for wonderful, life-long companions.
   

Photo Credit: https://www.petguide.com/breeds/dog/american-pitbull-terrier/

Pit Bull-type dogs are often misunderstood through stigmas passed down from previous generations. They are often labeled “aggressive” or “dangerous” when most Pit Bull-type dogs make amazing furry family members and do not pose a threat to humans or other animals. Now that you know these important facts about Pit Bull-type dogs, it’s time to stop the spread of misinformation and advocate for them in your community. Perhaps you even have it in your heart to foster or adopt one of these extraordinary canines.

To view our available dogs here at the York County SPCA, visit our Adoptable Pets page.

References:

The American Kennel Club, Inc. (n.d.). American Staffordshire Terrier. American Kennel Club. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-staffordshire-terrier/

The American Kennel Club, Inc. (n.d.). Staffordshire Bull Terrier. American Kennel Club. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/staffordshire-bull-terrier/

Chewy (2022, October 12). American Pit Bull Terrier. BeChewy. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://be.chewy.com/dog-breed/american-pit-bull-terrier/

The Farmer’s Dog (2020, July 10). The Pit Bull Guide: History, Personality, Food, Care, and More. The Farmer’s Dog Digest. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://www.thefarmersdog.com/digest/pit-bull-guide-history-personality-food-care/#:~:text=Other%20dogs%20end%20up%20falling,not%20unique%20to%20pit%20bulls.

Graham, L. (2021, October 7). 5 Facts About Pit Bull-type Dogs. Retrieved January 5, 2024, from https://www.arlboston.org/5-facts-about-pit-bull-type-dogs/

While there is no universal standard adapted by our industry – most leaders agree that “no-kill” means two things… The first is that the organization’s save rate is 90% or better. Save rate is defined as the number of animals who enter an animal shelter each year and leave alive. The second is that animals are only euthanized for severe medical or behavioral reasons. In other words, animals are not euthanized because the facility has run out of space to care for incoming pets.   

The most common question we are asked – whether it’s by donors, volunteers, or the community-at-large – is “are you a no-kill animal shelter?” Often, the question implies people only want to support a shelter that doesn’t euthanize animals. Most people do not realize how complicated and nuanced that question is. The further our leadership team digs into the heart of the topic with our community, the more sophisticated our community’s understanding of animal welfare challenges becomes.  

Our team is on a mission to educate the community about the complexities of managing an animal shelter and what the role of an animal resource center is in 2023. We aim to shift the measure of success from “no-kill” language to save rate and how animal resource centers, like the York County SPCA, are working to manage the complex animal care needs in their community.     

In 2018, the York County SPCA’s save rate was 53%, meaning almost half of the animals who entered our shelter that year did not have a live outcome. In 2022, we increased our save rate by 42 percentage points to 95%. How did we reach this milestone when so many animal shelters nationwide struggle with high euthanasia rates? Through hard work, implementing progressive lifesaving programs and policies, and tremendous support from our community.  

Many shelters are so close to achieving “no-kill” status but cannot get to that critical 90% or better save rate threshold for a variety of reasons. That does not mean these shelters are not worthy of support. On the contrary, it is often EXACTLY what they need. Animal shelters are just one part of a community-based approach to saving every pet that has a chance at a live outcome.  

Listen to us on WITF’s “The Spark” 

Recently, I sat down with Scott Lamar of WITF’s “The Spark” to discuss ”no-kill” language, challenges facing animal shelters across the country, and how our local animal resource center is becoming a national leader in the animal services industry. To listen, click here!

Below is a series of myths and facts regarding Pit Bull-type dogs that set the record straight about these amazing animals and show what a wonderful addition to a family they can be!

MYTH: Pit Bulls are more aggressive to people than other dogs.

FACT: Breed has little to do with the tendency for an individual dog to be aggressive or bite. A peer-reviewed study found that nearly 85% of dog bite fatalities were from unneutered dogs. Other factors that contributed to bites were abuse or neglect, tethering for long periods, and a lack of positive interaction with people and other animals. Dogs of any breed that bite people are typically anxious, frightened, or highly-stressed individuals and are in situations where the classic pre-biting warning signs are ignored. 

MYTH: It’s easy to identify a dog’s breed by looking at them.

FACT: Nearly 90% of shelter dogs visually identified as a particular breed are mislabeled when verified with DNA analysis. This misidentification becomes a huge problem when municipalities pass laws that restrict dogs of certain breeds. “Pit Bull type” dogs in truth encompass so many different breeds, and it is unreliable to tell just by looking at a dog what breed they may be. 

MYTH: Pit Bull Terriers have locking jaws.

FACT: There is no such thing as a dog with locking jaws. The physiology of a Pit Bull type dog’s jaw is similar to that of any other dog.

MYTH: Pit Bulls are not “family” dogs.

FACT: Every dog is an individual, no matter the breed! It is recommended that a potential adopter bring the whole family to meet any animal they are interested in adopting. Most adoptions of Pit Bull type dogs are amazing successes, and the adopter is not only adding a new loving family member to their household, but they are also saving a life!

At the York County SPCA, we recognize that Pit Bull type dogs are overrepresented in shelters, and we have established the York County Pit Bull Spay/Neuter program to offer subsidized spay/neuter surgeries to eligible families in York County. This program is made possible by a grant from Dogs Trust USA. Please visit our website under our Spay/Neuter Clinic page to learn more about this program here.

For a well-researched, trustworthy source of information on canine aggression, visit The National Canine Research Council at www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com.

Each year, the third week of October is set aside to recognize and celebrate the valuable contributions that vet techs make to both the veterinary profession and our society. Veterinary technicians play countless roles within a veterinary hospital. So much of what we do relies on their knowledge, skills, compassion, and dedication to helping animals.

In human medicine, there are nurses, anesthesiologists, laboratory technicians, X-ray technicians, surgical assistants, phlebotomists, dental hygienists, nutritionists, and more. In veterinary medicine, the veterinary technician covers ALL those roles. At the York County SPCA, veterinary technicians are responsible for client education, preparing patients for surgery, inducing and monitoring anesthesia, administering vaccines and medications, providing various treatments, performing diagnostic tests, providing emergency first aid and general nursing care, restraining animals safely for the veterinarians, and so much more.

The passion and dedication of vet techs is what keeps our Spay/Neuter Clinic and shelter’s veterinary wing running and able to help thousands of animals in our community each year. As the Clinic Medical Director and primary surgeon of the York County SPCA’s Spay/Neuter Clinic, I can’t overstate how valuable our vet techs are, and how much they deserve our respect and appreciation.

We would simply be unable to achieve our mission without them!”

 – Dr. Kimberly Mann, Clinic Medical Director

“THE PASSION AND DEDICATION OF VET TECHS IS WHAT KEEPS OUR SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC AND SHELTER’S VETERINARY WING RUNNING AND ABLE TO HELP THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY EACH YEAR.”

This Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week, I would like to take the opportunity to give you a behind-the-scenes look into a vet tech’s day.The public awareness surrounding their job is often poor, so hopefully this can give you a small insight into just how invaluable veterinary technicians are to our field. 

After an already long day of assisting in surgeries, doing paperwork, restraining injured and ill animals for the doctor, preparing and giving medications, and helping care for the roughly 300 animals we have in the shelter on any given day (all while probably not having a proper lunch break), imagine a badly injured stray dog is brought in. The technician runs out to the parking lot, gathers some information from the finder, and assesses the dog. When they notice he is not stable, they sprint with the 50-pound dog in their arms to the medical wing while yelling for the doctor. After the doctor examines the dog, the vet tech places an IV catheter and starts fluids. At the same time, they collect blood, start running that, and then wrestle the dog to get x-rays with the help of an assistant.

When we see that the dog needs emergency surgery, the vet tech immediately prepares the surgical suite, instruments, drug logs, anesthesia sheets, and patient to assure no precious time is lost. During the procedure, they monitor all vital signs to make sure he remains stable under anesthesia, and then stay with him during recovery, alerting the doctor right away with any problems. They will provide him with comfort, love, and the expertise of their watchful eye noticing if his pain level is increasing at all.

Since he is on so many IV fluids, the technician, along with the veterinary wing’s animal care technicians, make sure his bedding is always dry and he is never laying in urine even if that means they get some on themselves in the process – though, if that was the worst thing they got on themselves that day, it would be considered a win. They will patiently walk him outside to get his strength up and administer all his medications on time.

By this time, the vet tech is emotionally and physically drained from the day. Remember, this is just one patient among hundreds they are responsible for that day. Nevertheless, they will wake up and do it all again tomorrow.

Veterinary technicians are the true heroes in veterinary medicine. I would frankly not be able to do my job without them. The next time you see a veterinary technician, please thank them for their dedication, compassion, and service they provide to your pets and the animals at the shelter who have no one to speak for them.

– Dr. Natalie Weekes, Shelter Medical Director

“VETERINARY TECHNICIANS ARE THE TRUE HEROES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE. I WOULD FRANKLY NOT BE ABLE TO DO MY JOB WITHOUT THEM.”