• Half-priced dog adoption event: Sunday, October 27, 2024, 10am-2pm
• 25% off cat, kitten and small animal adoption event: Sunday, November 3, 2024, 10am-2pm

Adoptions will occur on a first-come, first-served basis, and only cashless payments (for buying dog licenses, bloodwork, collars, leashes, carriers, etc.) will be accepted.

ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE

Most of the adoptable pets are at the Brougher Companion Animal Shelter. However, others are in foster homes and would require a meeting at another time. In these incidences, the York County SPCA will still honor the waived adoption fee.

If you plan on attending, please take note of the following:

ADOPTING DOGS

Browse adoptable dogs here.

Please complete a general dog adoption questionnaire at least three days in advance of the event to allow staff to have ample time to review the questionnaire and touch base with any questions.

Though it is not required, we recommend bringing all human and canine members of your household to ensure the dog is the right fit for your whole family.

If you bring a dog, they must have a collar and be on a leash for the dog meets (slip-lead leashes are preferred). Please NO retractable leashes.

When you arrive, first stop at the welcome/check-in table before browsing the kennel. Please leave your dog(s) in your vehicle with the A/C running until you can grab them for a meet and greet. You may walk them around the grass areas to the right of our building until they are ready for a meet.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN COLLAR AND LEASH IF YOU PLAN ON ADOPTING A NEW DOG! The shelter has a limited available for purchase.

If you are interested in more than one dog, please have a list of your top 4-5 dogs in mind so our staff can better assist you. You can walk through the kennel to see our available dogs!

Once you enter the shelter, staff and volunteers will be available to assist you. Most dogs will be able to go home on the event day. However, some may require pick-up on another day. Please be patient with our staff and volunteers.

ADOPTING CATS

Browse adoptable cats here.

Please complete a general cat adoption questionnaire at least three days in advance of the event to allow staff to have ample time to review the questionnaire and touch base with any questions.

BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier) is encouraged. However, we will have premade cardboard carriers for sale if needed.

Though it is not required, we recommend bringing all household members to ensure the cat is the right fit for your whole family.

If you are interested in more than one cat, please have a list of your top 3-4 cats in mind so our staff can better assist you. You can browse the cattery to see all adoptable cats!

Once you enter the shelter, we will have staff and volunteers there to assist you with check-in and direct you through the cattery to arrange a meeting with the cat(s) you want to see.

ADOPTING SMALL ANIMALS

Browse adoptable small animals here.

Please complete a general small animal adoption questionnaire at least three days in advance of the event to allow staff to have ample time to review the questionnaire and touch base with any questions.

BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier) is encouraged. However, we will have premade cardboard carriers for sale if needed.

Once you enter the shelter, staff can walk you through meeting our small animals before choosing the one(s) you want to adopt.

ABOUT THESE EVENTS

We’re celebrating National Pit Bull Awareness Month and Catsgiving with two opportunities to bring home your new best friend at a discounted fee! ​Presented by Best Friends Animal Society.

These benefits include preventing disease, reducing the risk of illness, and prolonging their life. Vaccines are cost-effective since preventing disease through administering a vaccine is more affordable than treating the illness the disease would cause. Vaccinating pets helps ensure public health and safety by preventing the spread of disease among animals and reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases, meaning they can be spread to humans like rabies (National Immunization Awareness Month | Riverside Animal Hospital, 2023). 

Many pets frequently visit high-risk environments where transmission is easier, such as boarding kennels, dog parks, and grooming salons (August Is National Pet Immunization Awareness Month | City of Mission Viejo, n.d.). In these environments, pets are in close contact with one another, and surfaces may be contaminated. Keeping your pets up to date on their immunizations reduces the risk of them getting sick or infecting others. 

In July, our own shelter faced a difficult situation because of unvaccinated dogs in the community. In the span of one week, three dogs admitted to our shelter became symptomatic and tested positive for canine parvovirusor “parvo,” a highly contagious disease affecting dogs. Canine parvovirus causes gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, it can even lead to death which mainly occurs when dogs are unvaccinated or have a weakened immune system. Thankfully, most of the dogs in our care had been fully vaccinated and were at low risk for contracting the disease. When a dog enters our shelter as a stray, our staff administers four vaccines: 

1. DHPP, also called DA2PP – this protects against distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza 
2. CIV – this protects against canine influenza  
3. Bordetella/parainfluenza intranasal vaccine – we give this as an intranasal (into the nose) vaccine because it starts working faster and gives them better local immunity to these contagious respiratory diseases 
4. Rabies vaccine

Shelter Medical Director, Dr. Natalie Weekes, says, “The DHPP and CIV vaccine must be boostered. Typically, in a home environment with a pet, you would booster a vaccine 3-4 weeks after the initial vaccine. However, due to the high risk of exposure in a shelter environment, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) recommends booster vaccines at two weeks in animal shelters. So, that is what we do. Then, they are considered ‘fully vaccinated’ two weeks after their booster vaccine.”

Dr. Natalie Weekes, Shelter Medical Director, examining Hank with Veterinary Technician, Stacey.

 In the case of the parvovirus outbreak, some of our dogs had not yet received their booster vaccination because they were not due yet or had just recently received the booster. So, they were at a higher risk of contracting the virus if they came into contact with a positive dog or contaminated surfaces. 

Many may not realize that when a virus enters an animal shelter, such as this occurrence, we must activate prevention measures quickly to manage the spread to the rest of our canine population, as well as staff and volunteers’ dogs in their homes. We separated the positive dogs in an isolated area and closely monitored all dogs for 14 days (the incubation time for this specific virus). This could have been prevented if all dogs in our community were vaccinated to prevent them from fatal diseases like parvovirus. However, cost is often a barrier, so access to low-cost vaccination clinics is important. 

Dr. Weekes stresses how important it is for the public to keep their pet’s vaccinations current. Some diseases that immunizations protect against, such as parvovirus, can live in the environment for months to years. “This means if an infected dog walks down your street, and you walk your dog down the same street a couple of days later, they will be exposed to that disease and have a high chance of contracting it,” says Dr. Weekes. “Some diseases these vaccines protect against, such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, can be fatal if contracted.” 

Our Spay/Neuter Clinic staff preparing vaccinations for the animals coming in to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

Dr. Weekes also encourages pet owners in the community to discuss the core and non-core vaccines that are recommended for their pets based on the owner’s lifestyle and the pet’s exposure risks. Core vaccines are essential vaccinations for protecting the health of a dog (Core vs Non-Core Pet Vaccinations, 2024). Non-core vaccines are vaccinations that are decided depending on the individual dog’s exposure risks (Canine Core and Non-Core Vaccines Explained, n.d.). She reminds owners that “young animals are the most susceptible to diseases due to their weakened and still developing immune system, so it is important to ensure they are fully vaccinated before taking them around other animals.” 

The best way to observe National Immunization Awareness Month would be to make sure that your furry friends have received all the immunizations they need to continue to live happy and healthy lives. If you are unsure of your pet’s immunization status or know they are behind, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to update your pet’s vaccinations. If you’re seeking low-cost vaccination clinics for your pets, research online to see if local shelters, pet stores, or veterinary centers are holding events offering affordable vaccinations. Many hold events like this throughout the year. We also recommend researching your local Tractor Supply store, as many locations have PetVet Wellness Centers which offer low-cost, basic veterinary care – including vaccinations, microchipping, nail trims, deworming, and more. Click here to find the location closest to your residence.

References: 

August is National Pet Immunization Awareness Month | City of Mission Viejo. (n.d.). www.cityofmissionviejo.org. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.cityofmissionviejo.org/departments/animal-services/august-national-pet-immunization-awareness-month#:~:text=August%20is%20National%20Immunization%20Awareness%20Month

Canine Core and Non-Core Vaccines Explained. (n.d.). www.gardensanimalhospital.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from  
https://www.gardensanimalhospital.com/post/canine-core-and-non-core-vaccines-explained

Core Vs Non-Core Pet Vaccinations. (2024, January 11). www.transitanimal.com.https://transitanimal.com/core-vs-non-core-pet-vaccinations 

National Immunization Awareness Month | Riverside Animal Hospital. (2023, August 3). Riversideanimalgb.com. https://riversideanimalgb.com/news/national-immunization-awareness-month-23  

Photography Credit: 

Tetra Creative Studio https://tetracreative.studio/

The adoption events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25.

Adoptions will occur on a first-come, first-served basis, and only cashless payments (for buying dog licenses, bloodwork, collars, leashes, carriers, etc.) will be accepted.

EVENT SCHEDULE

For full event information, RSVP to our Facebook Events:

Saturday, 8/24 Clear The Shelters: Free Adoption Event

Sunday, 8/25 Clear The Shelters: Free Adoption Event

ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE

Most of the adoptable pets are at the Brougher Companion Animal Shelter. However, others are in foster homes and would require a meeting at another time. In these incidences, the York County SPCA will still honor the waived adoption fee.

If you plan on attending, please take note of the following:

ADOPTING DOGS

Browse adoptable dogs here.

Please complete a general dog adoption questionnaire at least three days in advance of the event to allow staff to have ample time to review the questionnaire and touch base with any questions.

Though it is not required, we recommend bringing all human and canine members of your household to ensure the dog is the right fit for your whole family.

If you bring a dog, they must have a collar and be on a leash for the dog meets (slip-lead leashes are preferred). Please NO retractable leashes.

When you arrive, first stop at the welcome/check-in table before browsing the kennel. Please leave your dog(s) in your vehicle with the A/C running until you can grab them for a meet and greet. You may walk them around the grass areas to the right of our building until they are ready for a meet.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN COLLAR AND LEASH IF YOU PLAN ON ADOPTING A NEW DOG! The shelter has a limited available for purchase.

If you are interested in more than one dog, please have a list of your top 4-5 dogs in mind so our staff can better assist you. You can walk through the kennel to see our available dogs!

Once you enter the shelter, staff and volunteers will be available to assist you. Most dogs will be able to go home on the event day. However, some may require pick-up on another day. Please be patient with our staff and volunteers.

ADOPTING CATS

Browse adoptable cats here.

Please complete a general cat adoption questionnaire at least three days in advance of the event to allow staff to have ample time to review the questionnaire and touch base with any questions.

BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier) is encouraged. However, we will have premade cardboard carriers for sale if needed.

Though it is not required, we recommend bringing all household members to ensure the cat is the right fit for your whole family.

If you are interested in more than one cat, please have a list of your top 3-4 cats in mind so our staff can better assist you. You can browse the cattery to see all adoptable cats!

Once you enter the shelter, we will have staff and volunteers there to assist you with check-in and direct you through the cattery to arrange a meeting with the cat(s) you want to see.

ADOPTING SMALL ANIMALS

Browse adoptable small animals here.

Please complete a general small animal adoption questionnaire at least three days in advance of the event to allow staff to have ample time to review the questionnaire and touch base with any questions.

BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier) is encouraged. However, we will have premade cardboard carriers for sale if needed.

Once you enter the shelter, staff can walk you through meeting our small animals before choosing the one(s) you want to adopt.

ABOUT CLEAR THE SHELTERS

NBCUniversal Local is teaming up with hundreds of shelters nationwide to host Clear The Shelters in August 2024, a nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign that helps find loving homes for animals in need. This year, they are celebrating their 10th Anniversary! More than 1 million pets have found their forever homes since 2015. To learn more, visit their website at www.cleartheshelters.com.

Today, a third dog entered our care, testing positive for canine parvovirus on arrival. The majority of the dogs in our care are fully vaccinated and are at low risk for contracting the disease. The parvo positive dogs are currently isolated away from our general population and the most at-risk exposed dogs are also quarantined in a separate area of the shelter. For at least the next 14 days, we are closely monitoring all dogs to ensure the safety of our shelter population. We have implemented numerous safety protocols to mitigate the spread of the disease. Currently, the cases and exposure are limited to one section of our kennel and, out of an abundance of caution, we have added safety protocols and taken steps to limit exposure so other dogs will not potentially contract the virus.  

All three of the dogs mentioned were brought in from a small geographic area in York City – two on Madison Avenue and one from King Street.Residents in this area should be extremely cautious when walking their dogs and should ensure their dogs are fully vaccinated for canine parvovirus. Based on the sudden onset of their symptoms after arrival, we believe that they entered our shelter with the virus. 

Because of the positive cases and the potential for exposure risk, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the adoption event scheduled for this Sunday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will remain closed for public browsing in our dog kennel until Thursday, July 25. Public browsing hours for our cats and small animals will still be available Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

While we must cancel this event, it is critical that we continue to place healthy, fully vaccinated dogs in adoptive homes. Most of our shelter population is at extremely low risk of contracting or spreading the virus. We are obligated by contract to take in stray and displaced dogs in York County. If we were to cease adopting out healthy, low risk animals, we would quickly have to close our doors to canine intake, leaving many animals at risk with no safe haven or resources in their time of need.  

Our shelter is now at capacity for dogs, and events like we planned for Sunday are essential tools to get more dogs adopted, creating space for new incoming pets. Because we cannot safely have the public walk through our kennels, we plan to host a half-price dog adoption special from Sunday, July 14 through Saturday, July 20 by appointment only. Dogs that are available for adoption during this special are fully vaccinated, asymptomatic and very low risk for contracting the virus. Our main concern is the health and safety of the dogs in our shelter and pets in the community. Appointment-based adoptions will allow us to have thorough conversations to ensure there is no risk in placing a dog in their forever home. To make an adoption appointment, please call us at 717-764-6109 or email us at info@ycspca.org. To view our available dogs, visit www.ycspca.org/adopt. We will continue to provide the public with any important updates. Thank you for your support for the York County SPCA and shelter pets in our community. 

Canine Parvovirus FAQs

What is canine parvovirus or “parvo?”

Canine parvovirus is a contagious viral disease that attacks the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow in dogs.  

How is parvovirus spread? 

The virus spreads through fecal material.   

Who is most at risk for the infection? 

Puppies and unvaccinated adults are most at risk.  

What symptoms does parvovirus cause? 

Parvovirus commonly causes diarrhea, vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, and dehydration. 

How does the YCSPCA test for parvovirus? 

The most common method of testing is a fecal ELISA test. This test can be completed in our facility in less than 15 minutes.  Occasionally, further testing from an outside laboratory is needed to confirm an infection which takes several days. 

How is parvovirus treated? 

Treatment options depend greatly on how severe the infection is and what clinical signs are present. Maintaining proper hydration and nutrients is very important. Treating diarrhea, vomiting, and preventing infections are also mainstays of treatment.  

How can parvovirus be prevented? 

The canine parvovirus vaccination available is extremely effective. It is important to have dogs vaccinated against parvovirus when they are puppies, given every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks (about three and a half months). After that, dogs should be revaccinated yearly or every three years, depending on the vaccine, to remain protected.  

How is parvovirus handled in a shelter setting? 

Unfortunately, periodic introduction of parvovirus into the shelter is inevitable due to unvaccinated animals in the community.  Although parvovirus will always pose a risk for most shelters, the rate of infection can be greatly reduced by vaccination, quick recognition, appropriate quarantine of disease/exposed animals, and proper disinfection protocols.  

How are positive dogs housed in the shelter? 

A positive dog is isolated away from our general population to mitigate spread through the shelter.  Exposed dogs are quarantined for 14 days (this is because it can take up to 14 days to come up positive for parvovirus after exposure) to help prevent an outbreak.   

Spay/neuter clinics, veterinary hospitals, and animal welfare advocates all over the world take time on World Spay Day to recognize the valuable benefits of spay/neuter. They do so by holding special celebratory events, promoting the importance of spay/neuter online and in person, advocating for more available spay/neuter resources, and even conducting“Spayathon” surgery days to get as many animals as possible spayed and neutered.

Why is spaying and neutering your pet or local community cat so important? There are a multitude of reasons, including:

1. Address Pet Overpopulation – Spay/neuter is a surgical procedure that removes the reproductive organs of a pet, making them sterile. After being spayed/neutered, they can no longer have puppies or kittens which prevents unwanted animals from ending up abandoned or in animal shelters.
    
2. Health Benefits – Spaying and neutering prevents multiple types of cancer (including uterine, ovarian, and testicular) and decreases the risk of mammary cancer and transmissible venereal tumors. The procedure also eliminates the risk of life-threatening conditions like pyometra, testicular torsion, and dystocia. Pets that are spayed and neutered statistically live longer, healthier lives.
    
3. Behavioral Benefits – Unwanted behaviors like urine marking, roaming, some types of aggression, and the anxious/restless behavior associated with dogs in heat can be improved or eliminated after reproductive hormones are gone from a pet’s system. Many intact males run away each year in search of a female in heat, with the possibility of being hit by a car, otherwise injured, or permanently lost.
    
4. Public Health and Community Well-being – Spay/neuter benefits communities as a whole, not just the individual animals. Access to spay/neuter services in a given area results in fewer stray animals, meaning fewer incidents of aggression, noise complaints, and property damage. Animals are also vaccinated against rabies at the time of surgery if they are not already up to date. Rabies is a zoonotic(spread between people and animals) disease that can spread to humans and is invariably fatal, so ensuring all cats and dogs are vaccinated is paramount in preserving public health.

Overall, spaying and neutering is a vital part of responsible pet ownership, not only for the individual pet but for the community as a whole. 

At the York County SPCA, our Spay/Neuter Clinic is focused on providing affordable spay/neuter services all year round. Each day, up to 65 animalsare spayed or neutered in the clinic by our team of dedicated veterinary professionals. In 2023, our Spay/Neuter Clinic performed a total of 11,862 spay/neuter surgeries, and this number has continued to grow with each passing year.

We understand that achieving our mission of reducing the number of unwanted pets and free-roaming cats via an aggressive spay/neuter program is not one we can achieve without the help of our community. The positive impact we make is only possible with the help of responsible pet owners, community cat trappers and transporters, municipal leaders, generous donors, and hard-working volunteers. 

For more information on the services the clinic offers, please visit the Spay/Neuter Clinic page on our website.

In honor of National Clear The Shelters Month, in partnership with NBCUniversal Local, we will be hosting a week of WAIVED adoption fees for all animals! Yes, this includes dogs, cats, and small animals! 

Clear The Shelters is a national movement with hundreds of shelters across the country to host a nationwide pet adoption and donation campaign that helps find loving homes for animals in need. More than 860K pets have found their forever homes since 2015.

In honor of this movement, we will be holding six adoption events all week long that will take place at our shelter unless otherwise indicated for Petco. Here are the details for our adoption events. Please visit our Facebook page for more details and to RSVP. We will be posting featured animals who are looking for their forever homes.

Clear The Shelters Adoption Events

Sunday, August 20: Dog Adoption Event (11 am – 4 pm)

Tuesday, August 22: Cat Adoption Event (11 am – 4 pm) 

Thursday, August 24: Cat Adoption Event (5 pm – 7 pm) 

Friday, August 25: Small Animal Adoption Event (11 am – 4 pm) 

Saturday, August 26: Cat and Small Animal Adoption Event (10 am – 2 pm) at the East York Petco: 2420 Eastern Blvd, York, PA 17402.

Sunday, August 27: Dog Adoption Event (11 am – 4 pm)

All other adoption protocols remain in place, including submitting adoption applications, scheduling meets, etc. If there is an animal you are interested in, you can apply for them by visiting their adoption profile on our website or by scanning the QR code on their kennel or cage card at our shelter.

Once you submit your application, please allow our client services counselors up to three days to review it and reach out to you. Once approved, they will work with you to schedule a meet with the animal (and other family members and dogs in the household for dog meets). 

The length of our normal adoption process from start to finish is between three and four days on average, so it is important to fill out a general animal adoption application at www.ycpsca.org/adopt as soon as you can to become a pre-approved adopter for our adoption events. Once your application is approved, it remains good for one year.

To view all of our AVAILABLE animals, visit our website https://ycspca.org/adopt/.

Don’t forget about our public browsing hours every Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Sat from 10 am to 2 pm!

Let’s #ClearTheShelters!

Beginning Saturday, October 1, the York County SPCA will host a “Fall in Love” adoption event for cats and small animals. Small animals include rabbits and guinea pigs. During this event, our regular adoption fees will be discounted by 50% for these animals. This promotion will last until Monday, October 31.

“We have numerous cats and small animals who have spent months in the shelter waiting on a loving, permanent home,” said Steven Martinez, Executive Director of the York County SPCA. “With this event, we hope to help our community ‘fall in love’ with one of our feline and small animal residents.”

We are open for browsing Tuesday through Thursday 10A – 2P.

Animal adoption applications are processed online, and generally approved within 3-4 business days. You can apply to adopt a specific animal by clicking “Apply for Adoption” on their profile. You can fill out a general adoption application by visiting www.ycspca.org/adopt. After being approved, you can contact us to let us know if there is a specific animal you are interested in. All adoption appointments must be pre-scheduled after approval. Fees vary by animal breed and age. For a breakdown of fees, visit the adoption page on our website. 

What’s included in the adoption fee?

• Cats: Every cat adopted from our shelter will receive medical care, microchip, vaccinations, relevant testing, and spay/neuter.
• Small Animals: All small animals get a full veterinary exam, relevant medical treatment and ongoing care while housed in our facility. Rabbits are spayed or neutered.   

Important links:

• General Adoption Application/ Adoption Fees
• Available Cats: Available Cats
• Available Small Animals