SPCA shutters Veterinary Center in St. Pete

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay is evolving to meet community needs, which includes closing and selling its Veterinary Center in St. Petersburg. Martha Boden, CEO of the SPCA Tampa Bay, called the decision bittersweet. Since 2016, the organization spayed or neutered nearly 26,000 dogs and cats and conducted over 89,000 physical exams at the facility. Boden said the location in St.

Petersburg’s Historic Kenwood neighborhood is “fantastic” for a business. However, the nonprofit found it increasingly difficult to serve pet owners facing financial hardships. “We’ve had an incredible chance to touch thousands of families’ lives in those eight years,” Boden said. “But what we saw, particularly over the last couple of years, was that what the community was really looking for from us, we couldn’t easily deliver from that particular location or setup. ” The SPCA began experimenting with new service delivery methods roughly 18 months ago as local living costs soared.

The 11,832-square-foot veterinary hospital at 3250 5th Ave. N. accepted its last patient Aug. 23. Boden said many pet owners sought free or very low-cost veterinary care.

The organization realized there were more “nimble and efficient” avenues to assist the community. Boden explained that pet owners clamored for additional veterinary services before the facility opened. She said the number of private practices has increased alongside awareness of the pet industry’s pitfalls and the city’s growth. Those who can afford typical pet care prices now have myriad options in and around downtown St. Petersburg.

The SPCA now plans to fill new gaps. “We’ve done a lot of smaller, more targeted community programs – vaccine clinics, grooming clinics, food bank distributions, even pet supply distributions,” Boden said. “And that has really allowed us to reach a lot of families and meet the needs we’re hearing from people. ” Selling the center will aid those efforts. The facility’s assessed value is $2.

31 million, according to Pinellas County records. The SPCA bought the property for $936,000 in 2015. The nonprofit will double its investment and eliminate maintenance costs for a nearly 60-year-old building. When asked if the SPCA has identified a buyer, Boden said, “We’re in conversations. ” “It will be exciting to have an opportunity to use our resources a little bit differently,” she added.

“We expect when the building does sell, we will be able to use those proceeds, in part, to invest in more of these community programs. ” The nonprofit organization will now offer more veterinary clinics throughout Pinellas County. The SPCA now provides three regular food banks: One at its Largo shelter campus on Tuesdays, another at Pasadena Community Church in West St. Pete and a recently opened outpost in Clearwater at Hope Villages of America. The nonprofit has also launched a free grooming program for pet owners who receive public assistance.

In addition to saving low-income clients money, the service will prevent health issues caused by inadequate pet care.