History
The Monterey County SPCA has served the Monterey County area for over one hundred years. Since its establishment in 1905 the organization has provided shelter for abandoned, stray and orphaned animals, medical service for injured animals, and educational programs for people of all ages. It offers adoptions and has a low cost spay and neuter clinic as well as other services. There are many collaborative fund raisers and programs that the organization participates in, in addition to wildlife conservation efforts.
Like any other non-profit organization, the SPCA relies heavily on not only financial donations but also on volunteers donating their time to various jobs – from clerical or bookkeeping services to odd jobs on the 218-acre (0.88 km2) grounds.
At the time of its founding in 1905 the main focus of the SPCA of Monterey County was to address the issue of "stray dogs and cats about town." Additionally the organization looked to discuss the "different diseases prevalent among horses" and "investigate the abuse and fast driving of donkeys and horses."
The location of the first meeting to establish the SPCA was the Methodist Episcopal Church on Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove, California. The organization continued to operate after the church was torn down in 1963 and went on to become a safe haven for neglected and abused pets and injured and/or orphaned wildlife. According to one of the local newspapers, the SPCA shelter in its early years was a home for “833 dogs, 1050 cats, a horse, 5 cows, a bull, 4 goats, 13 rabbits, 23 chickens, 3 ducks, 5 deer, a pigeon, a coyote, 2 raccoons, an opossum, 3 white rats, a pheasant, a pelican, 2 seagulls, a parrot, a canary, a squirrel and a snake.”
Research and Conservation
Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation
The SPCA Wildlife Center is the only full service wildlife rehabilitation center serving Monterey County. Each year, the SPCA Wildlife Center admits over 2,000 animals for treatment and care. The species of animals received ranges from large animals such as bobcats, deer, opossums, hawks, owls, and pelicans, to small animals, including squirrels, turtles, hummingbirds, swallows, and more.
Serving the entire Monterey County area, the Wildlife Center provides a resource for people who encounter wildlife in need while also providing care for exotic pet animals that are lost or surrendered to the SPCA. In addition to receiving animals brought in by the public, Wildlife Center staff members are on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to respond to wildlife emergencies and provide transport and care to animals in distress.
The Wildlife Center functions in part as an emergency hospital for animals that are sick or injured. Common problems include wildlife hit by cars, birds caught by cats or baby birds that have fallen from nests. The Wildlife Center also acts as a nursery for the hundreds of nestling birds and infant mammals orphaned each spring. Many wild animals are orphaned as a result of human activities such as spring tree trimming or unnecessary rescue. While the Wildlife Center has a team of dedicated and highly trained staff, its accomplishments would not be possible without the many volunteers who donate their time each week.
Ventana Wildlife Society
Working to reintroduce the California condor to the wild, the Ventana Wildlife Society (VWS) approached the SPCA with an interesting dilemma: condors needing medical treatment had to endure a four-hour round trip between the mountains of Big Sur and the offices of local wildlife specialist Dr. Mike Murray of the Avian & Exotic Clinic in Monterey. Dr. Murray generously donates his services to both VWS and the SPCA's Wildlife Center. Since the SPCA is privileged to reside on over 200 acres (0.81 km2) pristine of Monterey County habitat, they can provide a small and very secluded area for recovering condors and VWS staff. This area, complete with temporary housing provided by VWS, is a ten-minute trip from needed veterinary medical services.
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