Congressman tours local animal shelter

U.S. Congressman Morgan Luttrell checks out some of the cats in the cattery and some of the dogs in the outdoor kennels at the SPCA of Polk County’s animal shelter located at 802 S. Houston in Livingston on Monday. Luttrell toured the facility to determine if he can assist with any of their needs. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten

By Emily Banks Wooten
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Strides are continuing to be made by the SPCA of Polk County and have caught the attention of someone who can possibly offer additional help.

U.S. Congressman Morgan Luttrell and a couple of his staffers met with SPCA Executive Director Ron Hornsby and one of his board members Monday, touring the local animal shelter, its kennels and cattery, hearing about the organization’s needs and its victories, even briefly viewing a surgery in progress.

The SPCA of Polk County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit no kill animal welfare organization that serves the residents of Polk County and surrounding communities. It is run primarily by volunteers and a few paid staff members. The SPCA of Polk County is not funded by ASPCA or other SPCA organizations, nor does it receive any city, county, state or federal funding. It relies solely on donations to continue its operations and offer lifesaving treatments and care for cats and dogs in and around the county.

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“It costs to run a facility of our size, being the only nonprofit, no kill animal shelter in Polk County with a physical location people can visit. We receive zero funding or support from the city, county or state. We are so reliant on your generosity and dependent on your support, that without it, we cannot survive and continue to improve countless lives and perform the function that we do,” Hornsby said.

The SPCA of Polk County had a busy 2023, according to Volunteer Dorene Philpot, who reported that 894 animals came into the organization’s care during the calendar year of 2023, including 525 dogs and 369 cats. Five hundred twenty-seven surgeries were performed, and 2,615 vaccines were administered. 2023 boasted 615 adoptions, reflecting a 19% increase in cat adoptions compared to 2021 but a 14% decrease in dog adoptions compared to 2021. The organization fostered 305 animals, with an average length of stay of 58 days. Over 3,500 volunteer hours were clocked, and donations were up 1.38% from 2022.

Philpot was especially pleased to point out several notable accomplishments for the animal shelter over the course of 2023. “The Clinic,” a low-cost spay, neuter and wellness clinic, was established as a nonprofit addition to the SPCA of Polk County. Over 600 free microchips were administered in the community and over 400 free annual vaccinations were administered. The organization went viral on several TikTok videos, improved kennel care through new cleaning solutions and systems and installed new and secure exterior kennels for housing dogs during the day.

“These achievements and more were all made possible by the support and generosity provided by our volunteers, donors, members and staff. We are forever grateful for the dedication and hard work creating a society that we can all be proud of,” Philpot said.

To make a donation to the SPCA of Polk County so that it can continue its mission to help dogs and cats find loving homes, please visit https://givebutter.com/dOnmGf, call 936-755-3020 or mail in donations to SPCA of Polk County, P.O. Box 1403, Livingston, TX 77351, or visit the facility at 802 S. Houston Ave. in Livingston. The SPCA of Polk County is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit no kill animal welfare organization (EIN: 74-2119232).