Better Business Bureau Report for
Houston SPCA

Better Business Bureau Report issued May 2011
Better Business Bureau Report expires May 2012


This BBB Accredited charity meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and is a Seal Holder. Find out more...


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Charity Contact Information

Name: Houston SPCA
Address: 900 Portway Drive
  Houston, TX 77024
Phone: 713-869-7722
Web Address: www.houstonspca.org
Also known as:Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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Better Business Bureau Comments

Year, State Incorporated: 1924, Texas
Affiliates: None
Stated Purpose: To promote commitment to and respect for all animals and free them from suffering, abuse and exploitation.

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Evaluation Conclusions

              

This organization is a Charity Partner of the Better Business Bureau of Houston and South Texas.
Houston SPCA meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.
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Programs

              

The Houston SPCA provides the following programs and services: Adoptions, Sheltering of all animals, Cruelty Investigations, 24-Injured Animal Rescue, Spay/Neuter Clinic, Disaster Relief, Humane Education, Animal Behavior Program, Lost and Found, PetSafe, and Pet Loss Support Group. Adoptions: Dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, rabbits, small companion animals and even farm animals are available for adoption. The Houston SPCA has hundreds of animals available for adoption every day. In 2009, a total of 11,087 animals found new homes. Sheltering of all animals: The HSPCA has an open door policy - never turning away any animals in need. Last year, they provided services for over 100,000 animals. Cruelty Investigations: There is no excuse for animal abuse. The HSPCA investigated 15,5500 cases of animal neglect, cruelty and abuse in 2009. 24-Injured Animal Rescue: Help for injured stray animals is just a phone call away. The HSPCA operates Houston's only 24-hour injured stray animal rescue program. They rescued 3,766 animals in 2009. Spay/Neuter Clinic: Assures disadvantaged pet owners have the resources to care for their animals by providing free spay/neuter and vaccines to income qualified families. Last year, over 6,000 adopted animals were sterilized in the Houston SPCA clinic. Disaster Relief: As designated leader of all animal relief efforts during natural disasters, The Houston SPCA works together with the Office of Emergency Services and the American Red Cross to assure that people and animals are free from harm. Humane Education: The Houston SCPA offers a three-part series of presentations free of charge to all public and private schools and teaches respect, kindness, and compassion for all living things. Animal Behavior and Training: The Houston SPCA has a full-time, university-trained animal behavioral specialist on staff. Last year, hundreds of teams received training through low cost classes and thousands of people received free telephone counseling and email counseling. Lost and Found: The Houston SPCA receives thousands of stray animals every year. PetSafe: This program addresses the link between violence to humans and violence to animals by providing emergency boarding of pets for families living in family violence shelters. Pet Loss Support Group: Provides a professionally facilitated, supportive and safe environment for people to grieve the end of a relationship with a special friend. Foster Care: The Houston SPCA fosters healthy, adoptable animals, instead of mechanizing them, when space is needed for incoming dogs, cats, and small mammals. There were over 500 volunteers who nurtured and loved over 1,400 animals last year.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, Houston SPCA's program expenses were:

  
Animal shelter and facility support 4,583,341
Animal care and protection 755,388
Humane services 239,524
Total Program Expenses: $5,578,253
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Governance

              

Chief Executive : Patricia Mercer, President
Compensation*:
$198,000

Chair of the Board: Martha Seng
Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation: Architect (FAIA), Jackson & Ryan Architects

Board Size: 17

Paid Staff Size: 85

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.
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Fund Raising

              

Method(s) Used:

direct mail, invitations to fund raising events, print advertisements, grant proposals, internet, planned giving arrangements
Fund raising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $7,518,573, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)
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Tax Status

              

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.
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Financial

              

The following information is based on Houston SPCA's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Source of Funds  
Investment income 2,447,527
Capital campaign 1,776,977
Trusts and bequests 1,598,197
General contributions 1,544,631
Direct mail campaign 1,386,763
Adoptions and admissions 1,200,042
Fundraising events 680,142
Online contributions 376,363
Fees for service 169,169
Foundations 155,500
Other -7,589
Total Income $11,327,722


chart



Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 81%  Fund Raising: 13%  Administrative: 6% 

Total income   $11,327,722
  Program expenses $5,578,253
  Fund raising expenses 858,125
  Administrative expenses 389,913
 
Total expenses   $6,826,291
Income in Excess of Expenses   4,501,431
Beginning net assets   23,755,277
Ending net assets   28,256,707
Total liabilities   4,176,900
Total assets   $34,251,981


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Complaints

              

1 complaint(s) closed with BBB in the last 3 years. 0 complaint(s) closed in the last 12 months.

These complaints have been classified as:

  • 1 complaint(s) involving Problems with Product/Service

These complaints were resolved as:

  • Complaint resolved with BBB assistance (1 complaint)
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An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.

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