August 25, 2026
By: Sarah A. Neikam, SPCA Albrecht Center Marketing Director

There’s something especially satisfying about a freshly bathed dog. Especially when that bath helps another animal in need.

This Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare will host its final Pups n’ Suds Dog Wash Fundraiser of the summer, giving local dogs a chance to get cleaned up while raising funds for the homeless pets in our care.

Summer dog washes are hardly a new tradition at the SPCA Albrecht Center. In fact, the organization has been holding these fundraisers for decades.

For many years, the washes were held at Cold Creek Nurseries, which graciously loaned the SPCA its space, hoses and gallons upon gallons of water each month during the summer. There, dedicated SPCA volunteers washed, rinsed and pampered countless local dogs while raising vital funds for the animal shelter.

These days, the dog washes have moved home to the SPCA Albrecht Center, where volunteers work beneath the shade and fans of the Center’s screened patio. But the heart of the fundraiser has not changed.

Volunteers are still the ones rolling up their sleeves; washing, rinsing, trimming nails, cleaning ears and providing plenty of pets and TLC to the parade of dirty dogs whose owners stop by for a bath and to support a good cause.

For pet owners, the event is an easy way to check a few grooming tasks off the list and head home with a cleaner, happier pup. No appointment is necessary, and dogs are served on a first-come, first-served basis.

For the shelter, those baths add up.All proceeds from the Dog Wash Fundraisers directly benefit the animals in the SPCA Albrecht Center’s care, helping provide food, medical treatment, enrichment and the everyday necessities that keep shelter pets healthy and comfortable while they wait for homes.

Just as importantly, the washes bring volunteers and staff together for a common purpose. These events simply could not happen without the many hands, and the commitment of volunteers willing to sweat, get soaked and spend a summer morning cleaning up some very dirty dogs.

After decades of dog washes, locations may have changed, but the formula remains wonderfully simple: dedicated volunteers, clean dogs, and a community coming together to help animals in need.

If your pup could use a little end-of-summer freshening up, stop by the SPCA Albrecht Center this Saturday between 9 a.m. and noon for the final Dog Wash Fundraiser of the season at 199 Willow Run Rd, Aiken SC.

You’ll leave with a cleaner dog – and help make life a little better for the animals still waiting for families of their own. 🐾

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Sarah Neikam is the Marketing Director for the SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken, SC. She has been with the organization since 2012, holding various roles including Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Operations & HR. A Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA), Sarah is a passionate advocate for animal welfare. She resides in Aiken with her husband and several beloved cats.