December 19, 2025

By: Jade Garrett – SPCA Albrecht Center Events & Fundraising Manager

The holiday season brings a change in routine for many families, but at the SPCA Albrecht Center, daily operations continue at full pace. This year, that pace has been especially steady.

In 2025, the shelter has seen a record number of animal intakes, alongside a record number of adoptions. While those numbers reflect strong community engagement, they also mean the demand for daily care, supplies, and services remain high.

Over the holiday, most of the homeless animals in our care will stay in the shelter. To help meet their ongoing needs, the SPCA Albrecht Center has set up a Christmas tree filled with wish lists from shelter pets. The lists are not symbolic. They reflect items used every day in our facility, including toys for enrichment, treats for training and stress reduction, and bedding that can be rotated through regular cleaning.

Programs like this help bridge a practical gap. While adoption fees and donations support our mission and daily operations, donated supplies allow resources to be directed where they are most urgently needed. This is particularly important during periods of high intake, when the volume of animals stretches both space and supplies.

The wish list tree also offers an accessible way for community members to support shelter operations. Visitors can stop by the shelter to select a list and drop off items in person. Others choose to participate remotely by requesting a list online and sending items directly. Both options contribute to the same goal: maintaining consistent standards of care during a busy season.

Behind the scenes, shelter staff and volunteers continue their work as usual. Animals receive daily enrichment, behavioral support, and medical monitoring. Intake evaluations and adoptions move forward, and spay and neuter surgeries continue as scheduling allows. And while adoption numbers have been encouraging this year, the need for space, supplies, and support remains constant.

Community involvement plays a central role in balancing these demands. Donations, volunteering, fostering, and adoptions all contribute to the shelter’s ability to respond effectively as animals come through its doors. Seasonal efforts like the wish list tree are one part of that larger system, designed to meet immediate needs without losing sight of long-term goals.

The holidays often bring increased attention to shelters, but the realities of animal care extend well beyond the season. As the year draws to a close, the SPCA Albrecht Center remains focused on the same priorities that guide our work year-round: responsible care, thoughtful placement, and community partnership. The support received during the holidays helps ensure that work continues uninterrupted, for every animal who depends on it.

Click/tap to expand and see the Shelter Pets’ Holiday Wish Lists!

Jade Garrett is the Events & Fundraising Manager for the SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken, SC. She is a seasoned marketing professional who found her way to the SPCA Albrecht Center in the fall of 2023. With a lifelong passion for animal welfare, she is excited to continue making a difference in the lives of homeless animals in our community for many years to come.