October 21, 2025
By: Jade Garrett – SPCA Albrecht Center Events & Fundraising Manager

Kid was adoption #1,000!

This month, the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare celebrated an exciting milestone with more than one thousand adoptions so far this year. As of the end of last week, 1,027 animals have found loving homes. And with months still to go, the shelter is on track to surpass last year’s record of 1,152 adoptions.

The achievement comes during our organization’s 90th anniversary year, marking nearly a century of lifesaving work in the Aiken community. Originally founded in 1935 as a rescue for overburdened mules, the SPCA Albrecht Center has become a pillar in the community for companion animal rescue, veterinary care, and humane education.

While reaching four figures in adoptions is worth celebrating, it’s the stories behind those numbers that show what this milestone truly means. Several long-term residents – dogs like Tallulah, Theda, and Oliver, who spent one to three years at the shelter – finally went home in 2025. Cats like Pacino and Betsy Jo, who had each waited more than a year, also found families of their own. For our staff and volunteers who care for these animals every day, these adoptions represent patience, teamwork, and a shared belief that every animal deserves a chance, no matter how long it takes.

The SPCA Albrecht Center’s success extends far beyond the adoption floor. In 2024, our organization earned official recognition from Best Friends Animal Society for maintaining our “no-kill” status with a 94% save rate. While that recognition is new, the philosophy behind it is not. The Albrecht Center has upheld no-kill standards for the past 15 years, ensuring that healthy and treatable animals are given every opportunity for placement.

This lifesaving work at this scale doesn’t happen on our own. We rely on an entire network of support from adopters, fosters, rescue partners, donors, and volunteers who give their time, resources, and compassion to keep the mission moving forward. Behind every adoption is a team of Pet Care Specialists, volunteers, and Veterinary Care staff working together to prepare animals for new beginnings and support pet owners long after they leave the shelter.

Our very own low-cost Veterinary Care Center is one initiative that helps make that possible. Open Monday through Friday from 1p.m. to 4p.m., the Veterinary Care Center provides affordable wellness care for community pets and even offers financial assistance for veterans, senior citizens, and families in need.

Expanding our outreach, we’ve also recently installed a new public blessing box, offering free pet food to help pet owners facing hard times. Each initiative is designed to remove barriers to care and keep pets in homes where they’re loved.

Last year in 2024, the Albrecht Center took in 1,412 animals and we’ve already surpassed that with 1,456 animals. That number will continue to rise as intake demands grow in shelters all over the country. But, with over 1,000 adoptions already this year, we stay hopeful because we know what’s possible when a community comes together for animals.

Ninety years in, the work continues. One adoption, one family, and one second chance at a time. The SPCA Albrecht Center is located at 199 Willow Run Rd, Aiken, SC. Our hours are Monday-Friday, 11a.m. to 4:30p.m., and Wednesdays and Saturdays, 11a.m. to 6p.m. Check out our available pets anytime at LetLoveLive.org/adopt.

 

 

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 shelter 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.