Celebrating 80 Virginia shelters that were no-kill in 2024 and inspiring continued lifesaving with Best Friends Animal Society
In 2002, the Richmond SPCA made a bold commitment: to be a no-kill shelter and save the life of every healthy and treatable homeless animal in our care. For 23 years, we’ve kept that promise—and we always will—thanks to the incredible support of our community, which includes you!
Becoming no-kill is among the most important milestones in our organization’s history, but our goal has always been bigger than our own success. The Richmond SPCA envisions a no-kill community, where every shelter can make the same pledge. And encouraging news: we’re closer than ever to making that a reality in our region and across Virginia.
This morning, the Richmond SPCA joined fellow no-kill shelters at the General Assembly, alongside Best Friends Animal Society, celebrating the remarkable lifesaving progress for homeless dogs and cats being made throughout the Commonwealth. In 2024, more than half of Virginia’s shelters achieved a 90% or better live release rate—the nationally-recognized benchmark for no-kill—and most others are within striking distance of that crucial target.
How does the Richmond SPCA contribute to this progress?
For decades, we’ve focused on building and expanding programs that address root causes of animal homelessness and providing lifesaving solutions. These include high-volume and targeted spay and neuter initiatives, affordable veterinary care, a pet pantry, crisis boarding, pet training and behavior support, youth education, microchip and vaccine clinics and more. We also rescue, treat, rehabilitate and adopt out about 4,000 homeless animals each year, maintain transport partnerships with over 60 groups across the state, support other shelters impacted by natural disasters, and provide robust opportunities for volunteers. And, we’re not slowing down. You can count on the Richmond SPCA to keep educating, advocating, collaborating and innovating for the animals who need us.
But, we need your help.
Creating and sustaining no-kill communities relies on all of us, so please:
- Make a donation.
- Adopt your next companion.
- Foster a litter of kittens.
- Spay or neuter your pets.
- Volunteer your time and talents.
- Utilize pet retention resources.
- Tell your friends.
Every action, big or small, brings us closer to a day when every pet has the chance to thrive. We’re so close — let’s make our region and Virginia no-kill. And let’s do it with the strength of our collective compassion.
