SPCA shutters Veterinary Center in St. Pete

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay is evolving to meet community needs, which includes closing and selling its Veterinary Center in St. Petersburg.

Martha Boden, CEO of the SPCA Tampa Bay, called the decision bittersweet. Since 2016, the organization spayed or neutered nearly 26,000 dogs and cats and conducted over 89,000 physical exams at the facility.

Boden said the location in St. Petersburg’s Historic Kenwood neighborhood is “fantastic” for a business. However, the nonprofit found it increasingly difficult to serve pet owners facing financial hardships.

“We’ve had an incredible chance to touch thousands of families’ lives in those eight years,” Boden said. “But what we saw, particularly over the last couple of years, was that what the community was really looking for from us, we couldn’t easily deliver from that particular location or setup.”

Martha Boden

The SPCA began experimenting with new service delivery methods roughly 18 months ago as local living costs soared. The 11,832-square-foot veterinary hospital at 3250 5^th Ave. N. accepted its last patient Aug. 23.

Boden said many pet owners sought free or very low-cost veterinary care. The organization realized there were more “nimble and efficient” avenues to assist the community.

Boden explained that pet owners clamored for additional veterinary services before the facility opened. She said the number of private practices has increased alongside awareness of the pet industry’s pitfalls and the city’s growth.

Those who can afford typical pet care prices now have myriad options in and around downtown St. Petersburg. The SPCA now plans to fill new gaps.

“We’ve done a lot of smaller, more targeted community programs – vaccine clinics, grooming clinics, food bank distributions, even pet supply distributions,” Boden said. “And that has really allowed us to reach a lot of families and meet the needs we’re hearing from people.”

Selling the center will aid those efforts. The facility’s assessed value is $2.31 million, according to Pinellas County records.

The SPCA bought the property for $936,000 in 2015. The nonprofit will double its investment and eliminate maintenance costs for a nearly 60-year-old building.

When asked if the SPCA has identified a buyer, Boden said, “We’re in conversations.”

“It will be exciting to have an opportunity to use our resources a little bit differently,” she added. “We expect when the building does sell, we will be able to use those proceeds, in part, to invest in more of these community programs.”

The nonprofit organization will now offer more veterinary clinics throughout Pinellas County. Photo: SPCA Tampa Bay.

The SPCA now provides three regular food banks: One at its Largo shelter campus on Tuesdays, another at Pasadena Community Church in West St. Pete and a recently opened outpost in Clearwater at Hope Villages of America.

The nonprofit has also launched a free grooming program for pet owners who receive public assistance. In addition to saving low-income clients money, the service will prevent health issues caused by inadequate pet hygiene.

The SPCA realizes some pet owners will want to follow their veterinarians. According to its website, the physicians are “taking time to decide their future path,” and “we are unable to provide this information at this time.”

The organization is not recommending veterinarians or offering referrals. Boden reiterated that the area is now home to several quality practices.

However, the SPCA hosts periodic free or low-cost vaccine and microchipping clinics at its Largo campus. “We’re going to expand that even more,” Boden said. “On and off location.”

She noted that other programs could also use additional funding. Boden also expects to invest in community partners with proceeds from the facility’s sale.

“We’ve developed a lot of fabulous relationships with families who care deeply about their animals, and we are very proud of the eight years we’ve been able to provide veterinary support,” she said. “We are doing everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

Boden said the SPCA filled prescriptions until the facility’s door locked. The organization will transfer records to new vets.

While Boden will miss being part of the Kenwood neighborhood, and the center’s visibility in St. Pete, the nonprofit must evolve with its community. She also stressed that the local SPCA is not shutting down.

Its Largo headquarters receives over 25 animals daily. A recent “huge” adoption event was a success. “We’ve had two campuses in the past, and we’re now back to one,” Boden said.