SHARONVILLE, Ohio (WKRC) – SPCA Cincinnati was given a $3.5 million investment to increase the capacity for foster care and to aid in the creation of a state-of-the-art medical center.
SPCA Cincinnati’s CEO and President Chris Seelbach said the investment was “one of the largest capital investments SPCA has ever had.”
“Animals are going to get better care, more specialized care,” he said. “It’s really exciting for those of us who are so invested in doing right by our animals in this community.”
The $3.5 million will go directly towards a new state-of-the-art medical center, expanded capacity for foster care, and easier work conditions for the people caring for the animals.
“Our clinic right now where we treat thousands of animals every year – 600 square feet. It’s tiny. It’s where we do surgery, it’s where we do our pharmacy, it’s where we do the prep for surgery,” Seelbach said.
“We can only fit so many dogs in our medical room, we can only fit so many people in our medical room, so having these new areas, we’re going to be able to vastly increase the number of animals that we can get through,” said Jennifer Smith, Vice President of Medical Services at SPCA Cincinnati. “With the expanded areas, we can do a lot more specialty work, animals with special needs, that type of thing.”
On top of all of that, SPCA said it would open a street-level adoption center in Over-the-Rhine.
A portion of the funding for the project came from a pair of SPCA’s longtime supporters, Peter Corliss and Nicholas Chimeras. Seelbach said the medical center would be named after them.
“They’ve made a substantial investment in SPCA Cincinnati, into this project,” Seelbach said. “They’re incredibly excited and passionate about expanding and amplifying the medical care that our animals receive.”
The new and upgraded facilities will not only give workers and volunteers the tools and space they need to provide top-notch care, it’ll also bring some much needed peace of mind as they continue their efforts to find home for their furry fosters.