Brandywine Valley SPCA unveils region’s ‘largest animal welfare facility’
The new shelter includes more outdoor play space, doubles capacity for spay/neuter surgeries, and adds Delaware’s first ICU for shelter pets.
Move-in day at the Copeland Center for Animal Welfare in New Castle, Del. (Courtesy of Brandywine Valley SPCA)
It’s a new day for shelter pets in Delaware.
The Brandywine Valley SPCA on Wednesday officially opens its nearly 20,000-square-foot facility in New Castle, designed to help more animals than ever before.
The three-acre site includes a medical center, an adoption center, and a community center.
“Our goal with this new facility was to meet the increasing needs for services in this community while creating a fun and inviting space for our adopters, clients, volunteers, and staff,” said Adam Lamb, BVSPCA CEO. “Visitors are welcomed through whimsically designed spaces to choose a dog or cat to join their family, to reunite with a lost pet, or to get affordable veterinary care for their family pet.”
Related Content
In her new book, dog researcher Alexandra Horowitz 'keeps a lens on the puppy’s point of view, how they see and smell the world, make meaning of it, and become independent.'
Air Date: October 7, 2022 10:00 am
Listen 49:15The medical center will also be able to provide preventative care and treatment for family pets. It will include Delaware’s first Intensive Care Unit for shelter pets, a rarity at shelters around the region. “We’re especially excited about the ICU so we can treat critically ill dogs and cats from all our locations more efficiently and cost-effectively,” Lamb said.
The site’s community center will allow the shelter to expand its humane education efforts for groups, which has been limited by the smaller size of its previous location.
“Our mission is not just to be there for animals but to involve people in improving the lives of animals,” Lamb said. “For example, programs for kids like our summer day camp, birthday parties, and junior volunteering help teach compassion and responsible animal care at an early age.”
Related Content
Protest calls for an end to carriage horses on Philly streets
The effort is designed to end a Philly tradition which animal activists say is unsafe and unhealthy for the horses.
2 years ago
The expanded space will also create more comfortable lodging for animals. Dogs will be able to take part in playgroups held in six outdoor play yards. Capacity for cats has doubled, with adoptable cats kept in one of three free-roaming cat rooms, plus an outdoor “catio.” Individual cat condos will also be used for cats who prefer to live alone.
BVSPCA purchased the site, which had formerly been a veterinary specialty care center, in 2020. After $7 million in investments from private donors and grants, the Copeland Center for Animal Welfare is named in honor of Tatiana Copeland, a long-time advocate for animals.
BVSPCA also has adoption centers in Dover, Georgetown, West Chester, and Plymouth Meeting.
Further information
- How to help: Volunteer | Foster | Donate
- Animals available for adoption: Dogs | Cats
- Other resources: Pet owners in need | Lost pets | Pet surrenders
Saturdays just got more interesting.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
ACCT Philly dealing with severe overcrowding, in need of short-term fosters
"We were Instacarting dog crates because we had no place for these dogs to sit," said ACCT Philly's executive director.
8 months ago
Brandywine Valley SPCA helps airlift 110 dogs and cats from Ida’s path — and more may be on the way
The BVSPCA helped airlift more than 100 homeless pets to safety ahead of Hurricane Ida. Now, it’s preparing for what’s to come.
3 years ago
Brandywine Valley SPCA to host drive-thru pet food pantry for families in need
“We want to make sure our pets don’t get overlooked in the struggle to adjust to the changes we’ve had to make in our daily routines," said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki.
5 years ago