Get Involved

Volunteer at Our Shelter

Need Help Rehoming a Pet?

Dog Licensing

Humane Education

 Is Your Pet Lost?

A lost pet can be a frightening experience for any pet parent. Immediate action is crucial, but where do you start? Follow the steps below for the best chance of a reunion.

What to do immediately after your pet goes missing: 

Walk the neighborhood: Take a walk around the immediate area and speak to any neighbors, postal service workers, landscapers, or anyone who may have seen your lost pet. You know your pet best, so look in areas that your pet may have been interested in or comfortable hiding in. Most pets are found close to home.

Share their scent: Put a couple of your pet's favorite items near the most common entry ways into your home. The front door and the door into your yard would be the best locations. You can include items like their favorite bed, blanket, toys, their litterbox (if cat) and any other items they use frequently. Their scents may help them find their way home.

Next Steps: 

1.      Search for your lost dog or cat on Petco Love Lost: We have partnered with Petco Love Lost to easily help search the national lost and found database and create a searchable/shareable alert for your missing pet. Upload a picture of your pet or searching by location. Powered by image recognition technology, Petco Love Lost helps match found animals to reported lost pets nationwide.

Visit Petco Love Lost and search now! If you haven't done so already, be sure to register your pet on Petco Love Lost to do things like create a Lost listing that can be shared and print out premade fliers. You can also receive fliers via text message or email.

2.   Use the sharing features on Petco Love Lost to distribute your lost pet listing on other social media outlets like Facebook, Craigslist, and Nextdoor.

3.      Make sure your pet’s microchip information is updated: If a finder takes your missing pet to be scanned for a microchip, you want to make sure that all the information is correct so that you will be contacted immediately.

4.      Check with your local Dog Warden's office: The number for the Hamilton County Dog Warden is (513) 541-7387. It is possible someone turned in your pet. Or they may allow you to place a lost report with them, where you can leave a photo of your pet and your contact information.

5.      Continue to spread the word about your missing pet: Make sure any posters or fliers made are large and bright with only relevant information on it. Place in high traffic areas and in the vicinity of where your lost pet went missing.

6.      Don’t give up! Finding a lost pet can take time. Remember to regularly check websites that you have posted your lost pet on and make updates as needed. New lost and found pets are added regularly to Petco Love Lost and to your local shelters.

Pet Therapy

Junior Service Program

SPCA Cincinnati is strengthening the animal welfare ecosystem in our community by investing in the grassroots partners who help animals every day. We’re offering microgrants of up to $1,000 to support small, local animal welfare organizations, because lasting change happens when we work together.

In 2025, SPCA Cincinnati partnered with 35 shelters to support our Shelter2Shelter initiative, receiving 751 animals from other shelters, and we’re proud to keep building collaborative solutions across our region.

Veterinary care is often one of the biggest barriers to keeping animals healthy and families together. These microgrants are one more way we can support the rescues, shelters, and community organizations helping pets stay safe, well, and cared for, whether that’s through medical support, prevention, or direct care.

There are more than 260 animal welfare organizations in the Cincinnati metro area. This initiative helps strengthen the partnerships that make our region a safer place for animals and the people who love them.

“Everything I’ve focused on as President & CEO has been about building a stronger, more connected animal-welfare system—one that moves faster, reaches farther, and lifts everyone doing the work. The Pawsitive Impact Microgrants are a natural extension of that momentum. We’re not just caring for animals inside our walls; we’re investing in the grassroots partners who keep this entire community humane, resilient, and lifesaving. When small organizations are stronger, the whole region is stronger—and that’s how real, lasting change happens.”

— Chris Seelbach, President & CEO, SPCA Cincinnati

What We’re Funding

Microgrants can support direct animal welfare work, such as:

• Spay/neuter services
• Emergency medical care
• Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) supplies and efforts
• Animal food and essential supplies
• Transport and short-term boarding connected to animal welfare needs

Who Can Apply

To apply, organizations must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organization. Fiscal sponsors must be a 501(c)(3) and agree to receive and administer funds on behalf of the applicant.
• Provide direct animal welfare services in the Greater Cincinnati area. Priority will be given to organizations operating within the I-275 loop.
• Submit only one application per calendar year.
• Be able to complete the proposed project by the end of 2026.
• Agree to submit a brief impact report by January 31, 2027.

How to Apply

Just complete the short online application linked below. We’ll ask for basic organization information, a brief project description, and your requested amount (up to $1,000). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will remain open until funding is exhausted. We will respond to applicants within 7 business days.

Apply Here

How Grants Are Selected

Applications will be reviewed based on:

• Impact (how many animals and/or community members will be helped)
• Feasibility (a realistic plan and timeline)
• Community Need (addressing service gaps or underserved areas)
• Organizational Capacity (ability to carry out the project and report outcomes)

Congratulations to the organizations selected to date for a Pawsitive Impact Microgrant:

• Cleo's Legacy
• Community Cat Network of Cincinnati 
• Cat Adoption Team
• Rescue Me Animal Advocacy
• Heartt Animal Refuge

Questions?

We’re happy to help. Contact Nick Taylor at 513-904-9903 or ntaylor@spcacincinnati.org

The SPCA Cincinnati is proud to bring the Chow Now Pantry to our community! The SPCA Cincinnati has been Cincinnati’s hometown shelter since 1873, with many “firsts” to benefit animal welfare—the Chow Now Pantry is another first. We believe NO pet owner should be worried about surrendering an animal because of financial or health reasons. 

Supported by SPCA Cincinnati’s AMAZING Volunteers and donations from the community, the Chow Now Pantry provides pet food and resources to over a dozen food pantries, serving six counties in Southwest Ohio. The Chow Now Pantry also operates weekly out of 516 W. Wyoming Ave. in Lockland (next door to Pets in Need) from 10 a.m. - 12 noon every Wednesday and at our Flagship location at 11471 Deerfield Rd. in Blue Ash from 1 - 4 p.m. every Thursday.

The SPCA Cincinnati continues to serve Veterans in our community by providing essential items for their animals at home. We serve our Veterans with a return visit two times a month to the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

From a letter received from the Executive Medical Center Director after our first visit:

"On behalf of the Cincinnati VAMC patients and staff, we would like to extend our appreciation to you for your donations of approximately 2,000 pounds of dog and cat food, cat litter, treats, cleaning supplies, etc. for our Veterans with animals.

It is through the efforts of community partners like you that allow us to continue the quality care and services that we seek to provide for deserving Veterans. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you again for future events." 

How can you help? It's easy to donate via our Chow Now Amazon Wish List here! You can also bring dry or canned pet food, as well as anything for small animals, to the SPCA Cincinnati in Sharonville at 11900 Conrey Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249. 

At the Chow Now Pantry, our goal is to keep people and pets together! Pets provide hope and comfort that everyone deserves, especially during challenging times. This initiative helps make that goal a reality by providing the essential resources needed to maintain a pet's health.

For inquiries regarding this program, please reach Michael Williams, SPCA Cincinnati’s Director of Community Outreach, by email at mwilliams@spcacincinnati.org.

Foster Opportunities

Please register your pet

For Hamilton County pets, visit this page for information on how to obtain a license. Dog Licenses help the animal return to its home in the event it becomes separated from its owner. 

The SPCA Cincinnati offers humane education for children in the Greater Cincinnati Area, visiting schools, scout troops, and other groups. We believe that respect for all life starts with teaching children to respect animals which includes learning about safety and responsible pet care.

Your children will:

• Learn how to humanely treat animals 
• Learn how to properly approach/greet/handle dogs and cats
• Learn about the various types of animals that live within our communities
• Learn the environments in which different animals live
• Learn math skills through animal supply costs, vet costs, etc.
• Learn proper pet care
• Learn of the benefits of spaying and neutering your pets
• Learn about animal aggression, warning signs, and ways to avoid
• Learn about pet playtime
• Learn about animals in person through live animal interactions with shelter cats, dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs
• Learn through various animal-related games, songs, stories, and activities
• Learn about the different careers that exist in animal welfare

In 2023, the SPCA Cincinnati celebrated 150 years as a humane society and one of our goals for our 150th Anniversary was to visit 150 schools! In February of 2023, the SPCA Cincinnati was proud to launch the Humane Education partnership with Families Forward Cincinnati. We also have the SPCA Cincinnati HEART Program in Partnership with Pet Partners.

We are pleased to have Veronica Dean as our Humane Education Manager. Click here to view her credentials. 

Click to view PDFs of the Ohio State Education Standards for each grade level:

Educational Standards K-2

Educational Standards 3-5

Educational Standards 6-8

Educational Standards 9-12

Contact Us

If you have any questions about one of our programs or would like to schedule a Humane Education visit, please feel free to contact us by email at vdean@spcacincinnati.org.

Our Junior Service Program is an opportunity for kids ages 12-18 to volunteer at the SPCA Cincinnati and participate in activities that directly benefit the well-being of the animals at the SPCA Cincinnati Shelter, as well as the animals of the surrounding communities through our Chow Now Pantry program. Welcome!

The SPCA Cincinnati will be offering Junior Service Days where kids will be provided with a brief orientation, an animal experience, opportunities to build animal enrichment, an opportunity to help bag pet food for our Chow Now Pet Food Pantry, and a facility tour. 

Children ages 12-16 must be accompanied by a supervising adult (who must also sign up), who will also be asked to participate in the program as well.

If there are available Junior Service Day slots, they will appear as a link below - click to sign up. If there aren't any listed, stay tuned for our next event! Questions? Please email Michael Williams, Director of Community Outreach at mwilliams@spcacincinnati.org. Thank you!

Available Sign-ups:

Saturday, February 28, 2026: SPCA Cincinnati: SPCA Junior Service Day (signupgenius.com)

Saturday, May 23, 2026: SPCA Cincinnati: SPCA Junior Service Day (signupgenius.com)

The SPCA Cincinnati, is proud to offer our Pet Therapy Program. SPCA Volunteers and their animals have gone through months of training to be registered through Pet Partners to ensure that their dogs can provide the love and affection to those who most need it.

Pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, offers a myriad of benefits for individuals of all ages. Here are some of the key perks:

1. Emotional Support: Animals provide unconditional love and companionship, which can help reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
2. Stress Reduction: Spending time with pets can lower stress hormone levels and promote relaxation.
3. Physical Health: Interacting with animals can help lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, and boost physical activity levels.
4. Social Interaction: Pets can serve as social catalysts, encouraging conversations and connections between people.
5. Improved Mood: Animal interactions release endorphins, enhancing mood and promoting a sense of well-being.
6. Cognitive Benefits: Engaging with animals can stimulate cognitive functions, helping with memory and mental clarity.
7. Therapeutic Activities: Pets can be integrated into therapeutic activities for people with disabilities, providing motivation and enhancing treatment outcomes.

“The mission is to improve human health and well-being through the human-animal bond. Humans and animals share a deep, innate connection, and we believe that through the human-animal bond we can improve the physical, social, and emotional lives of more people and communities.”

-Pet Partners

SPCA Cincinnati and our Pet Therapy Team visit schools, nursing homes, libraries, and the Cincinnati VA.

Please contact us at pet-therapy@spcacincinnati.org to explore opportunities for one of our Pet Therapy Animals to visit your location.

CAAP Program

YPCA

SPCA Cincinnati operates as a Managed Admissions shelter and receives approximately 3,000 animals each year. 

While kennel space does not determine an animal's outcome, it can impact the quality of life for animals while they are in our care. Shelters can be stressful environments for pets and may lead to illness or changes in behavior. 

For this reason, we encourage pet owners to explore available resources and rehoming options whenever possible. 

Our goal is always the same: to support both pets and the people who care about them. 

SPCA Cincinnati implemented a Managed Admissions model in September 2019. This nationally recognized best practice allows SPCA to ensure that every animal receives the time, care, and attention needed for the best possible outcome. 

Owner surrenders are handled by appointment so our team can review each pet's needs and prepare appropriate resources. 

SPCA Cincinnati accepts owned companion animals from Hamilton County residents only. 

Before surrendering a pet, owners complete a Surrender Questionnaire. A Managed Admissions Specialist reviews the information and provides guidance on the best next steps for the pet. 

In many cases, we can also provide or connect pet owners with free or low-cost resources that may help pets remain safely in their homes. 

Animals registered through our partner

Chow Now Pantry Family

We are thrilled to supply pet food and supplies to these amazing community partners:

• Pets in Need of Greater Cincinnati – Low Cost Veterinary Care for Families in Need
• Operation Give Back - Cincinnati Non-Profit For 20 Years
• Home - St. Vincent de Paul
• caincincy.org
• Tikkun Farm | Restoring: People, Communities, Creation
• LIFE Food Pantry
• Piper's Pantry
• NEEDS | North East Emergency Distribution Services
• Hope Is For Everyone | Whitewater Crossing
• Serve, Engage, and Empower - Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio

Managed Admissions Process

Become A Foster Parent

Foster parents provide temporary homes for animals prior to adoption. Providing foster care is a wonderful and personal way to contribute to saving and improving the lives of homeless pets.

Make A Difference

Before beginning the surrender process, please review the following policies.  be aware of some of our admissions policies:

• SPCA Cincinnati accepts pets from Hamilton County residents only. If you live outside Hamilton County, please contact your local animal shelter. 
• Animals must be surrendered by the legal owner or an authorized representative with permission from the owner.
• Animals adopted from other local shelters should be returned to they shelter they were adopted from.
• For the safety of our staff, volunteers, and future adopters, we are unable to accept animals that have a history of sever aggression or extreme fear. 

To Get Started:

1. Fill out the digital Surrender Questionnaire with as much information as possible, then click Submit.
2. A Managed Admissions specialist will review your submission and determine the best path forward for you and your pet.
3. You will receive a return email within 24-48 hours about next steps.
4. If surrender is determined to be th best option, we will schedule a surrender appointment.

At Your Appointment:

Please bring the following:

1. Your pet on a leash or in a carrier.
2. Bring veterinary records including vaccines, rabies, and spay/neuter documentation. 
3. A valid ID.
4. Surrender fees:
   1. $25 for previously altered animals 
   2. $50 for non-altered animals  

When you surrender a pet to the SPCA Cincinnati, you are asking us to take on the responsibility of caring for that animal until a new home is found. This includes food, housing, enrichment, and veterinary care. As a nonprofit funded entirely by private donations, surrender fees help offset ht cost of this care.

You may also bring a short bio describing your pet's personality, likes, dislikes, and experience with children or other animals. This helps us place your pet in the most appropriate home.

The intake process typically takes 30-40 minutes.

We request that children are not present during your surrender appointment, as the process can be emotionally difficult for both children and animals. If childcare is not possible, please inform the Managed Admissions Specialist ahead of time so we can prepare accordingly. 

Young Professionals Caring about Animals

Common Situations and Resources

Volgistics

Already a volunteer? Log in to Volgistics here:

Launch Volgistics

Why Do Pets Need Foster Care?

There are several possible reasons:

• Newborn animals that need to be bottle-fed, or mothers with nursing babies. Very young animals who are weaned but not old enough for adoption also benefit from the care of a foster parent.
• Dogs with mild to moderate behavioral issues who require some behavior modification and work, such as shy dogs who need socializing, and/or Long-time residents at the shelter.
• Some animals need time to recover from an illness or injury before adoption and may need more attentive and personal medical care which can be more easily provided in a foster home.
• Short-term care for animals who will be going to a rescue group.

Whatever the reason, these animals need some extra love and care before they can be adopted. Providing foster care for a week, a month, or more can be a lifesaving gift for an animal. To read more about the SPCA Cincinnati foster program and opportunities, click here. You can also click here to explore all our foster-related resources in one convenient place!

How to Become a Foster Parent

All foster animals are the responsibility of the SPCA Cincinnati, located in Sharonville. Please call 513-541-6100 or email us at foster@spcacincinnati.org if you have questions about your foster pet or about becoming a foster parent.

Interested? Please fill out the foster application below.

Are you moving? CLICK HERE FOR PET-FRIENDLY RENTALS

Having trouble finding a rental due to your pet's breed? CLICK HERE FOR RENTALS WITHOUT BREED RESTRICTIONS

Are you having a baby? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Are you or a family member allergic? CLICK HERE FOR TIPS TO COMBAT ALLERGIES

Is your cat not using the litterbox? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Is your dog destructive? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Does your dog bark too much? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Does your dog escape the yard? CLICK HERE FOR TRAINING TIPS

Do you need financial assistance with veterinary costs? CLICK HERE FOR FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION and LOW-COST OPTIONS

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER AND VACCINE CLINICS

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR ANIMAL RESOURCES PAGE FOR OUR FULL LIBRARY OF ANIMAL TRAINING TIPS

Requirements

• 18 years of age or older
• Pets must be in good health and current on all vaccinations. Proof of vaccinations from your veterinarian is required at time of CAAP certification
• Commit to at least six months with a minimum of one visit per month

Mission Statement

Young professionals who work together to provide support for SPCA Cincinnati through volunteer efforts, education, and fundraising - all while providing its members with an opportunity to become involved with SPCA Cincinnati's mission and to network with other young professionals.

You can join YPCA by attending events. If you are interested in getting involved or attending our events please send an email to the address listed below and a member of our group will reach out to you directly.

Thank you for your interest in supporting SPCA Cincinnati through YPCA. To learn more about the YPCA please send an email to: ypca.cincinnati@gmail.com.

 If you'd like any information from of the links mentioned in this PDF, email ypca.cincinnati@gmail.com for the links or to be added to their mailing list! 

Requirements

• Minimum age to volunteer: 16 years old (with the exception of our Junior Service Program, click for more info)
• Minimum age to work directly with animals: 18 years old
• 16 & 17-year-olds will be assigned cleaning and support roles at the Sharonville Humane Center (no working directly with animals) and will need a signed waiver from their parent/legal guardian
• All volunteers must submit the appropriate application online
• All traditional volunteers are required to attend New Volunteer Orientation & Training at the Sharonville Humane Center, including animal handler training
• All volunteer activity is scheduled in advance to meet the needs of our organization
• Volunteers are required to complete a minimum of 4 hours of service each month to remain in good standing
• Volunteers, regardless of type or age, must be able to work independently

The Process

1. Acquire Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification
• Click here to see what the test entails and to find local testers. You can also contact us for information on local testers.
2. Acquire CAAP Certification
• This test sees how the animals react to situations that may come about in a nursing facility or hospital. The test items will be mailed to you upon completion of the CGC certification and scheduling of the CAAP Test. Plase contact us to schedule an appointment.

CAAP pets and handlers will receive a bandana and name tag to be worn while participating. We would love to have you and your companion animal as a part of our program!

Contact Shana Bockelman at sbockelman@yahoo.com (include "CAAP Program" in the subject line), or call her at (513) 607-9755.

Dog Friendly Bars and Restuarants

The following bars and resturants in Greater Cincinnati allow dogs either inside and/or outside their establishments.

Available Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are involved in most areas of our organization, and we are continuously evaluating our needs to develop additional opportunities! You can see a listing and description of our current opportunities here.

To Apply

Please direct any questions, comments or concerns to volunteer@spcacincinnati.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why volunteer with SPCA Cincinnati?

SPCA Cincinnati has been a trusted leader in animal welfare in Ohio and the Tri-State area for over 150 years. We see thousands of animals come through our doors annually and our volunteers are important members of our team who aid us in caring for those animals.

SPCA Cincinnati volunteers

• Help save the lives of animals in need and help individuals and families find loving companion animals
• Learn about animal welfare issues in our community and help to spread the word about animal protection and good pet ownership
• Develop new skills and have new experiences that help them in their academic pursuits, careers, and other volunteer roles
• Make and connect with new friends within a large team of animal lovers
• Help themselves – volunteering increases self-esteem and helps you to reduce stress. Working with animals also has additional health benefits

Is there anything that I should consider before applying to be a volunteer?

SPCA Cincinnati needs mature, compassionate, and reliable volunteers. Please consider the following before completing a volunteer application:

• Are you at least 16 years old?
• If you are 16-17 years old, are you okay with not working directly with the animals?
• Do you have reliable transportation?
• Do you have the ability to volunteer at least 4 hours per month and commit to a regular schedule?
• Do you have regular access to the internet and email for important volunteer information?

If you answer ‘no’ to any of the questions above, we might not be the best fit for you at this time. 

Why can’t I just come in to play with puppies and kittens?

All traditional SPCA Cincinnati volunteers are matched with a volunteer role that we feel best fits our needs as an organization. They must then attend New Volunteer Orientation & Training to learn more about our organization and our expectations, including how to handle animals. This training is required for your safety and for the best interest of the animals in our care. Part of a volunteer’s responsibilities includes playing with animals, of course. But, cleaning, teaching basic behavior, and interacting with the public is also part of their responsibilities. All of these require training to ensure the safety of our animals, employees, and volunteers. All of our volunteers are on a schedule so that we know that the animals are receiving care each day and at scheduled times. We require approved volunteers to sign up so that we are not over or under-booked in various areas of our organization.

Do you offer group volunteer opportunities?

Yes! We welcome small groups of up to 10 volunteers to serve with us. Group volunteers (businesses, schools, religious and/or civic organizations) will perform support work for the organization and will not be working directly with animals. All volunteers in the group must be 16 years of age or older. Email volunteer@spcacincinnati.org with questions or to request a date.

Do you offer opportunities for school community service hours?

Yes! Individuals who require community service hours for school may earn hours through the SPCA Cincinnati. These short-term volunteers will attend a role-specific orientation with an employee or manager. Please plan ahead – it will generally take at least 2 weeks to process your application and get you set up if accepted. We cannot accommodate last-minute requests.

Are there any ways that kids under age 16 can help?

Absolutely! Kids can help our animals in many ways. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Bake homemade dog treats to donate to the shelter
• Make homemade dog or cat toys to donate to the shelter
• Ask friends, neighbors, and family members to donate to us – you can pick one item (towels are a great example of something we need all the time!) or ask for any items from our wishlist!