Skip to main content
Home

Main Menu

  • take action
    • make a donation
    • other ways to give
    • donate faqs
  • ways to adopt
    • find a pet
    • adoption centers
    • adoption events
  • partner with us
    • our grants
    • adoption partners
    • partner resource center
    • faqs
  • about us
    • leadership
    • financials
    • news & PR
    • careers
  • our stories
    • community impact
    • journey home
    • unconditional love
    • trending tales
  • our impact

Main Menu

  • take action
    • make a donation
    • other ways to give
    • donate faqs
  • ways to adopt
    • find a pet
    • adoption centers
    • adoption events
  • partner with us
    • our grants
    • adoption partners
    • partner resource center
    • faqs
  • about us
    • leadership
    • financials
    • news & PR
    • careers
  • our stories
    • community impact
    • journey home
    • unconditional love
    • trending tales
  • our impact

adopt

donate

  1. Home
  2. Our Stories
  3. community impact
  4. Valley Oak SPCA
Ryker
heart
community impact

Valley Oak SPCA

written by

PetSmart Charities Staff Writer

February 14, 2019

When Ryker came to the Valley Oak SPCA, he was starving. According to executive director Lydia House, it was obvious to the staff and volunteers that he had a hard life.

“He was found emaciated, in an area known for gang violence and dogfighting,” House said.

His body was covered in punctures and sores. Extremely anemic, he was weak and had a tick-borne disease known as ehrlichia. All in all, he was a sad sight.

But thanks to the loving care at Valley Oak SPCA, Ryker became a new dog.

A New Chance at Life

“Ryker went through months of surgeries and treatments to heal his injuries and illnesses and bring him to a healthy weight,” House said.  “After he was fully healed and rehabilitated, he was adopted out to a loving home with the perfect canine brother to play with.”

Valley Oak SPCA is full of stories like Ryker’s, which is why there were selected as a recipient of a PetSmart Charities grant.

A pet rescue dedicated to finding loving homes for all, it also operates a low-cost veterinary clinic in California’s Central Valley. Their mission is focused on providing shelter, adoption services, low-cost veterinary care, and community education to eliminate the suffering of animals.

Adequate Funding Is a Challenge

But like many shelters, Valley Oak SPCA faces significant challenges.

“One of Valley Oak SPCA’s highest expenses is medical supply costs,” said House.  “Offering high-quality, high-quantity surgeries at a low cost is challenging, because medical supplies and equipment are quite expensive. We strive to keep our prices affordable, and so we work hard to supplement our expenses with donations and grants.” 

Grants from organizations like PetSmart Charities are essential to the shelter’s operations. The grant will be used to help spread the word about the organization’s great work.

“The PetSmart Field Grant enabled us to create and print informational brochures about our organization’s mission and services,” said House. “The colorful, professional brochures are available to the public at our clinic and adoption center as well at all of our adoption events and fundraisers.”

See Our
3

Impact in Action

community impact
Joshua & Dudog Find a Second Chance
…
read more arrow-right-primary
Alyssa & Maya
community impact
How Improving Access to Veterinary Care Changes Lives
Sitting snug between Alyssa’s feet, Maya patiently awaits the unknown. The Pitbull-mix puppy, donning a spring-colored…
read more arrow-right-primary
community impact
Fifty Million Pets Don't Have Access to Veterinary Care
Together, we can change that.
read more arrow-right-primary
See Our
3

Impact in Action

community impact
Joshua & Dudog Find a Second Chance
…
read more arrow-right-primary
Alyssa & Maya
community impact
How Improving Access to Veterinary Care Changes Lives
Sitting snug between Alyssa’s feet, Maya patiently awaits the unknown. The Pitbull-mix puppy, donning a spring-colored…
read more arrow-right-primary
community impact
Fifty Million Pets Don't Have Access to Veterinary Care
Together, we can change that.
read more arrow-right-primary
Home

adopt

donate

  • donate
    • make a donation
    • other ways to give
    • donate faqs
  • adopt
    • find a pet
    • adoption centers
    • adoption events
  • partner
    • adoption partners
    • our grants
    • partner resource center
    • faqs
  • about us
    • leadership
    • news & PR
    • careers
    • financials
    • contact
  • articles
    • community impact
    • journey home
    • trending tales
    • unconditional love
  • impact

contact us

call us

1-800-423-7387

say hello

send a message

stay connected

©2022 PetSmart Charities®, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Site map
19601 N 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85027 1-800-423-7387
  • lang-us United States
  • lang-ca Canada
community impact

Creating families through our…

Helping 400,000+ pets find homes through in-store adoptions at PetSmart
read more arrow-right-primary
journey home

How One Rescue Pup Made a…

Read how Lenox became the official first child of the Francis family.
read more arrow-right-primary
devon sims
trending tales

Changing Lives Through Access…

The first recipient of our Steve Marton Veterinary Scholarship
read more arrow-right-primary
community impact

Keeping Families Together

Taking better care of pets builds healthier communities.
read more arrow-right-primary
journey home

Maze’s Journey Home

An adorable kitten with special needs finds the loving home she deserves.
read more arrow-right-primary