manager

animal care specialist

veterinary technician

customer service supervisor

animal cruelty investigator

SPCA of Texas

I was hired with SPCA of Texas in 2011, I started off as a Customer Care Specialist (call center), then with hard work, dedication and passion for what the organization stood up for, I was promoted to an Asst. Supervisor for CCC, and shortly after a Supervisor. Throughout the years, there have been major changes to the organization, lots of good- (PRC program, ACI and DPD relationship, Free s/n programs, low cost vx events to name a few), but also plenty of bad decisions on leadership/management for the organization. If you're looking to be underpaid, overworked, undervalued and underappreciated, then please apply. Sadly, lots of great people who shared a vision and passion for the organization have left. Leadership offers growing opportunities based off favoritism, not experience or skill. Sadly, there is no support from your upper management. The only thing that kept me going were my amazing coworkers. There were unrealistic expectations for you to bend over backwards for you to meet numbers. Call center alone takes on average 400-500 calls on a busy day. But there were layoffs due to the pandemic, and leadership expected the dept to do the work of 7 people with only 4 full time specialists-7 days a week. The motivation was going downhill, while the anxiety went up. I was very sad to leave the organization after so much that's been invested. I was able to establish great friendships with coworkers, lots who shared many of the same frustrations, and the same love for animals. The only thing I regret from leaving the job, is not leaving sooner. 

I loved the SPCA & what it stood for, and then things became more clear the longer I worked there. It wasn't going to ever matter how dedicated I was or how hard I worked. the people at the top control EVERYTHING. And unfortunately, they ironically know nothing. They so strongly think they know best that it's laughable. None of those people have any animal medical experience AT ALL, yet constantly make new rules "that are best for the animals" at the expense of any employee. And if you have a problem with it? Too bad- you can quit! I have watched soo many great employees leave that were such assets to the SPCA because they were so mistreated and underappreciated. I could truly write a book on all of the shady behavior from the "higher ups". Also, there's really no point in applying for this job because at any given point during your time working at SPCA, they might decide that it's, again, "best for the animals" to give you a completely different job title & assign YOUR job to somebody else who has never done it before. I still am pretty sure that has to be illegal. I've also watched that happen to soo many people, and watched soo many people cry, and seen nobodyyy care as a result. Oh, but you'll be told your behavior is unprofessional if you show you have feelings. All in all, the people who serve on the board must be COMPLETELY in the dark as to how awful the people that are in charge are and how they've run off so many amazing staff. And they will continue to. And that's all SUCH a shame. I used to think SO highly of the SPCA. Now I know the truth.

I worked for the SPCA of TX for almost 8 years. When I first started staff and management were like a family. Everyone truly cared about each other and the animals. As time went on the VP of Animal Welfare position was empty and refilled twice and that’s when everything went very downhill. Animals became nothing more than numbers on a piece of paper. Get them in and get them out. Cram cats in shorelines for months to meet quotas with no thought put into their mental well being. Understaffing. Filling management positions with people with no shelter or veterinary experience. Lots of new management, directors, senior supervisors, etc positions opened up and layered. At one point I had no idea who was in charge of what decision and would have to contact multiple managers and directors to figure out my questions on protocol. I personally had multiple managers hired above my head with no opportunity to be moved up into those positions. I then had to train them and check behind all their work to make sure it was done correctly and soon found out they were making $18k more than me annually while I babysat them. I could go on and on. It’s so very sad because I truly was passionate and committed to this organizations mission. In the end it’s just about the money and how good they look on paper. No one cares about the individual animals but the care staff at the front lines working their butts off for bad pay and getting abused and discarded by upper management.

The culture inspires employees to do the bare minimum and take short cuts. It's not merit based at all, and don't expect to be rewarded for doing a good job. They'll say they have no money for raises, and then pay to add more people to the team to sit around and do nothing all day.. They have definite favorites. There is no diversity in management, and it shows (ie: how HR handles harassment). Additionally, the pay is not a living wage for lower level employees. Management and HR proved to be untrustworthy and manipulative from the get go... If you do decide to work here, don't believe anything you're told, and document EVERYTHING. Have a good sense of self, your value, and self worth, because weak management looks better with employees who aren't confident. If you HAVE to stay, practice self affirmations, be honest and transparent, and just put your head down and work while counting down the days! Don't forget to do the things you enjoy on your days off, and spend time with the people you love. Don't stoop down because of the environment you are in. Stay strong and know that "this too shall pass"!

Pros:
- A true opportunity to learn about personal resilience and adaptability.
- A possible long term job, but chaotic. If you are seeking short term, but can afford a dysfunctional atmosphere, it’ll be experience.

Cons:
- Little to NO recognition, or equivalent pay to the work expected of you and your most likely under experienced team.
- Inconsistent management with frequent absences, poor communication and overall lack of leadership.
- Work culture is gossip, favoritism, cliques and blurred relations between staff which can lead to uncomfortable situations.
- Unequal treatment amongst staff, especially noticed across gender, and racial lines.
- Feedback is harsh, done publicly and even if a particular party is truly at fault, the whole lot suffer; often not constructive.
- Schedule requests done via online or in person are often dismissed or “forgotten.”
- High tolerance for certain employees’ (seniority benefit) while others face disciplinary action for less.
- Inappropriate workplace exchanges

I loved working with the animals, however, the management can use a lot of work. I started working here when I was about 5 months pregnant. They were well aware that I was pregnant. As I got bigger and further along, certain tasks became very difficult for me, obviously. Although I was accommodated to, SOME management was unhappy that I could no longer preform certain tasks. Anyways, in March, I went into pre-term labor on a Saturday, which were my Monday's. I called and informed them that I wasn't coming in for obvious reasons. Long story short, I am put onto bed rest and inform them that I will be taking my maternity leave early. They then made up some excuse on why I wouldn't have maternity leave then fired me. I filed for unemployment and they lied on my paperwork saying that I quit....I HAVE A TERMINATION LETTER TO PROVE THAT I DID NOT QUIT. 

Wouldn't recommend at all.

Not sure about entry-level positions (animal care), but the salary and benefits I received were very generous compared to similar and even larger organizations in animal welfare. They have a desire for excellence but are taking in more animals than they can care for properly. There is also inconsistency in how they apply euthanasia decisions, leading to drama and fighting amongst staff. Can feel very political and sides are taken leading to in-fighting.

While the actual work I do matters like me, most co workers are all amazing people who are all working there because they are driven by the fact that they are helping animals who are in need, Leadership is atrocious, CEO is stuck in old days and have surrounded herself with people who are "yes" folks. CEO is more concerned about mimicking what other organizations in other states are doing rather than figuring out what we need to do in DFW market. They constantly ask employees for feedback however they never do anything about those surveys. They continue to hire all these directors and VP's and keep promoting inept employees to higher management. While our main clinic and shelter staff is overworked and understaffed. 

Unfortunately, the culture at the SPCA of Texas has been steadily declining over the last 2 years.  In the past month, 5+ senior leaders have left, including 2 Vice Presidents.  The benefits are okay; you get free health insurance premiums but that is becoming pretty standard across all companies.  I would rather have seen a higher starting hourly rate than $13 and paid for part of my own premium.  The PTO policy isn't great and you have to wait 6 months before receiving just 5 days PTO.  

The culture is the worst aspect of the SPCA of Texas.  The CEO and Board are running the organization into the ground and have created a culture that is based on favoritism, policy inconsistencies, and lies.  Really good people have left the organization and unless the CEO and Board realize why they left and make necessary changes, the culture will not be improved.

In the past there was a sense we had a mission for the animals and people were supported but things have changed. The new Ceo (with no animal experience) and COO are barely there and  ot involved.  Work is hard for not a living wage, but animals get good care.  Supes, managers, and some directers work hard but stress levels are high and teamwork isn't the same as it used to be. So many good people working there and working hard for the animals, but no loyalty to staff from above.  It is sad to see that we are not what we used to be and hated to leave but nonprofits can be just as poor to their employees as do regular businesses. If you are willing to work hard you can do a lot of good for the animals but don't expect much help or support from upper management unless you are a favorite. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Manager 3 salaries reported	$62,333 per year
Animal care specialist 3 salaries reported	$14.00 per hour
Veterinary technician 4 salaries reported	$14.00 per hour
Customer service supervisor 1 salary reported	$40,000 per year
Animal cruelty investigator 1 salary reported	$2,600 per month

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