When Leilani Fratis adopted her first dog from a local shelter, she not only found a loyal friend in Kodiak, but a renewed sense of purpose. “My life changed,” she says, “and my passion to make an impact in the arena of animal welfare became the fire in my heart.” Now, as CEO of the Placer SPCA, Fratis and a team of 1,200 volunteers work year-round to give local animals a safe haven and support pet owners by providing low- and no-cost assistance, including spay and neuter services, vaccinations, microchips, re-homing and adoption programs, and behavior and training resources. The nonprofit was originally founded in 1973 by a small group of community members who recognized the needs of homeless, abandoned and abused animals. Since that time, the PSPCA’s goals haven’t changed drastically, but its impact has. “I can remember when we were just an answering machine in a closet with no employees,” shares PSPCA Accountant Laurie Sweeney. “Knowing that instead of helping hundreds of animals we now help thousands is an exceptional feeling.” Among the organization’s facilities are a Pet Adoption and Resource Center, a satellite adoption center within Pet Food Express at the Fountains shopping center, and a successful thrift store on Roseville’s Washington Boulevard. Additionally, there are plans to build a 40,000-square-foot, hospital-quality animal care center on 2.3 acres recently purchased outside Downtown Roseville, which will provide a safer and healthier environment for the growing number of animals in need. “The new home of Placer SPCA will be a landmark in the community—an important place for humans and for animals,” says Karen Hauber-Grahl, PSPCA volunteer and board member. “Animals have a wonderful way of teaching us about life. They enrich our world in so many ways, and it’s a privilege and a joy to give back to them.”

placerspca.org

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