Chris Luna at Dallas Pride (2024) (Courtesy SPCA of Texas)
MELISSA WHITLER | NBCU Fellow
Melissa@DallasVoice.com
The SPCA of Texas recently announced a new initiative to further its mission to serve pets and their people: an LGBTQ+ Advisory Council. The council will build on already established ties with the LGBTQ community, allowing those outside the organization to share ideas and suggestions.
The SPCA of Texas has a long history of working with the LGBTQ community, from helping queer folks adopt to the weekly pet spotlight in Dallas Voice to being voted “Best Place to Adopt a Pet” in the Readers’ Voice Awards for more than 10 years. SPCA’s President and CEO Chris Luna said that this connection happened organically, without specific outreach efforts. But the creation of this new council is an intentional step for the organization to engage with the community even more.
Those interested in joining the council can email lgbtq@spca.org. The role will be a small-time commitment, as the council will only meet two or three times a year. The meetings will give members the opportunity to talk with the SPCA about new ideas and reflect on how things have been going.
While a few people have agreed to join the council, the first meeting date has not yet been set, so there is still plenty of time for anyone who’s interested in joining.
“We want to gather together some LGBTQ folks who are familiar with the SPCA to give us advice, and we want to invite anyone who is interested,” Luna said.
The SPCA of Texas is already very successful in rehoming animals. In 2024, 3,382 animals were adopted and 2,235 were fostered.
The SPCA also has a transfer program that sends animals to their partners in places that have more demand. Last year 3,546 animals were transferred.
Luna, a former Dallas City Council member and an LGBTQ advocate, recently celebrated one year in the position of president and CEO. He came to the role after working as a legal executive at T-Mobile and serving on other nonprofit boards.
Throughout the years, Luna said, he has rescued multiple dogs, and right now he has a dog named Duke who was rescued from a puppy mill in East Texas.
“It was the perfect opportunity for me, as the mission alignment was spot on,” Luna said of the job with SPCA. “My only regret is that I didn’t do something like this sooner.”
Lunsa said he has found the whole experience to be very rewarding. In the past year he’s assisted in growing the organization, with plans for a new building and expanding the animal cruelty investigation unit in the works.
“It’s so great to work at a place where you feel like you’re making a difference,” he added.
In addition to the LGBTQ Advisory Council, the SPCA also has many other volunteer opportunities. Luna explained that the organization often starts with what a volunteer wants to do, then finds a place where their interests fit.
Fostering is one way to contribute as they get many babies that need a foster home. There is also the “borrow a buddy” program, where you can check out a dog for a day or weekend and take them out of the shelter.
The shelter also has play yards where volunteers can spend time with the dogs and take them for a walk.
For more feline-inclined volunteers, there is the cat rotunda where the cat kennels and play areas are located. Luna explained that it is important for cats to get social interaction, so they need people to come in and play with them.
There is even a group of high school students who come to read to the cats.
Volunteers can also assist on the administration side of things, and some even come help with the laundry of dog beds and other washing.
The SPCA and the LGBTQ community have always worked well together. But, Lunda said, the creation of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Council confirms the SPCA of Texas’ commitment to serving all members of the community, and a great opportunity for those looking to get involved with the organization.
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LGBTQ people and their pets
Here are a few statistics on the LGBTQ community and our pets:
- According to Figo Pet Insurance, 7 out of 10 LGBTQ adults are pet parents.
- Studies show that 75 percent of LGBTQ pet owners consider their pet “a source of support that helps them cope with LGBTQIA-related stressors, such as discrimination, rejection and microaggressions from their peers and family members.”
- In a study of young LGBTQ adults, the unconditional love and companionship of a pet contributes to professional, personal and academic growth.
- In LGBTQ adults older than 50, pets increased the exercise, companionship and activity in their lives as their schedules became less busy.
- In LGBTQ seniors, pets reduced loneliness.
Other studies show that:
- Living with pets is beneficial to human health and psychological wellbeing.
- Living with pets increased physical activity.
- Living with pets reduces stress.
- Living with pets creates higher levels of self-esteem and self-efficacy and combats loneliness.
- Living with pets provides young people with a sense of stability, autonomy and responsibility.
- Living with pets helps young people deal with employment discrimination, housing insecurity, family and peer rejection.
— Compiled by David Taffet