Founded in 1845, the Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) is the first animal protection association created in France.

Recognized as being of public utility since 1860, it has been working for 180 years to defend animal welfare, fighting every day against the abandonment, mistreatment, and exploitation of domestic animals.

The SPA carries out this fight daily across the entire territory, thanks to a network of over 60 SPA shelters and homes spread throughout France. Each year, more than 40,000 animals – dogs, cats, exotic animals – are taken in, cared for, and offered for adoption. The association also manages several dispensaries, allowing owners in difficulty to have their animals treated at a lower cost.