More than 150 California Animal Shelters to Offer Fee-Waived Adoptions During One-Day Event Hosted by CalAnimals, SF SPCA, and the ASPCA
Woods Humane Society and San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Division announce their participation in the first-ever California Adopt-a-Pet Day, a fee-waived adoption event taking place on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
The statewide adoption day hosted by The California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals), the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF SPCA), and the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) will feature more than 150 California animal welfare sites offering fee-waived adoptions to help find homes for 2,024 shelter pets in one day. The ASPCA will be providing funds to cover the cost of adoptions at participating shelters, including Woods Humane Society and SLO County Animal Services.
“California shelters are facing enormous pressures due to overcrowding conditions, as the number of animals entering shelters is outpacing those leaving,” said Jill Tucker, CEO of CalAnimals. “By increasing adoption demand and encouraging pet-ready families to visit their local shelter first, we can make a change. This unprecedented and collaborative statewide effort can help reduce the number of animals in our shelters while also providing loving, caring families for our most vulnerable pets. There has never been a better time or better selection of incredible animals ready for new homes, and we know the people of California will rise to this challenge.”
In a press release, CalAnimals noted that the large influx of animals being brought into shelters in recent years is due to a severe nationwide shortage of veterinary professionals as well as a confluence of other factors, such as inflation and pet-friendly housing restrictions. Many communities in California do not have access to affordable veterinary care, including spay and neuter services.
“With 243 dogs and cats currently in our care, including more than a dozen long-term animals, and with hundreds more waiting to come in, Woods Humane Society is excited and grateful to participate in California Adopt-a-Pet Day,” says Woods CEO Emily L’Heureux. “We hope this adoption event will help deserving animals across the state find loving homes and open up space for the many more in need of shelter services.”
Dr. Eric Anderson, DVM, Animal Services Manager at SLO County Animal Services Division notes, “Animal Services and Woods Humane Society work together every day to get great pets into great new homes. This is an opportunity for us to share our efforts statewide and we hope the residents of San Luis Obispo County will take advantage of it."
Woods Humane Society is located at 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 and at 2300 Ramona Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422, and is open to the public daily from 12-5 p.m., with adoption hours from 12-4 p.m. For more information about Woods, visit www.WoodsHumane.org or call (805) 543-9316.
The County of SLO Animal Services Division is located at 865 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, and is open to the public for adoptions Monday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about Animal Services, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Animal-Services or call (805) 781-4400.
About Animal Services
The Animal Services Division is responsible for providing animal care and control services throughout the County of San Luis Obispo and within each of the seven incorporated communities. Animal Services’ staff serves the community by helping to identify solutions to animal related problems, enforcing local ordinances and state laws relating to animals, providing humane education programs, and performing rabies control and surveillance. The Division also operates the only open-intake animal shelter in the county.
About the California Animal Welfare Association
The California Animal Welfare Association ("CalAnimals") formed in 2018 through a merger between California's two statewide animal-welfare associations: California Animal Control Directors Association (CACDA) and State Humane Association of California (SHAC). The organization exists to support the success of animal welfare and sheltering organizations in meeting the needs of animals and people in their communities. Programs and activities include trainings, conferences, certifications, disaster response, leadership development, legislative advocacy and more. Interested in learning more about the California Animal Welfare Association? Visit www.calanimals.org.
About the San Francisco SPCA
The San Francisco SPCA is an independent, community-supported, nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving, protecting, and providing immediate care for cats and dogs who are homeless, ill or in need of an advocate. The SF SPCA also works long-term to educate the community, reduce the number of unwanted kittens and puppies through spaying and neutering, and improve the quality of life for animals and their human companions. The organization does not receive government funding. For more information, visit sfspca.org.
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation’s leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
