Courtesy photos.
SPARC is among more than 170 California animal welfare organizations offering free adoptions across the state with the goal to find loving homes for 2,024 pets
SANTA PAULA — Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center will be taking part in the first-ever California Adopt-a-Pet Day, a statewide initiative taking place on June 1 that will feature more than 170 California animal welfare organizations offering free adoptions at their shelters or out in their communities.
“We are proud to be joining the first ever California Adopt-a-Pet Day,” said Nicky Gore-Jones, SPARC’s Development Director. “We encourage our community to help us find loving homes for our pets and to raise awareness about the issues of overcrowding in animal shelters. We look forward to this being a very special adoption day for many of our dogs and cats and for our volunteers and staff.”
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, pet-friendly housing restrictions and too many animals being bred. Many communities in California do not have access to affordable veterinary care, including spay and neuter services and the low cost spay/neuter services that are offered, are trying hard to keep up with demand.
California Adopt-a-Pet Day is being managed by CalAnimals, an organization that focuses on the success of California animal welfare and sheltering organizations in meeting the needs of animals and people in their communities. The initiative is also being supported by 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).
Working together, the goal of the statewide event is to find loving homes for 2,024 shelters pets across California on June 1. The ASPCA will be providing funds to cover the cost of free adoptions at participating shelters.
“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.”
To find a participating animal shelter in California Adopt-a-Pet Day, please visit https://caadoptapetday.org.
Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, (SPARC), is a strictly No Kill, non-profit, city shelter, where every animal arriving gets their second chance at life.
SPARC actively saves lives by rehabilitating and rehoming animals, while partnering with the community to provide resources such as low cost spay & neuter, vaccine clinics and education programs.