Looking to learn more about Santa Cruz SPCA adoptions, programs, or how to support our mission?

The adoption process time frame will vary applicant to applicant. Once pre-adoption procedures are finalized, the paperwork and counseling that follows will take about 30–45 minutes.

Bonded adults: When a bonded pair comes into our care, we often require they be adopted together.

Non-bonded adults: We counsel against simultaneous adoption of two unacquainted adult dogs. We recommend settling one dog in first, then returning for a second.

Two puppies: We strongly advise against this. Littermate syndrome, training challenges, and rivalry are real risks. Adopt one puppy, invest a few months, then come back.

Bonded adults: Same as dogs — bonded pairs are often placed together as a requirement.

Non-bonded adults: We counsel patience: settle one cat first, then adopt a second later.

Two kittens: We're all for it! Kittens often thrive together, develop healthy bonds, and keep each other company without diminishing their bond with their human family.

Our fees help recoup costs for spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, deworming, and flea treatment. These are actually much less than what you'd pay to acquire a "free" animal and then cover these services separately. We do not profit from adoption fees.

Aside from our Dr. Jean's Senior Friends program, we are unable to offer discounts. As a private non-profit without an in-house vet, our per-animal medical costs are higher than publicly funded shelters.

We generally aim to place animals within California. In certain cases, we have adopted to homes in bordering states. Our adoption contract requires that animals be returned to us if they can no longer stay in their adopted home, so geographic proximity matters.

We will always accept animals adopted from us back into our care, no matter the reason or the timeframe. We hope adopters will exhaust all options first. Please note that adoption fees are non-refundable.

Once an approved application is on file, we can place a 24-hour hold on an animal. We do not collect a hold fee.

While we do our best to adopt out healthy animals and disclose any known conditions, we cannot guarantee the health of any animal. Illnesses can go undetected due to incubation periods. We encourage adopters to consider pet insurance or CareCredit for unforeseen expenses.

Animals can react differently to different people. Having everyone in the household meet the animal helps ensure a good, lasting match — and that all family members are on board with the decision.

More often than not, we have very little background information. Many animals come from other shelters as strays. When an owner surrenders directly to us, we share all known behavioral and health information — though we cannot share the previous owner's personal information.

Foster-to-adopt is a short trial period where a potential adopter takes an animal home with the intent to adopt if it proves to be a good match. This program is offered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the adoption specialist.

Never. The Santa Cruz SPCA will not sell, share, or trade donor information — including names, email, mailing addresses, or phone numbers — with any outside organization unless you've explicitly given us permission.

Online donations include a fund selector and a message field for specifics. By phone, let our representative know your designation. By check, note it in the memo line.

Please call us at 831-465-5000 or visit us in person at 2601 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz. Account changes cannot be made online at this time.

Yes. We accept donations by phone at 831-465-5000, in person at 2601 Chanticleer Avenue, or by mail to P.O. Box 3800, Santa Cruz, CA 95063.

No. The ASPCA is a completely independent national organization. The Santa Cruz SPCA is not affiliated with or funded by the ASPCA. To support us directly, please donate to the Santa Cruz SPCA.

Due to insurance and liability requirements, volunteers must be 16 or older for general duties. However, we offer dedicated youth volunteer programs — including P.A.W.S. and Community Service Saturdays — for younger animal lovers.

Yes. Each volunteer is required to purchase a bundle (name tag and apron) and wear it during every shift. This helps the public and staff identify volunteers, protects clothing, and gives you pockets for leashes, treats, and supplies.

Yes. We are two separate organizations with different environments, policies, and procedures. All new volunteers must complete our orientation regardless of prior shelter experience.

No set schedule is required. You may use Volgistics to self-select a schedule if you prefer, or drop in any time during open hours.

Volunteers are typically welcome 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., though animal care volunteers can often come as early as 9 a.m. if scheduled with staff in advance.

Yes! Staff and animals are here even when we're closed to the public, and they would love your help. Hours and duties are generally the same as any regular day.

If you've been inactive for 6+ months, we ask that you come in for a refresher "activation" day before resuming. You won't need to redo the full orientation. Call 831-465-5000 to schedule.

We welcome most court-ordered community service with proper documentation. We cannot accept service for violations involving: theft, drugs, acts of violence, forgery, sexual offenses, or crimes involving weapons.

Fill out our online foster application. You'll receive a welcome email with our foster care handbook and an invitation to attend a volunteer orientation. After both steps are complete, you'll be added to our foster list and become eligible to take animals home.

You'll be notified by email about current foster opportunities. For "Slumber Party" fostering, come to the shelter between 5–6pm any day to select an overnight guest. Slumber Party animals must be returned by 11am the following day.

Every foster situation is different. We'll give you a clear expected time frame before you take on any animal.

We provide food, bedding, potty pads, crate/x-pen, bowls, and anything else needed for the full foster period. Replenishments are available at the shelter. We do not supply toys for puppies due to sterilization concerns, but you're welcome to purchase them. Please avoid edible chew toys (rawhides, greenies, bones) as they are a choking hazard.

Contact us immediately. Please do not take the animal to a vet without authorization unless it's an immediate life-threatening emergency. We can treat many common issues in-shelter, and will schedule vet appointments when needed.

Life happens. Please notify us as soon as possible so we can find another foster to take over. We appreciate as much notice as you can give us.

Absolutely. If fully vaccinated, you can take them out wearing "Adopt Me" gear and share photos on personal social media. Please don't post on classified sites like Craigslist, and never promise or guarantee adoption to anyone — refer all interest to our adoption staff.

Yes! At the end of the foster period, you are welcome to apply to adopt. You'd fill out a standard adoption application and complete the usual procedures. Please note that adoption fees cannot be waived or discounted for fosters — they go directly toward the animal's medical preparation costs.

Camp runs from Monday through Friday, from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Please arrive no earlier than 8:50am and plan to be picked up no later than 3:10pm. It is very important that campers be picked up on time because we do not have facilities or staff to supervise children after camp is over.

We hope so! Some camp activities will build on ones from previous days, so you might miss out on something important if you miss too much time. If you need to miss a day, just let us know.

Every SPCA camp is built around a unique and exciting theme! Throughout the year our camps explore topics such as Arts & Crafts, Wildlife, Superhero Animals, Animal Olympics, and much more. While each theme is different, every day is packed with hands-on games, creative crafts, interactive learning, and plenty of animal time.

Campers discover how an animal shelter works, learn about responsible pet care and animal welfare, and enjoy fun opportunities to socialize with our shelter animals in safe and engaging ways. During our 8-week Summer Camp, each week's program repeats, allowing families to choose the week that best fits their schedule while ensuring every camper enjoys the same exciting experience.

Yes! You will certainly meet and handle cats and dogs, and you will meet many other types of animals, like rabbits and chickens. You will get a chance to hang out with the animals from the SPCA as well as visiting with animals brought by presenters and give them some TLC (Tender Loving Care). You will also be able to advocate for SPCA animals and help them find homes.

Bring a lunch, snacks and something to drink every day. We do not provide any snacks during camp. We suggest bringing a water bottle that you can refill if you get thirsty. As camp can get quite warm, we also suggest hats, sunglasses and sunblock to protect from the sun as we will be both indoors and outdoors. If you need to have medications with you during camp, please let us know.

You should wear long pants and light long sleeves and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. You never know when a dog will drool on you or a cat will shed some fur on your shirt. Please wear closed toe shoes as well.

We do not feed and clean the animals, that needs to be handled by staff, but you will be spending time socializing with them each day.

For the safety of the animals as well as campers, please do not wear long-hanging jewelry. No games (including video, hand-held or electronic devices) or other valuable belongings should be brought. Cell phones must be on "vibrate" during camp sessions unless approved by education staff. Please consider labeling any personal belongings your child will be bringing. Santa Cruz SPCA is not responsible for lost articles.

We are an inclusive and supportive camp and are committed to helping every camper feel safe, valued, and successful.

If your child has any medical conditions, allergies, or requires medication during camp, it is essential that this information is shared with us before camp begins. Please note that while we do our best to accommodate individual needs, our shelter is not allergen-free, and we use nut-based products when caring for some of our animals.

If your child has additional behavioral, emotional, sensory, or learning needs, or receives additional support at school, we ask that you let us know before camp starts. This allows our team to plan appropriate strategies and provide the best possible experience for your child while maintaining a safe environment for all campers and shelter animals. In some cases, we may determine that your child will require a dedicated aide or support person to attend camp.

To ensure we can provide appropriate supervision and support, all relevant medical and behavioral information must be disclosed before camp. Failure to share information that significantly impacts your child's participation or safety may result in your child being unable to continue attending camp.

We welcome students ages 7 through 15, grouped by their age range. The ranges are as follows:

PAWS Foundations and PAWS Ambassadors – 7–10 yrs
Junior Animal Care Team Training and Sessions – 11+

There is a new cycle of PAWS Foundations, PAWS Ambassadors, Junior Animal Care Team Training, and Junior Animal Care Team each month. We meet for three after school sessions a month.

We have each age group meet on a different day of the week. They are as follows:

PAWS Foundations – Monday from 4:00pm–6:00pm
Junior Animal Care Team Training – Tuesday from 4:00pm–6:00pm
PAWS Ambassadors – Wednesday from 4:00pm–6:00pm
Junior Animal Care Team – Thursday from 4:00pm–6:00pm

It's ok for students to be a bit late based on school times and traffic. However, we encourage folks to try to arrive in a timely manner as well as pick up in a timely manner to get the most out of the program.

No, it is a drop-off program where students work alongside our education staff.

Yes, students will be working hands on with both cats and dogs.

Our afterschool youth programs follow a progressive pathway, building empathy, understanding and animal based skills. Children will be introduced to how the shelter runs, learn about animal welfare and behaviors and spend time with both the dogs and cats.

For safety reasons, we ask that all students wear long pants and closed toed shoes while here working with the animals.

That's ok! Each new session has an orientation on the first day where we go over safety and handling. Students work with kid-safe animals and are always being supervised by an adult.

We are an inclusive and supportive program and are committed to helping every camper feel safe, valued, and successful.

If your child has any medical conditions, allergies, or requires medication during camp, it is essential that this information is shared with us before the session begins. Please note that while we do our best to accommodate individual needs, our shelter is not allergen-free, and we use nut-based products when caring for some of our animals.

If your child has additional behavioral, emotional, sensory, or learning needs, or receives additional support at school, we ask that you let us know before the session starts. This allows our team to plan appropriate strategies and provide the best possible experience for your child while maintaining a safe environment for all students and shelter animals. In some cases, we may determine that your child will require a dedicated aide or support person to attend.

To ensure we can provide appropriate supervision and support, all relevant medical and behavioral information must be disclosed beforehand. Failure to share information that significantly impacts your child's participation or safety may result in your child being unable to continue attending.

Yes. As our programs are progressive, we have quite a few repeat students who get to work on their animal handling skills each time they come. Both PAWS Ambassadors and the Junior Animal Care Team sessions offer new and exciting activities for each new month's cycle.

We would be happy to sign off on community service hours per session as long as the student brings along the appropriate paperwork from the school. We also have another youth volunteer program (Teen Service Saturdays) that occurs one Saturday every month from 9am to 12pm.

To sign up for any of our Youth Programs, visit the Youth Volunteer tab of our Humane Education page.

These sessions are geared toward middle and high school students in need of community service hours. However, if you have a younger student who is interested, you can contact our education department, or call 831-566-3753.

Teen Service Saturdays happen one Saturday a month, from 9am to 12pm.

No, it is a drop off program where students work alongside our education staff.

The first half of the session is devoted to project-based work around the shelter, such as: organizing, cleaning, weeding, etc. The latter half is devoted to hands-on time with both cats and dogs at our shelter.

For safety reasons, we ask that all students wear long pants and closed toed shoes while here working with the animals.

We recommend that students bring a jacket, a water bottle, and a lunch or snack. We also ask that they bring along any paperwork that they need signed for their community service hours.

That's ok! Each new session has an orientation on the first day where we go over safety and handling. Students work with kid-safe animals and are always being supervised by an adult.

Yes. We have quite a few repeat Teen Service Saturday students who get to work on their animal handling skills each time they come.

To register for Teen Service Saturdays, visit the Youth Volunteer tab of our Humane Education page.

The Rescue Readers program is geared towards all ages and abilities!

For the safety of both the readers and the animals, the animals will remain locked in their safe spaces during the session. Readers will not be able to enter the animals' personal space.

Each ticket allows for one 30 minute reading session with either cats or dogs. Additional tickets can be purchased if your child wishes to read to both.

Yes, those attending can move around the animal wing and read to any available animal. We encourage students to read to multiple animals during their 30 minute time slot.

We hope to provide our animals with some comforting companionship while at the same time help students in our community to become better readers. The animals are non-judgmental listeners who allow students to practice as much as needed.

The reading sessions last 30 minutes.

We encourage you to bring your own reading material that is at the appropriate reading level. However, if you need books for reading, let us know and we can provide them.

To register for Rescue Readers, visit the Youth Volunteer tab of our Humane Education page.

If you are a senior pet owner aged 62+ on a fixed income, you may be eligible. Download and complete the application and contract on our website, attach a copy of your ID and proof of income, and email or mail everything to Mandi Hart, 2685 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95065. You should hear back within one week. The fund covers illness/injury treatment up to $500 but does not cover routine preventative care.

We also hold twice-yearly Wellness Day clinics for preventative care (vaccines, flea treatment, nail trimming, microchipping, etc.). Call 831-465-5000 to make an appointment.

Any pet owner in need can come to us on Sundays 1–3pm. We provide one week's worth of dog or cat food (or both) at no cost. Brands vary week to week. This resource is for owned pets only — we don't provide food for feral cat colonies. If your pet has a dietary preference or allergy, let the attendant know and we'll do our best to accommodate.

A microchip is a small RFID device — about the size of a grain of rice — implanted under the skin between a pet's shoulder blades. It carries a unique ID number linked to your contact information. When scanned at a shelter or vet, it can quickly identify you as the owner. It is not a GPS tracking device. The procedure is quick and similar to a vaccine injection. Every animal we adopt out is microchipped.

Over three million cats and dogs are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year, many as unclaimed strays. Collars and tags can fall off — microchips are permanent. A microchip dramatically increases the chance of being reunited with a lost pet.

Take your pet to a vet or shelter to scan the chip and get the chip number. Then contact the chip company directly to complete a change-of-ownership. Without this step, the previous owner's information (or no information at all) will show up if your pet is ever lost.

We don't use the term "no-kill" — it carries a divisive connotation, particularly for agencies facing space or funding constraints. What we can say: we will not euthanize any animal for space or time. In cases involving critical quality-of-life issues or grave public safety concerns, we conduct a thorough, thoughtful process before any end-of-life decision.

No. "Humane Society" and "SPCA" are generic descriptive terms — like the word "bank." Every humane society and SPCA is an independent organization. The ASPCA does not fund or oversee us; the Humane Society of the United States does not run all humane societies. We are all entirely separate entities.

Yes. The shelter on 7th Avenue is the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter — a publicly funded, county-operated organization. The Santa Cruz SPCA is a private non-profit that receives zero public funding.

The County Shelter focuses primarily on animal control and law enforcement. We focus on rescue, adoption, humane education, and community assistance programs. We work alongside them, not in competition — together we provide more complete coverage for animals in Santa Cruz.

Animals come to us as owner surrenders, transfers from overcrowded shelters locally and beyond, and returns of previously adopted animals (which we always accept, no matter the timeframe).

Our own county is always the priority. But when we have capacity and local needs are met, we assist shelters in areas where overcrowding happens daily. Our mission has no county line.

We rely heavily on volunteers, but we also have a small team of dedicated paid staff who wear many hats. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and an Executive Director.