San Francisco SPCA waives puppy adoption fees, opens doors to SoCal animals
San Francisco SPCA provides relief for LA shelters, waives all puppy adoption fees
As the Southern California wildfires continue to devastate, hundreds of animals are in need of temporary homes, before being reunited with their owners. Shelters in LA were already overwhelmed before the wildfires. That's why SF SPCA is trying to clear its shelters to make room for adoptable animals from the region in the coming days.
SAN FRANCISCO - There is an animal crisis in Southern California. As people escaped the flames, many evacuated to locations where they could not bring their animals. There are also many stray animals that are separated from their owners.
That's why the San Francisco SPCA is stepping in to provide relief.
The nonprofit is working to quickly create space for more adoptable dogs and cats from Southern California in the coming days. To do so, the organization is waiving adoption fees for puppies, which normally cost about $400.
Rob Lightner, manager of adoptions at the SF SPCA, said the effort speaks to the organization’s mission to support animals across the board.
"I think it really speaks to what we do in animal welfare," Lightner said. "We affect our community, but when we are able to support animals across the board, and support other shelters, it really allows us to affect as many animals as possible positively."
The goal is to relieve pressure on shelters in Los Angeles, which are already stretched thin. Pasadena Humane, for example, has taken in more than 300 animals due to evacuations and is working around the clock to treat pets with burns and injuries.
"This trip we’re going on starting next Monday is a collaborative effort across shelters and teams," said Aeris Velasco, assistant manager of adoptions at the SF SPCA. "We’re gearing up to take in several dogs and cats that are adoptable so they can make space for fire victims."
The SF SPCA already has more than 50 puppies available for adoption. One of them, Calypso, is a 3-month-old terrier mix from Tulare County. She has been available for a little over a week, but still has not been adopted.
Lightner described two 3-month-old terrier mixes, brothers that came to the SF SPCA from the Central Valley.
"These are brothers," Lightner said. "They're about 3 months old and came to us through Fresno Animal Services."
Velasco also highlighted Big Sean, a 2-month-old cattle dog mix who has been available for adoption for about a week, along with three siblings.
The team plans to head down to Southern California on Monday and make another trip the following week.
In the meantime, all adopted puppies will receive spaying or neutering, microchipping, and vaccinations.