The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation supports the mission of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter through fundraising, advocacy and education. The Shelter is the largest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization with shelters in Watsonville and Live Oak. The Foundation is especially proactive around prevention strategies like spay/neuter, community outreach and humane education, beyond the Shelter’s municipally funded core services of rescue, protection and sheltering. By year’s end, we project to take in over 6,600 animals in cases of lost and strays, owner surrender, and neglect or abuse.
Puppies and kittens are adorable, but unplanned litters result in more animals living miserably as strays, very real strain on owners and on municipal shelters, and higher euthanasia rates. The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter now seeks to expand this program in 2025 by subsidizing even more high-quality spay/neuter surgeries for companion pets in Santa Cruz County.
We have long embraced the principle that our work doesn’t start or end at the shelter’s doors: It is community-based, carried out by field officers, shelter staff, volunteers, business partners, and the grateful communities we serve. SCCASF provides critical services for the most helpless animals in our community through many progressive programs.
My puppy, Cali, was spayed through Planned Pethood and it was a great experience! The process was easy, fast and AFFORDABLE. We were both feeling nervous, but my doggy and I were both well cared for! The staff and volunteers showed kindness and gave us all the information and medication post-op. We are so grateful for this program.
Cali's Mom
