Humane society, animal services offering fee-waived adoptions June 1
Statewide effort aims to find homes for 2,024 pets in one day
– Woods Humane Society and San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Division will participate in the first-ever California Adopt-a-Pet Day, a fee-waived adoption event on Saturday, June 1.
The statewide event, 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), involves more than 150 California animal shelters offering fee-waived adoptions. The goal is to find homes for 2,024 shelter pets in one day. The ASPCA will fund 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.”
CalAnimals said in a press release that the large influx of animals into shelters in recent years is due to a severe nationwide shortage of veterinary professionals, inflation, and pet-friendly housing restrictions. Many California communities lack 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,” said 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.”
“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,” said Dr. Eric Anderson, DVM, Animal Services Manager at SLO County Animal Services Division.
Woods Humane Society is located at 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo, and at 2300 Ramona Rd., Atascadero, and is open daily from 12-5 p.m., with adoption hours from 12-4 p.m. For more information, 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, and is open for adoptions Monday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Animal-Services or call (805) 781-4400.
