Santa Cruz SPCA

12/05/2025

GIVING TUESDAY RESULTS: We are overwhelmed with gratitude! 🎉

Our Pet Food Pantry Giving Tuesday campaign exceeded our wildest expectations, and it's all thanks to YOU!

With over 110 donations, we raised more than $28,000—fully leveraging the generous $10,000 matching gift from Dr. Andrea Moore, DVM. This incredible support will help ensure that bellies are full, tails are wagging, and pets can stay with the families who love them.

To everyone who donated, shared our posts, or cheered us on—thank you from the bottom of our furry hearts. The animals we serve are so grateful. WOOF and MEOW! 🐾

🏡 AND… Home for the Holidays is officially underway!

From now through January 3rd, adoption fees are WAIVED for:
Large dogs
Adult cats
Any animal who has been in our care for 30 days or longer

Could your new best friend be waiting for you at Santa Cruz SPCA? Come visit and find out!

12/05/2025

🎄✨ Tooth Fairy Is Hoping for a Home for the Holidays! ✨🎄

Adoption Fee: WAIVED as part of our Home for the Holidays special!

Meet Tooth Fairy! This sweet girl came to us in October from a partner shelter, and while her past is a mystery, her personality shines bright! She’s friendly, sweet, playful, and gets along well with other dogs here at the shelter. This girl has been so patient — now she’s wishing for a family of her own to snuggle up with this holiday season. ❄️💛

She recently spent a few days in a foster home, and here’s what we learned about her (in a jolly little nutshell!):

🎁 Tooth Fairy’s Holiday Highlights:
✨ A high-energy gal who loves action — perfect for a bustling home!
✨ Plays great with other dogs but does tend to play rough.
✨ Still learning polite manners (nippy but improving!).
✨ Slept through the night like an angel.
✨ Awesome car rider!
✨ Big fan of… squirrels and birds (naughty or nice TBD). 🐿️🕊️

She’s still polishing a few puppy skills — like getting the hang of crate time and finishing up her potty training — but she’ll make great progress with consistency. She was curious about the cats in her foster home and barked a bit, but didn’t chase, so with some guidance she could learn to coexist nicely. She’s a smart girl who just needs a patient, supportive home to help her shine!

Tooth Fairy would thrive in a lively home with plenty to do, room for zoomies, and maybe even a playful pup sibling who can keep up with her festive spirit. If you’re looking for a fun, goofy, energetic companion to make your holidays a little brighter, she’s your girl! 🎅🐾

Stop by to meet her Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm, or give us a call to schedule a meet & greet. Let’s make Tooth Fairy’s holiday wish come true! 💫

12/04/2025

🐟 SPLISH-SPLASH, MEET THE FISH LITTER! 🐟

These tiny adopta-bubbles have absolutely swum their way into our hearts, and now they’re ready to swim into yours! 💙🐈‍⬛

Introducing the most fin-tastic lineup you’ll ever meet:

🎣 Mackerel, Carp, Trout, Pike, Anchovy, and Sardine!

These adorable lil’ guppies don’t quite qualify for our Home for the Holidays special —but don’t worry! We'll have plenty of other wonderful animals who do! 🏠❤️

🐾 Swim on down to the shelter:
📍 2601 Chanticleer Ave, Santa Cruz, CA
⏰ Open for animal browsing Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–5pm

Come cast your line—you might just hook your new best friend! 🎣💙

12/03/2025

🐾 GIVING TUESDAY: HOURS LEFT TO DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT 🐾

There's still time to make a difference this Giving Tuesday! Until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, every donation to our Pet Food Pantry will be MATCHED dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000.

This morning, we shared Carol's story, how our Pet Food Pantry helps her keep her beloved cats fed and healthy. Now, we want you to meet another grateful member of our community: Bodhi and his beautiful German Shepherd, Melody.

Bodhi's Story:

Bodhi is a local artist who has relied on our Pet Food Pantry for years. This service sustained his beloved German Shepherd, Azul, through a long and happy life filled with walks, companionship, and unconditional love. When Azul passed, Bodhi's heart was broken—but eventually, he opened it again to Melody, a newly adopted German Shepherd who needed a home.

Today, our Pet Food Pantry continues to support them both. For Bodhi, this program provides more than just sustenance. It offers peace of mind—the assurance that no matter what challenges life brings, his closest companion will always have a full bowl.

This is what your donation makes possible:
* Nutritious food for pets whose families are facing financial hardship
* The promise that pets can stay with the families who love them
* Peace of mind for people like Bodhi and Carol, who cherish their animals
* Stronger bonds between pets and their people in our community

Every $1 becomes $2 until midnight tonight. Your generosity can help twice as many pets and families.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Andrea Moore DVM for making this incredible matching opportunity possible. Together, we can ensure that love and loyalty are never separated by an empty food bowl.

Thank you for being part of our compassionate community. 💙🐾

The best place for any animal is with a family that loves them.And, if you give today, Andrea Moore, DVM, will match your gift, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per gift!All Giving Tuesday gifts to the Pet Food Pantry will be matched up to $10,000, doubling the impact of your gift!

12/02/2025

🐾 Love that Stays. Homes that Hold Together. 🐾

Last year, the Santa Cruz SPCA’s Pet Food Pantry delivered over 69,000 pounds of food to local families who simply needed a little help to keep their pets at home.

This year, that number is rising to more than 82,000 pounds, a sign of just how many people in our community rely on the unconditional love of their animals.

Among them is Carol.

Carol shares her life with two cats, Sorrel and Kinky, who have been her steady comfort through joy, loss, and healing. After complications from surgery resulted in the loss of her leg, even something as simple as feeding her cats became impossible. She feared she might lose them too.

But she didn’t.

For two years, the Pet Food Pantry has brought Sorrel and Kinky the food they need to stay right where they belong: curled up beside Carol, purring through the quiet moments, filling her home with the soft kind of love that makes everything feel possible again.

What the Pantry provides is more than nutrition.
It protects bonds.
It preserves families.
It keeps love exactly where it should be ... at home.

And today, you can help make sure that love continues.

🐾 This Giving Tuesday, Dr. Andrea Moore, DVM, is matching every gift to the Pet Food Pantry, dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000. 🐾

Your generosity becomes twice the meals,
twice the full bowls,
and twice the number of families who get to stay whole.

👉 Give today.
Double your impact.
And help keep pets and the people who love them together, exactly where they’re meant to be.

The best place for any animal is with a family that loves them.And, if you give today, Andrea Moore, DVM, will match your gift, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per gift!All Giving Tuesday gifts to the Pet Food Pantry will be matched up to $10,000, doubling the impact of your gift!

12/01/2025

✨ 12 Adoptions Last Week! ✨

What a beautiful, joy-filled week it’s been - so many happy matches, and our hearts are full. 💛

Our Home for the Holidays special continues (until Jan 3) with waived adoption fees on:
🐶 Large dogs (40+ lbs)
🐱 Adult cats (6+ months)
🐾 Any adult pet who’s been waiting 30+ days

Open your home to a new best friend this season! ❤️🎄

Here’s the full list of the wonderful pets who found their families last week:
🐶 Dogs: Cranberry, Tanner, and Stuffing!
🐱 Cats: Hal & Humphrey (together), Callisto, Apple, Whitney, Will, Lilly, and Estell!

11/30/2025

🌞 Sunday Funday Spotlight: MILO! 🌞

Say hello to Milo, the ~9-month-old Terrier Mix who is equal parts silly, spirited, and so ready for a home that gets his vibe. Recently, he went on a playdate with one of our volunteers and her pup crew - and honestly? He was a star. 🌟

Here’s the scoop from his adventure:
🐾 He and Squid (resident pup) wrestled, zoomed, and wore each other out.
🐾 When Squid plopped down for a break, Milo flopped right beside him. Besties.
🐾 He traveled well—just a tiny “uhh are we there yet?” whine at the 20-minute mark—then snoozed the whole ride home.
🐾 He handled Squid’s WWE wrestling style like a champ and was totally respectful of the grumpy greyhound in the crew.

Milo’s got so many strengths: he’s social, fun-loving, dog-friendly, and eager to learn. With the right guidance, this goofy guy is going to shine. ✨

But he’s also still a young terrier, which means:
⚡ He can get overstimulated in chaotic environments
🎓 He’ll benefit from positive training and structure
🚫 He’s probably not a cat roommate kind of guy

Milo will thrive with a calm, committed household—and he’d be thrilled to have a doggy friend to pal around with!

🎁 Holiday Bonus: His adoption fee is sponsored through our Home for the Holidays special!

Come meet this quirky, lovable dude!
We’re open Tues–Sun, 11am–5pm. 🐶💛

11/29/2025

💛🐾 Happy Tails: Westley's Journey Home 🐾💛

After over a year of patiently waiting (388 days to be exact!), our sweet boy Westley has finally found the home he always deserved — and it’s everything we dreamed of for him.

His new family shared the most heart-melting update with us, and we couldn’t wait to pass it along:

“Wes is great! He’s still taking a little time to come fully out of his shell inside the house — my wood floor is somewhat scary for him — but outside on the trails he is excited to walk with his brothers… He loves the freedom of a big backyard with lots of trees and ivy to bounce through.”

Westley has slipped perfectly into his new pack. His young husky brother Max absolutely adores him — so much that Max gets upset when he can’t join Wes for every walk! On weekends, the two wrestle and chase each other through the backyard until they’re muddy, exhausted, and happy as can be. They even sleep right next to each other.

Add in their friend’s visiting husky and the wise old resident dog Lincoln, and Westley now has his very own little woodland crew. He loves group walks, takes turns on the double leash, and explores all the incredible scents the woods have to offer. Rain? Nighttime? Doesn’t matter — Wes is always ready for an adventure.

His adopter is even planning to try running him with a dog-joring bike setup once Wes settles in more. How perfect is that for a boy who loves the outdoors?

His new adopter says: “Thank you for a good boy.” .... but we say: thank YOU for giving Westley the life he waited so long for.

Happy Tails, sweet Wes. We always knew your people were out there. 💛🌲🐾

11/29/2025

🌟 FOSTER FRIDAY: Meet Jules! 🌟
4 years old • Tortie • Quiet Sweetheart

Looking for a low-maintenance companion with big cozy-cat energy? Jules might be your perfect match. This shy tortie prefers calm routines, quiet spaces, and humans who respect her personal bubble. She’s not a cuddly lap cat now, and she’s probably unlikely to become one—but she does enjoy hanging out nearby, sharing the sofa, and slowly warming up on her own terms.

Jules has made wonderful progress in her current foster home: she’s started playing with wand toys, exploring more during the evening, and accepting gentle ear and chest scratches. She’s cautious and very tuned in to her environment—but she’s also kind, curious, and trying her best.

What Jules brings to the table:
✨ A+ scratching post user
✨ Soft, quiet presence
✨ Zero door-dashing ambitions
✨ No wild demands—just peace, predictability, and patience

Who she’s looking for:
Someone who understands that trust grows slowly, affection looks different for every cat, and independence is a love language. An adult-only or calm household will help her feel safe enough to keep blossoming.

If you love earning the trust of a tender, thoughtful cat, Jules might be your girl. 💛😻

Contact us to learn more about her! Jules will be coming back from Foster next week so it's the perfect time to come down to the shelter and meet her! And even better, Jules' adoption fee is sponsored by a generous donor!

We are located at 2601 Chanticleer Ave in Santa Cruz, CA! And just a reminder - now through Jan 3rd is our Home for the Holidays adoption special where adoption fees are waived for select animals! 🎁

11/27/2025

On this day of gratitude, we want to take a moment to THANK our incredible GIVERS — those who share their time, their resources, and even their homes with animals who need them.

Whether you volunteer, donate, adopt, foster, or simply cheer us on, your kindness makes a real difference for the homeless animals we care for every day.

From our two- and four-legged family to yours, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for being part of the Santa Cruz SPCA family.🧡

P.S. The shelter is closed today, though our team is still caring for the animals behind the scenes. We’ll be open for browsing again tomorrow at 11am!

11/26/2025

🌟HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS🌟

Meet Rooster — the dog whose ears always enter the room a full two seconds before the rest of him. He’s a tall, goofy, tender-hearted 3-year-old Great Dane mix who is currently accepting applications for “favorite human.”

Rooster is truly the full package: housebroken, crate trained, and fluent in all the important commands. In his wonderful foster home, he’s been polishing his greetings and manners, settling beautifully in the house, welcoming his people with happy wiggles, and sharing space respectfully with another large dog.

He’s perfecting his loose-leash walking and has fully committed to snuggling as part of his daily wellness plan. Rooster loves playing with dogs his size, sampling every toy in the basket, soaking up sunshine, and curling up next to his humans like a 60-pound cinnamon roll.

Thanks to the generosity of Loren Morse, Santa Cruz County Realtor, Rooster’s adoption fee is fully sponsored — which means the only thing missing in his story is you. Come meet him and make his holiday wish come true. ❤️