My family and I have been volunteering at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) since 2011. As our 15th anniversary approaches, I’m thinking what a privilege it’s been to be part of an organization that makes such a difference in the lives of animals and their humans.
My daughter, Eva, and I started volunteering with the dogs when she was 12. She needed to have an adult volunteer with her, so I signed up—no arm-twisting required.
Every Sunday we’d head to SCCAS to walk dogs for a few hours. It was a wonderful bonding experience during the teen years, when mom/daughter relationships can sometimes drift. Eva is now a veterinarian in San Diego. Her years at the shelter gave her a big boost when she applied first to her undergrad program and then to vet school.
When Eva and I became volunteers, my other daughter, Jessie, also wanted to help but was too young to work with the animals on-site. We found other ways for her to help, like fundraising and fostering. She dove in headfirst.
A Safe Haven
SCCAS is an open-admission facility serving the neediest animals in Santa Cruz County. Over the years, creatures of all types have shown up at the shelter: dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, chinchillas, tortoises, parakeets, goats, hamsters, and more. SCCAS provides shelter, veterinary care, and TLC for thousands of animals each year. In 2023, a total of 2,382 animals were adopted into loving homes and 1,172 strays were reunited with their families. The shelter provides low-cost spay/neuter services and vaccination clinics as well as other vital outreach programs.
Humane education presentations are available to schools and youth organizations that include topics about pet care and needs, careers in animal welfare, and community involvement with shelter animals. For more information about these presentations, contact Celine San Luis at [email protected].
Cookies For Cash
We live on a busy corner near Capitola Village—prime real estate for bake sales. The kids would make a killing selling cookies, brownies, and bottled water to sandy (and sometimes tipsy) people returning from the beach during holidays and festival weekends. The following day the kids would drop the cash off at the shelter’s front desk and then wander the kennels to say hi to the animals.
Over the years I’ve seen other kids come in with envelopes of cash from their own bake sales and lemonade stands. A highlight was watching a boy drop off a big box of treats and toys that he’d received for his birthday. He’d asked his guests to bring shelter donations instead of gifts for himself.
A Little Tlc
Volunteering on-site is incredibly rewarding because you get to help prepare animals for adoption. Kids can volunteer on-site with dogs, cats, or rabbits starting at age 12 with an adult partner (18 or older). My weekly gig is dog walking, but if I happen to take out a dog who prefers loafing to walking, we sit in a play-yard together and talk about life.
Becoming an on-site volunteer begins with an informational meeting and a species-specific training. A mentoring session follows, with an experienced volunteer sharing methods and tips for making volunteering fun and safe. The shelter encourages TLC volunteers to commit to an ongoing shift after their training is complete. I had no problem scheduling an ongoing Sunday shift because I was hooked by my second week.
Summer is a great time to support SCCAS’s work. Have a bake sale. Donate toys. Become a foster. Volunteer on-site. You might get hooked too!
For more information, visit the SCCAS website or stop by for a visit! www.scanimalshelter.org. 1001 Rodriguez Street, Santa Cruz. 831.454.7200
Fun With Fosters
A small army of dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens have come through our door over the years. Our furry guests have included mom cats with newborns, a puppy with a broken leg, and several couch-surfing dogs who bunked with us while waiting for their forever families. Perhaps our favorite was a loaf-shaped, snaggle-toothed, bug-eyed Chiweenie named Purdy. When I first brought her home, my husband said, ‘What is THAT?’ Within a week he’d completely fallen for her and would have signed her adoption papers if the perfect adopters hadn’t shown up first.
We’re often asked how we can bear to return fosters that we’ve bonded with. (Full disclosure: We’ve foster-failed three times.) What makes it easier is knowing they’re headed for permanent, loving homes…and that we’ll have space for our next foster crew.
Pet Of The Month: Alani
Meet Alani, a six-year-old Border Collie/German Shepherd mix looking for her new home. Alani came to the shelter after her previous guardian could no longer care for her. She has experience around children ages 2 to 15 and has done well with them. Alani has also lived near cats, calmly sniffing and coexisting with them while primarily living outdoors. Her former guardians described her as very sweet. Although she has not lived with other dogs, she has met some at the shelter and prefers calm coexistence while getting acquainted. Because Alani previously lived mostly outdoors, she may thrive with indoor-outdoor access during her transition. She may also need patience learning potty training, leash walking, and other household dog skills in her new home.
By Sheila Borgman
