Pig News

Here's Jasper, this week's Pet-of-the-Week at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. He's a 10-12 month old German Shepherd who came in as a stray in the Watsonville area, with fly-bitten ears, a slight limp, and a bit on the thin and untidy side. He seems to have had a bit of a rough time in his young life. He has been gentle, quiet, and undemanding here at the shelter, seemingly just happy to have a warm, safe place to sleep, regular meals, and positive, caring interactions with our wonderful staff and volunteers.

He's a bit nervous about having his paws handled, and when he's worried about something he can get a little mouthy, which is a common behavior in adolescent dogs. He can be a bit goofy in play, he loves to play fetch, and so far he's shown friendly, curious interest in, and has been playful with, other dogs. Jasper is both treat- and attention-motivated and he LOVES positive reinforcement training. With continued positive guidance and training, and a safe, secure home, Jasper has the potential to be a loyal and fun companion, and he's sure to appreciate any comforts provided to him!

The shelter just wrapped up another successful Bissell "Empty the Shelters" adoption event, but they still have lots of wonderful pets, like Jasper available! Adoption fees are always low and an amazing bargain for all the services included. A young adult dog like Jasper is just $150, and that includes all his vaccinations, his neuter surgery, and a microchip. If he'll be living in Santa Cruz County, there will be an additional $29 fee to pay for his initial dog license, which is a requirement in our County for all dogs. Licensing fees help pay for the work our shelter does both at the shelter and in the community. Whether you're looking for a big, beautiful dog like Jasper, or an adorable kitten, the selection of pets available changes every day, and our staff and volunteers can help you find a wonderful, promising match.

The Santa Cruz Shelter's hours are 11-6 pm, 7 days a week. You can walk through and see any animals in their kennels during open hours but be aware that they end "meet and greets" (aka meeting an animal out of the kennel) at 4:30pm every day. If you'd like to meet an animal out of the kennel, please arrive before 4:00pm to allow for time to discuss individual animals and meet them.

The Shelter WILL be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as on New Years' day, but otherwise, they're here and they'd love to see you!!

For more info, listen to Pet-O-Rama Thursdays on the pig or visit the shelter, located at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz and open from 11am to 6pm every day.

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