Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "animal shelter"

No thanks, but maybe a hiss.

2012-01-31T17:34:27Z

It’s early Sunday morning in January. Cars pull into the lot in an industrial section of South Sacramento. What would possess people to get up this early on a cold, dark winter’s day? It’s not a swap meet, big sale, concert tickets, or church. These people have come to the Sacramento SPCA feral cat clinic to get the cats they’ve trapped spayed or neutered and vaccinated as part of a program called TNR: trap neuter return.

Why do they do this? It’s a problem that has to be dealt with.

“When feral overpopulation causes a problem, people get annoyed with all cats – ferals and pets. They don’t discriminate,” trapper Mary said, summarizing a common sentiment. “Cats get run over, poisoned, abused and killed. Getting feral cats fixed and vaccinated gives them a chance at living a long and happy life and reduces suffering for all cats.”

Mary and other feral caregivers asked to be identified only by their first name, to prevent people from dumping or killing cats in their area.

Trap Neuter Return, or TNR, is the process of trapping free-roaming un-owned cats, vaccinating and fixing them, marking them by removing the tip of the left ear, and returning them to where they were trapped. It saves money and cats’ lives, and best of all, it works.

At the Sacramento SPCA feral cat clinics, cats are fixed, vaccinated, given flea drops, and "ear tipped" for a total cost of $15. Clinics on the first Sunday of the month are sponsored by the Coalition for Community Cats. The Sacramento SPCA sponsors a clinic on the 3rd Sunday, and a recent ASPCA grant sponsors a clinic on an additional Sunday. Clinics are by appointment only, each takes up to 125 cats. Even so they fill up quickly. Appointments are often scheduled a month in advance.

According to Dr. Laurie Siperstein-Cook, chief of shelter medicine at the SSPCA, nearly 7500 cats have been TNR'ed via these clinics over the past four years, and clinic capacity continues to increase. At some clinics 90 percent of the female cats have been pregnant.

Inside the clinic, feral cat caregivers wait patiently with their caged charges. “if (euthanizing feral cats) was going to work, it would have worked already.” veteran trapper John said. John has spent considerable time and expense combating cat overpopulation in Sacramento County, designing a special trailer for transporting and recovering 50 cats at a time. His business card lists him as a “Cat Transporter.” He has TNR’ed over 1,200 cats, with the expenses coming out of pocket.

John has brought 15 trapped cats to this clinic. Some people have brought one or two, others eight or more. There’s a mix of first-time trappers and seasoned veterans.

Each cat gets registered and a traveler tag attached to its trap. Sex and identifying markings are noted. Traps are covered to help the cat inside remain calm. Shrouded traps fill the waiting rooms and line the hallways. At today’s clinic, 90 cats will be altered and vaccinated.

You would think the noise would be tremendous, with 90 cooped-up cats yowling to be let out. The only sound is soft conversation and the rustling of paperwork. These are true feral cats, untouchable and unaccustomed to humans, not pampered and demanding pets. They are in survival mode: terrified, silent, motionless, invisible inside their covered cages.

This is the first and last time these cats will see a veterinarian. Each cat is given a thorough examination. The veterinarians and technicians volunteer their time, for training or to keep sharp on spay and neuter procedures. They run their hands over each animal, palpating to look for tumors, broken bones, or other internal issues. Matted fur is clipped away. Ears, eyes and teeth inspected. The majority of cats are in reasonably good health, as most feral cats are.

After surgery the cats are returned to their trap or a recovery carrier and placed in a quiet area until their caregiver picks them up. They will hold the cat overnight and release it the next day. The trauma of being caged is higher for a feral than is worth the risk of infection or ripped stitches after release.

The program is already seeing results. "At a defined area where we did concentrated mass trapping until almost all the cats were TNR'ed, we saw a drastic decrease in kitten litters." Dr. Laurie said "They used to find a dozen litters per year. After we mass TNR'ed, there have been zero to one litter per year. The caregivers are on the alert and round up any new litters and the mom for TNR and adoption. Since it's a rare occurence, they find it managable to take care of. We fixed about 200 cats, plus many kittens that were rehomed."

She has these suggestions for how you can help cats in your neighborhood:

Visit alleycat.org or coalition4cats.org to learn more about feral cats, and how to tell a feral from a stray.
If you’re feeding free-roaming cats, make sure they’re all fixed and vaccinated. Free and low cost programs are available.
Don’t let your pet cat become part of the feral population. Get your cat fixed and micro-chipped. Call (916) 808-SPAY or visit sacanimal.org for a list of low cost spay and neuter resources in your area.
If you’re unable to care for your pet cat, surrender it to the SSPCA or other adoption program.

Dr. Laurie had this to add "None of (our TNR clinics) would be possible without the feral cat caregivers and the many many hours of exhausting work they put in, with no recompense except the knowledge that they are doing their part to help the cats have a better life...and maybe a thankful hiss or two."

Disclosure: Lisa Farr is a volunteer for the Sacramento SPCA, working for the feral cat program.

Sacramento Cat Hospital to Host Third Annual Pet Food Drive on November 19

2011-10-17T23:50:00Z

On Saturday, November 19, the Sacramento Cat Hospital will host its third annual pet food drive, benefiting Titanic's Pantry (the Sacramento Pet Food Bank). All donations of cat and dog food, canned or dry, will help feed hungry animals throughout Sacramento.

The pet food drive will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sacramento Cat Hospital, 4115 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael. In addition to pet food, donations of leashes, collars, cat litter, bedding, and other pet supplies are welcome.

"If a family is having a tough time paying the bills or feeding their children, they may not be able to feed their pet," said Dr. Billie Bensen Martin, owner of the Sacramento Cat Hospital. "This pet food drive is a great way for our community to help animals in need all over the city. The current economic climate means that the demand is greater than ever."

"The goal of Titanic's Pantry is to help keep pets and their people together," said Gina Knepp, spokeswoman for the City of Sacramento's Animal Care Services. "If we can help feed pets, people who are struggling financially won't have to give them up."

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately 63 percent of all households in the United States have a pet. The 2011/2012 APPA National Pet Owners Survey shows that the average annual pet food expenditure is $254 for a dog and $220 for a cat. Titanic's Pantry can help decrease this expense by providing cat and dog food as often as once a month.

Titanic's Pantry was launched in November 2009, when local shelters were seeing more and more people surrendering their family pets because they could not afford to feed them. Since opening its doors, Titanic's Pantry has helped thousands of families throughout Sacramento. Titanic's Pantry is 100% volunteer-operated and is sponsored by the Animal Care Partners of Sacramento, a collaboration of the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary.

The Sacramento Cat Hospital is a quality full-service feline veterinary hospital that celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2009. Three DVMs (including Sacramento's only Diplomate in Feline Practice certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners) and 16 staff members provide expert, loving care to feline patients. The doctors and team at the Sacramento Cat Hospital are committed to charitable and benevolent activities that make a difference for animals in need throughout our city.

For more information about the pet food drive, contact the Sacramento Cat Hospital at (916) 488-4161 or email info@sacramentocathospital.com.

Disclosure: Laurie Rich is a consultant and organizer of charitable events with the Sacramento Cat Hospital, and also volunteers with Titanic's Pantry.

Animal Care Reminds People to Get Their Pets Ready For Summer

2011-06-14T22:03:41Z

Warm weather has finally arrived in Sacramento, and the County Animal Shelter is reminding pet owners of the importance of taking certain precautions to make sure their animals stay safe and cool during the hot Sacramento summer months.

“Pets are completely dependent on their owners to take care of them, and it is important that people stay alert to their pet’s health and well being,” said Dave Dickinson, Interim Animal Shelter Director. “One of the more common instances we see of endangering pet’s health is dogs left in cars in hot weather. All it takes is a few minutes for a dog to succumb to heat stroke.”

Below are some tips on how you can help your pet get ready for summer:

Never leave your dog in a parked car: Even cracking a window won’t protect your pets. It is against the law in California and could be punishable by a fine.
Avoid extreme heat: When temperatures get above the 90s, take your pet inside. For outdoor pets, be sure to provide them with plenty of fresh, cold water in a tip‐proof water dish and shade for them to cool down.
Don’t exercise with your pets when it is too hot: Older and certain long‐haired dogs can be particularly susceptible to heat, and hot asphalt can burn their paws. Exercise in the early morning or evenings and make sure both of you have plenty of water. It will be easier on both of you.
Use sunscreen: Pets get sunburned just like people, and if your pet has light skin, they can be particularly susceptible to a painful burn. Use sunscreen on sensitive areas, such as ears or nose to make sure your pets are protected.
Don’t take your pets to crowded summer events: The heat, noise, and crowds can be overwhelming to your pet. It is best to leave them at home in a quiet, cool environment.
Secure your dog during transport: Make sure your dog is secured safely in your vehicle or tethered by a rope or chain in the bed of your tuck to prevent the dog from falling or jumping from the vehicle. Transporting animals without properly securing the animal an a public highway or public roadway (exceptions for working dogs within agricultural or rural areas) is against the law in California and could be punishable by a fine.
Be your pet’s lifeguard: While swimming can help some of your pets get exercise without overheating, always supervise your pets when swimming either in a pool or in area waterways. A dog could get tired swimming, particularly if it is in the river and must fight against currents.

If your pet has been exposed to high temperatures…

Be alert for signs of heat stress including heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue.
Move your pet immediately to the shade to help lower their temperature immediately. Apply cool (not cold) water to the pet, apply ice packs and cool towels to your pet’s head, neck, and chest.
Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately. It could save its life.

If you should see animals in danger and potential neglect or abuse cases, please contact the Animal Shelter to report the issue at 916-368-PETS (7387).

Information gathered from the Dumb Friends League, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation. Annie Parker is a Communication and Media Officer with the Sacramento County Municipal Services Agency.

County Animal Shelter Holds Second Annual “Flea Market” June 25-26

2011-06-07T15:16:23Z

Are you looking for a chance to donate some of your new or gently used items, or do a little shopping for a good cause? The Sacramento County Animal Shelter will be hosting its second annual “Flea Market” June 25-26 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the County Animal Shelter at 3839 Bradshaw Road in Sacramento.

“We raised over $20,000 at last year’s flea market, and we hope to break that record this year,” said Dave Dickinson, Interim Shelter Director. “All the funds raised from this event go to our shelter’s S.O.S Save Our Shelter fund that benefits the 15,000 animals that pass through our shelter every year.”

Items available for purchase include new and gently used household items and furniture, antiques and hip vintage items, patio and garden items, toys, clothing, bed and bath items and pet products. All Flea Market purchases must be cash only. If you are interested in donating items, call 916-361-7604 or email SacCountyShelterFleaMarket@yahoo.com to schedule a pick-up.

To learn more about the Flea Market, other ways to donate, and to see what else is going on at the Sacramento County Animal Shelter, visit www.SacCountyShelter.net.

Annie Parker is a Communication and Media Officer for the Sacramento Municipal Services Agency.

Celebrate the "Home for the Holidays" Special Pet Adoption Event Through December

2010-12-07T00:05:29Z

The Sacramento SPCA, City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, Sacramento County Animal Care & Regulation and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary are holding a joint “Home for the Holidays” pet adoption special which will begin on Friday, November 26 and run through December 30. The goal of the holiday adoption promotion is to increase adoptions community-wide and to ultimately find new homes for 1,000 homeless animals by the end of 2010. During “Home for the Holidays” adoption fees for all animals will be reduced by half.

The four participating shelters will take in more than 35,000 homeless animals this year alone. This figure represents an increase over previous years due to the poor economy and other factors. Sacramento animal shelters are overburdened with hundreds of animals seeking permanent homes. Through “Home for the Holidays,” the shelters will work together to boost adoptions, and will strive to facilitate 1,000 additional adoptions before the end of the year.

Disclosure: Annie Parker is an Communication and Media Officer employed by the Sacramento County Municipal Services Agency

Sacramento Cat Hospital Hosts 2nd Annual Pet Food Drive to Help Hungry Cats and Dogs

2010-11-08T20:19:04Z

On Saturday, November 13, the Sacramento Cat Hospital is hosting its second annual pet food drive, benefiting Loaves & Fishes and Titanic's Pantry (the Sacramento Pet Food Bank). All donations of cat and dog food, canned or dry, will make a difference for a hungry animal.

Pet food drive hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sacramento Cat Hospital, 4115 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael.

"Providing enough pet food to meet the need is an ongoing challenge for shelters, charitable organizations, and animal rescue groups," said Dr. Billie Bensen Martin, owner of the Sacramento Cat Hospital. "This large-scale pet food drive is an effective way for our community to help animals in need all over the city."

During last year's drive, more than 8000 pounds of pet food was collected. "It was wonderful to see the generosity of our community at last year’s pet food drive," said Dr. Martin. "We’re hoping to collect even more pet food this year. The economic climate means that the demand is greater than ever. So many people in our city are faced with the difficult choice of feeding themselves, or feeding their pets."

Around the country, healthy animals are being surrendered because their owners can no longer afford to feed them. Two organizations in our community are working to feed hungry pets and keep them out of our city's overflowing shelters.

The kennel at Loaves & Fishes houses and feeds the pets of their guests while the guests are eating in the dining room or participating in other services. Pet food is also distributed to those who have pets at home.

The Sacramento Pet Food Bank was launched in November 2009 in response to the increase in pets surrendered to shelters due to the inability of their owners to afford to feed them. The goal of the program is to keep people and their pets together by having a constant supply of dog and cat food available to those in need. The food bank is a partnership between the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary.

For more information about the pet food drive, contact the Sacramento Cat Hospital at (916) 488-4161 or email info@sacramentocathospital.com.

Disclosure: Laurie Rich is a consultant and organizer to charitable events at the Sacramento Cat Hospital.

County Animal Shelter Launches “Support Our Shelter” Effort

2010-11-01T17:58:20Z

Effective November 1, the County Animal Shelter is launching the “Support Our Shelter” fundraising effort to continue to raise donations that will enable sustained operations. The focus of this ongoing campaign will be to continue to look to the community to help support the 15,000 animals that come through our shelter every year by donating to the shelter, licensing their pet, or adopting an animal.

“The S.O.S Save Our Shelter campaign has made a tremendous difference in the lives of animals in our communities, and I want to personally thank everyone who has donated their time, effort and funds to help make sure we find permanent homes for our resident animals and continue to investigate cases of animal cruelty and neglect,” said Carl Simpson, County Animal Interim Shelter Director. “By implementing the updated “S.O.S Support Our Shelter” campaign, we hope to continue to reach out to the community and encourage them to support our shelter operations while we investigate and implement long-term and region-wide animal care solutions and partnerships.”

In April 2010, Animal Care staff and volunteers launched the S.O.S Save Our Shelter campaign to raise general awareness of the shelter budget situation that resulted in a reduction in shelter operational hours, reduced a significant number of personnel, and increased the dependence on a dedicated team of volunteers to help maintain shelter operations.

Since S.O.S was launched, the Animal Shelter raised over $92,000 through community events, donations, and various fundraisers, including a first annual summer “Flea Market” and the “Whiskers and Wine” fundraiser in September. Local businesses and groups have been instrumental in donating time, funds, equipment and their talents to the fundraising efforts.

Funds raised have helped restore an animal control officer position to help the shelter continue to investigate animal cruelty and neglect. Additional funds will also be used for a variety of critical items including vaccinations, food and special medical needs for the animals.

The County Animal Shelter is located at 3839 Bradshaw Road. For more information about S.O.S Save Our Shelter, pet licensing, kennel and habitat room sponsorship, and how you can get involved, call 916-368-7387 or visit www.saccountyshelter.net.

Disclosure: Annie Parker is Communication and Media Officer with the Sacramento County Municipal Services Agency.

County Animal Shelter Raises Pit Bull Awareness through Educational Workshops and Trainings

2010-10-19T21:16:07Z

In recognition of national “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month”, all October the Animal Shelter is holding several informational and training sessions to raise awareness of the often misunderstood group of dogs known as pit bulls and related breeds, which make up a large percentage of adoptable dogs in almost every shelter. The shelter has already offered several sessions throughout the month and on October 30 will celebrate the positive aspects of the breed with a showcase of several pit bulls that are Certified Assisted Therapy dogs.

“We are pleased to be holding this first time event to attempt to provide factual information and dispel stereotypes and myths about pit bulls, and to highlight what great pets they can be for the right family,” said Carl Simpson, Interim Shelter Director. “These upcoming educational opportunities provide an excellent opportunity for current and potential pit bull owners, as well as for anyone simply wanting to gain a better understanding of the pit bull dog.”

Remaining activities include:

October 23 - Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification Testing
Canine Good Citizen test administered by a certified CGC Evaluator. Free for Pit Bulls, $15 other breeds. Presented by Chako Pit Bull Rescue.

October 24 - Educational Seminar: “Pit Bulls: Now & Then”
The workshop covers information and the misinformation that abounds with this breed of dog. Learn the physical and behavioral aspects of the American Pit Bull Terrier, as well as their history, where they came from and where they may be going. Reserve your seat by emailing ingridc@sacCounty.net. Presented by Matt Green of the Placer SPCA.

October 24 – Hands-on Dog-Reactivity Workshop
The workshop is designed for dogs that are reactive toward other dogs, whether they are reactive due to excitability, aggression, or fear. Instructions will include a discussion about equipment, etc., and there will be time at the beginning of class to go over equipment safety. $45 for Pit Bull/Pit Bull Mixes Owners, $75 other breeds. Presented by Chako Pit Bull Rescue

October 30 – Pit Bull Appreciation & Celebration Day
Pit Bull adopters will enjoy gifts and visitors will meet Pit Bull Certified Assisted Therapy dogs, as we close out a month of community awareness, positive attention and promotion of responsible pit bull guardianship!

First annual Whiskers and Wine fundraiser to benefit the County Animal Shelter Sept. 25

2010-09-13T15:51:10Z

As part of an effort to raise much needed funds for the Sacramento County Animal Shelter, Teaching Everyone Animals Matter (TEAM), the animal shelter's non-profit partner, is sponsoring the first annual “Whiskers and Wine” fundraising event at the Animal Shelter, located at 3839 Bradshaw Road, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 25.

“We are pleased to be hosting this first-time event at the Animal Shelter to increase our visibility within the community, and to raise funds to make our animal shelter more self sufficient,” said Interim Animal Shelter Director Carl Simpson. “This is going to be a great opportunity for community members to come out and see our animal shelter, while enjoying some great food and drinks, live music, silent auction and much more.”

Tickets for this event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. All proceeds go to support the Sacramento County Animal Shelter's Save our Shelter (S.O.S) campaign. For information on how to purchase tickets in advance, please go to www.SacAnimalShelter.org or email the Animal Shelter at WhiskersandWine@gmail.com

The Animal Shelter is also still accepting donations for the silent auction and raffle, and food and drink vendors. If you are interested in donating to this event, or to the Animal Shelter in general, please email Tara Diller at Dillert@saccounty.net. All online and mailed donations to the Animal Shelter are tax-deductible.

County Shelter to Hold "Flea" Market

2010-06-18T06:25:17Z

The Sacramento County animal shelter is holding its inaugural “Flea” Market 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 26 to raise funds in light of Thursday's budget cuts.

The animal shelter is facing a $1.8 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year and a severe staff shortage, as reported by SacPress’ Lisa Palmer.

“The big joke is that we're not going to be selling fleas, per se,” said Annie Parker, county communications and media officer.

Donated items for sale include new and used household items, furniture, pet products, toys, garden items, electronics and clothing. A raffle, bake sale and craft sale will be held.

The event was organized by shelter volunteers. They are still accepting donated items.

“This is part of our Save Our Shelter campaign, which is designed to raise funds and awareness for our shelter situation,” said Celeste Ingrid, county shelter volunteer coordinator.

“It's all about public awareness, not just fundraising,” she said. “This is something fun we thought we could do to bring people to our flea market but also to our new facilities. Everybody loves a good yard sale.”

According to the county’s Office of Budget and Debt Management, the April 14 proposal called for the county shelter to be open four hours per day, four days per week. The proposal would have cut the adoption program by 70 percent and eliminated the volunteer and foster care programs.

The board decided Thursday afternoon to cut seven positions effective July 3: animal care and regulation director, two animal control officers and four kennel attendants.

“As a leadership team we have to come back to the drawing board to strategize,” said Tara Diller, county shelter operations manager. “There's going to be a lot of services that aren't going to be available.”

The shelter is accepting donations and waiving late fees for pet registrations through June. All proceeds and donations go to the shelter’s fund.

“We’re down to two kennel attendants and eight field officers to work 30,000 calls a year,” Diller said. “We're not in good shape. We didn't get good news today.”

Parker encouraged pet registration to raise money for the shelter and as a safeguard for pets.

“It's going to be a great day for people who want to come out, browse and check out our new facility. We have a dog park there, so it's a dog-friendly ‘flea’ market,” she said.”We’ll also be doing our normal adoptions.”

The shelter is located at 3839 Bradshaw Rd. Information about the flea market is available by contacting (916) 361-7604 or saccountyshelterfleamarket@yahoo.com.

Photos:

1) The new Bradshaw Road county animal shelter. Courtesy of Annie Parker.

2) Inside the county shelter. Courtesy of Annie Parker.

3) Cats for adoption at the county shelter. Courtesy of Annie Parker.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Put Your Paws to the Pavement for Doggy Dash

2010-05-27T02:29:43Z

Stretch those legs and flex those paws for the 17th annual Sacramento SPCA Doggy Dash June 5 in William Land Park.

Approximately 4,000 people and their canine companions are expected to attend, and will gather in the Village Green Area of the park. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. and will continue until 1 p.m. Participants may register with or without a dog.

The SPCA hopes to raise $250,000 through Doggy Dash.

"This is our largest fundraiser of the year," SPCA public relations director Lesley Kirrene said in an e-mail. "All funds raised go to help us care for the more than 12,000 homeless animals that will come to the SPCA this year alone. We have had such a terrific response to the event in the past — it grows every year — that we set a loftier fundraising goal each year."

So far they have raised about $128,000.

The SPCA is a non-profit, independent organization that relies on private donations and fundraising events, like Doggy Dash, to support general operations.

Participants may choose from a 2K walk, 5K walk or a 5K run.

"We urge people to be very aware of what both they and their dogs are capable of physically before entering," Kirrene said. "We do have water stations and people checking throughout the course."

After Doggy Dash, join the SPCA for the free Bark at the Park Festival. Register for Pup Shows (which include contests for the ugliest dog, best smile, best kisser and best costume), watch the high-flying frisbee contest and the Sacramento Police Department's K-9 unit demonstration. Stay for the Pug Races, visit booths of pet-friendly businesses and learn about other Sacramento animal rescue organizations. A pet psychic and pet photographer will be on hand. Dog DNA testing and canine heart testing will be available. The SPCA will have adoptable dogs at the festival as well.

Dogs are required to be current on vaccinations and be at least six months old. Dogs must wear current ID and license tags at all times. The SPCA prefers one leashed dog per person, but will allow two well-behaved leashed dogs. Leashes must be six feet or shorter. The SPCA asks that if your dog is not sociable, please do not bring him/her.

Contest registration is $5 per contest and will be available at the Doggy Dash event.

"Doggy Dash is the largest event of its kind in Northern California, and has become a 'don't miss' event for animal enthusiasts," Kirrene said.

In light of the Sacramento County animal shelter's potential closure due to further budget cuts, local animal rescue organizations may face a torrent of homeless animals and veterinary needs. Fundraising and donations are needed across the board.

"The SPCA is doing all we can to assist Sacramento County Animal Care & Regulation," Kirrene said. "We are completely separate entities, however we are very supportive of them and their efforts to stay open and avoid further budget cuts."

Registration is $25 per individual and $30 per team participant until Friday. Late registration is $30 per individual and $35 per team participant from Friday through June 5.

Online registration closes June 2. Registration is available June 2 through 4 at the Arden Petco store from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1878 Arden Way. Otherwise, registration at the event starts at 7:30 a.m.

Photos courtesy of Lesley Kirrene and the Sacramento SPCA.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

City Shelter joins forces to make strides

2009-12-03T07:19:36Z

The Sacramento Animal Care Services facility on Front Street rotated dozens of animals and 30 people surrendering pets, filling out missing pet reports and retrieving their animals through the small receiving room on Tuesday.

The shelter handles all of the city's animal-care issues, including cruelty investigations, quarantines and licensing, but it still need help with their own deficiencies.

"We always need volunteers in all areas — clerical, socializing, feeding, adoptions, everything," said animal care services manager Penny Cistaro.

The shelter currently has 175 volunteers, compared to the other three shelters in Sacramento that have over 1000. Their medical care facility and spay/neuter clinic share a small trailer located in the back of the shelter, and despite the high volume of animals received, the available space for animals is scarce.

According to Cistaro, the shelter is not a "no-kill" facility because they perform euthanasia on animals that are deemed to be sick, too young, too old, not adoptable, or there is no space to house them.

"No-kill is just a movement—they are trying to make a point," Cistaro said. "'Kill' makes it sound like we're taking baseball bats and hitting the animals over the head. We perform euthanasia here."

According to Cistaro, to increase the live release rate and make a difference in the animals population, the community needs more resources like strong spay/neuter clinics and behavior programs, and look at the costs of veterinary services and of housing large animals.

"There are food banks for people who can't provide for themselves, but nothing for animals," Cistaro said. "So we opened a pet food bank."

The shelter is teaming up with the County Animal Care and Regulation Center on Bradshaw Road, the Sacramento SPCA on Florin-Perkins and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary on Folsom Boulevard. Together, they have created "Mission Orange," in hopes of increasing the live release rate in Sacramento and receiving a grant from the ASPCA.

"We need to make this a social problem, not a shelter problem," Cistaro said. "Shelters need to be more proactive."

For more information about the shelter or to volunteer visit the Sacramento Animal Care Services website.

Katrina

Tabitha

Purrsimmon

Dart

Grace

Forrest

Aspen

Cali

wynter

Awesome Andy

Sully

Jasmine

Callie

Amie

Art

Grover

Sasha

Finding homes and hope at the Sacramento SPCA

2009-11-22T00:58:41Z

"You are super cute," said Lesley Kirrene, as she walks past bright-eyed animals waiting for homes.

"Once the animals are on the adoption floor we have made a commitment to them that we will find them homes," said Kirrene, director of public relations for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The shelter is keeping its promise. Cage after cage proudly displays the blue sign reading "On hold," which means the animal is waiting to be picked up and brought home. The lucky dogs for the day were Dorris, Roscoe, Rockie, Dot, Brindle, Fred, Conan, Bob and Kasey, who wagged their tails excitedly, knowing that they were about to go home.

The shelter is not considered a "no-kill" facility because it takes aggressive animals that have a history of attack and animals sick beyond treatment that need to be euthanized.

"We're not a no-kill shelter, we are an open-door shelter," Kirrene said. "We give animals that never had a chance at adoption a chance: un-weaned kittens, animals that need amputation and that 9-year-old dog that would normally be euthanized. We will treat animals, bottle-feed kittens and amputate a leg."

The shelter is constantly improving their home-like habitats and finding new ways to prevent upper respiratory infections that are common in animals with sensitive immune systems.

"We are putting more levels into the cats' habitats so that they have even more space to hide and play," Kirrene said. "Having more space is important to preventing the animals from getting sick."

Along with improving the habitats, the SPCA is partnering with the County Animal Care and Regulation Center on Bradshaw Road, Sacramento Animal Care Services facility on Front Street and Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary on Folsom Boulevard. Together, they have created "Mission Orange," a pact among the animal shelters to come together and raise the live release rate among adoptable animals and reduce the number of euthanized animals, according to Kirrene. If improvements are seen, the shelters will receive a grant from the ASPCA which will help to keep the improvements coming.

The shelter takes pride in the care that they give their animals and their high adoption rates.

"We have great volunteers that take the animals out multiple times a day for walks and to go to the bathroom," Kirrene said. "We take animals from anywhere as far as Santa Barbara to the Butte area and bring them here because we can adopt them out."

Despite the success that the SPCA has in adopting animals, the organization's wish remains the same for the nation: to not need animal adoptions and for people to be responsible with their animals.

"We always say we wish we could be put out of business," Kirrene said

The shelter is currently working on their annual book sale, one of three large fundraising events for the shelter. For more information on upcoming events, programs offered, adoption opportunities or to make a donation, visit the SPCA website or visit the shelter at 6201 Florin Perkins Road.

Harry Potter and Captain Hook

Bullet

Otis

Eve

Gracie

Jed

Bubbles

Whisper

Milo

Gracie

Penny

Bear

Jay Jay

Smoochie

Suzie

Leah

A Bay Bay

Eve and Sugar Pie

Angel

CoCo

Hope for county animals

2009-11-14T05:09:21Z

The new county animal care and regulation center on Bradshaw Road is providing a more spacious habitat to a wide variety of animals.

It houses cats, dogs, rabbits, reptiles, llamas, goats and horses and any other animal that comes through the doors. It also extends many animals' lives.

For visitors to the previous county animal shelter, the words 'five days' are chilling. That is the typical amount of time animals live at a government-run animal shelter before they are euthanized. If they are deemed dangerous, diseased, or unadoptable they will be killed immediately.

The new shelter allows the animals to have more time. The facility is spacious so the animals are displayed in habitats.

According to Chris Amos, communication and media officer for the County of Sacramento Municipal Services Agency, 90 percent of euthanized animals are feral cats.

"This is a fluffy adoption center," Amos said. "It's also a jail and a hospital. Because of that our adoption rate is up but so is our intake rate."

Improvements to come for the shelter include a bigger spay/neuter clinic run by the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

"With this new clinic we could actually make a dent in the population," Amos said.

The volunteers at the shelter are dedicated specialists in their fields.

Gena Ensey, volunteer in the cat section, has been evaluating and spending time with 192 cats.

"We never thought this day would come, that we would get this facility," Ensey said.

"The new facility is better for everyone," volunteer Fred Stacey said. "Being cooped up they get hyper and stressed out."

Amos said the facility will host several adoption events in December. Pet Pantry, in a partnership with Coats for Kids, asks visitors to the facility to drop off a coat and a bag of animal food. Home for the Holidays offers animals one year or older to be adopted for free and receive free microchipping and vaccinations.

"It's a business," Amos said. "We're having to get more and more creative."

There will also be a celebration of demolition when the previous county shelter is blown up.

For more information on the shelter and to adopt an animal visit the animal care and regulation website.

Photos courtesy of Anthony Bento; for more photos visit anthonybento.com

Fluff, Muff, and Puff

Tia

Kitten #A510777

Kitten #A510725

Kitten #A50788

Kitten #A51347

Everton and Frisky

Jolene

Elena

Tamby

Flora

Faye

Jimmy

Butterscotch

Socks

Twinkle

Basil

Puppy #A511092

Rudolph

The Sacramento SPCA - Providing New Hope for Homeless Animals

2008-11-24T23:52:28Z

There is a pet overpopulation crisis right here in Sacramento. The area’s three major shelters will take in more than 37,000 animals this year alone, and there simply aren’t enough homes for all of them. But this tragedy facing our community does have a solution.

Spay/neuter is the key to reducing the number of unwanted animals entering area shelters.
The Sacramento SPCA responded to this critical need when we opened our new spay and neuter clinic in May 2007. Through our clinic, the only high-volume spay and neuter clinic in the region, we will alter 12,000 animals in 2008 – saving countless lives.

Our clinic is at the heart of what we stand for at the Sacramento SPCA.

The Sacramento SPCA is an independent, non-profit organization that has been helping homeless animals in Sacramento since 1894. The organization is not affiliated with any other local or national animal organization, and depends on donations to feed, care for, and provide veterinary care to thousands of homeless animals each year.

The Sacramento SPCA will care for more than 11,000 homeless, unwanted, abused, abandoned and injured animals in 2008 alone. In addition to caring for animals in need, our SPCA offers a variety of services to both two- and four-legged Sacramento-area residents including:
• Adoption services
• Dog training and behavior consultation
• Estate planning
• Feral cat spay/neuter clinics
• Foster care and rescue
• Free animal behavior helpline
• Free pit bull spay/neuter program
• Humane education and Camp Kindness (including scholarships for low-income children)
• Low cost vaccination & microchip clinics
• Low-cost, high-volume spay/neuter clinic
• Pet lost and found
• Pet-assisted therapy in nursing homes and hospitals
• Safe Pets – domestic violence protective custody
• Senior programs (including free adoptions, reduced-cost services)
• Thrift store
• Veterinary care
• Volunteer opportunities
• Wildlife care
• And much more

The Sacramento SPCA is a dynamic organization responding to the various, changing needs of Sacramento-area residents and the animals we care for. The organization employs more than 80 people, and benefits from the dedication of more than 1,000 volunteers.

The Sacramento SPCA is a vibrant place to be. The staff is caring and dedicated, the animals at the Sacramento SPCA receive quality, compassionate care, and the shelter’s various programs and services are constantly being modified to best serve or region’s growing human and animal populations.

As the Sacramento region continues to grow and change, so does the Sacramento SPCA. With support from our community, the Sacramento SPCA will continue to be a place for positive change for Sacramento’s animals, as well as for the people who love them.

To make a donation or for more information on the Sacramento SPCA, its adoptable animals, programs and services and more, please visit www.sspca.org today.