Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter News

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I want to thank all the really nice people who took care of me while I was at the Santa Cruz Animal Services. I also want to thank them for matching me up with my loving new family. My new family gives me lots of attention, so I know they really love me and I love them too. I hope my other family gets to read this, as I know it was hard for them to let me go and I want them to know that I am truly happy. Thanks again to all the loving people at Santa Cruz Animal Services.

We brought Mojo home in August of 2010 after 18 months of searching for just the right dog. We had decided to just wait until the right dog found us, and then I saw "Waffles". His kind eyes spoke to me even through a photo and once we meet him we all knew he was the one! My 11 year old son is Autistic; Mojo is his service dog now and his constant companion. They attend training and therapy together and Mojo is becoming a quick responding helper for his boy. As an interrupt and redirect dog, Mojo helps his boy maintain in stressful environments. Mojo has gone to the movies, visited museums, aquariums, Santa and event the Easter Bunny! He has ridden buses and gone fishing in the ocean! He is experiencing life in way that few others do! Our old man, Skippy, passed two weeks after Mojo came home; even he knew that Mojo was the right one for the job, so he retired gracefully. Thanks to all of you for everything you do for the animals and us humans too!

We had recently bought a house in the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains, and felt that we needed to share this blessing with animals that needed a home. After a few cats we felt there was a little more room for another soul or two. We adopted two amazing dogs from you! They have filled our lives with so much joy already. I am amazed everyday by how much love they have to give us. The staff at the shelter was so caring, wonderful and kind. We left the shelter feeling fantastic, not only because we adopted two beautiful dogs but because the staff made sure we were taken care of. Thank you everyone for having such a caring heart.

We adopted Molly after we heard about her on radio KPIG. It has been a few years since our last dog, a golden retriever, died at over 15 years old. We didn't know what sort of dog we needed. When we heard about "Newsha" she touched both of our hearts. At the shelter she was very fearful of everyone, including us. We brought her home anyway. She seemed to cringe every time we called her "Newsha" as if we were shushing her. We thought "Molly" suited her better. When we brought her home at first she was very timid, fearful of everything and everyone. In the month and a half she's been with us her little Schipperke personality has really come out. She's a bit of a rascal, but is so smart. She keeps us laughing. We love her. Thank you so much to everyone at the Santa Cruz Shelter.

Our Lab recently died, and after 1 week I asked my wife about getting another dog. She didn't want to at this time, but I persisted and we went to the shelter and looked around. We saw several medium size dog that look like what we wanted, but Linda said she had the Perfect dog for us. We didn't think a small dog would work, but after talking to Linda and spending some time with Bella, we adopted her. Within hours she had already adopted us and seemed at home. It has been over a month now wife loves Bella as I do. Thank you every one and special thanks to Linda.

I adopted Oliver (formerly "Jerry") from the Scotts Valley shelter back in 2007. He had been brought in off the streets of Santa Cruz, was underweight, timid and had a few health issues. I came across Oliver because my cat of 14 years had gone missing; I used to search the shelters in case someone had rescued him. Before long, I fell in love with this little guy, who used to sleep underneath his doughnut bed in his cage, hiding. The first time I dared to "visit" with him in the visiting room, he hopped right up onto my lap. I was afraid it was too soon to become attached to another cat, so I left that day, but couldn’t stop thinking about him and soon came back to adopt him, only to find that another family wanted him!!! But they changed their minds for another cat, fortunately for me, because a few years later, he is the happiest, healthiest, most affectionate and playful cat, the greatest companion ever. He loves to cuddle at my hip and will look me directly in the eyes with such love and sweetness. I still miss my dear cat Zoe, but Oliver is irreplaceable and I’m so glad we found each other! Thanks for all that you do to care for these sweet animals.

"We just wanted to thank Santa Cruz Animal Services for assisting us in the adoption of our newest family member,"Pepper." We are from Ohio and had traveled to the area to deliver our daughter's dog to her, since our daughter had relocated for school and did not want her dog to fly on an airplane. Knowing our hearts would ache for our daughter's dog, we decided to visit your shelter to see if we could find another to love. Pepper has been with us almost two weeks now and we absolutely love her! She has so much personality! We took her to the dog beach prior to leaving Santa Cruz, and she was the hit of the beach. She was a little frightened driving in the van on the way home, but we provided a "sleeping bag shelter" for her and she loved it. We stopped in Oklahoma and bought her some doggie toys to keep her company. We are now settled back in Ohio, and she seems like she's always been here! She gets along very well with our Miniature Pinscher. Thank you so much for caring for these animals as you do and the kind and considerate manner in which the adoption process was handled."

"My boyfriend and I adopted 8 month old Misa from the Watsonville Animal Shelter on February 10, 2011. She was only 1 of 4 adoptable cats and the shyest one of them, sitting off by a corner while the other 3 played with each other. We went home skeptical about adopting a pet but we just had to go back to get her the next morning. It took her a few days to get adapted to her new home but now almost 2 months later she has definitely broken out of her shell. Thank you Santa Cruz Animal Services for loving and caring for pets until they find a good home."

"I adopted Moo (formerly known as "Lightning") when he was 3 months old in May of 2010, he has been by my side ever since! We also have an older Pit Bull named Henny, and they are the best of friends. I always wanted to adopt a friend for our older Pit to keep her on her toes, and he just fit right in! So full of energy, the best little personality and loves sleeping under the covers just like a human. Thank You Santa Cruz Animal Services!"

"I adopted Sammy (formerly Domino) 2 years ago from Santa Cruz Animal Services. In my opinion, the cost of adoption at Santa Cruz Animal Services is very low. Sammy was a pup when I adopted him, and we went to puppy kindergarden. I quickly learned that the obedience class was really for me. Sammy is more than my pet, he is my emotional support animal. I have a permanent disability, and suffered from depression and anxiety before I adopted Sammy. I feel a great sense of comfort now, and am out walking 4-5 times a day with Sammy."

"My husband and I adopted these 2 sisters in October 2009. They are the most joyful pair to have! Chino is the "ginger color and Zoe is the smaller "grayish/brown kitty. They have the most opposite personalities which is perfect because Chino is more my husband and Zoe is more me. They love the bath tub, shower and anything having to do with water! We are expecting our first baby in a few weeks and the 2 kittens have been exploring the crib and all of the babies things....we can’t wait to have our full family! They have been a great edition to our growing family and seriously cannot imagine life without them! They have the cutest meows too, they speak to us every morning when we get up. Love it! They still sleep with each other every night, just like sisters."

In addition to this, Sammy is such a cutie pie that he has changed my social life. Thank you Santa Cruz Animal Services!"

"We adopted "Luigi" now named Cruz, on August 1, 2010. Cruz had a rough start in life, being surrendered to the shelter, adopted out and then returned. Adopting Cruz has been fulfilling and rewarding, many kisses exchanged. We are very happy he is in our lives, he has become such a wonderful, happy, loving, affectionate and obedient companion. What a wonderful addition to our family."

"Our old dog (over 16 years old) passed away in September and our kids were clamoring for a puppy. A friend who walks dogs for Animal Services had been fostering a little pit bull for the past couple of months so my husband went to meet him. Garrison came to live with us the next week. We were so happy to be able to give a good dog a second chance, but at the same time, know that the dog was already good with kids and cats, since we have both. Garrison has been the most trouble-free addition to the family we've ever had! He's perfectly house-trained, well-behaved on leash and off, and doesn't even chase our free-ranging chickens! His special job is to sleep at the foot of my daughter's bed, and my son loves teaching him to play fetch. Thank you so much for making Garrison available to us! He's the best dog ever."

"We adopted Ruka (formerly Dina) in mid-December '10. She was a timid stray that had been picked up with puppies in October, and was initially freaked out of people. Now, she is improving everyday and is pretty well adjusted to life with a loving family. She and our little 7 lb. dog, Evee, are really good friends, often found cuddling up together and playing in their own funny way. I take Ruka to the beach often, she loves sniffing around and her antics are hilarious when it comes to the water, she refuses to go near it. She is also the fastest dog I have ever seen, and she loves to run around our property as if she is in a race. It's one of my favorite things to watch. Thank you to the Santa Cruz Animal Services for taking such good care of our new doggie, we appreciate your love and dedication to the animals!"

"We finalized the adoption of Hedgehog on 12/28/10. We decided to give her a fresh start and renamed her Peggy Sue, which she responded to immediately. If she is not hanging out with the other kids, she is helping feed the horses, riding with us in the truck or napping in her rocker. We appreciate the love and care Peggy Sue recieved from the staff and are thankful for the folks at SCCASA who work everyday to find the perfect forever home for so many animals."

"Cooper's "father" and I adopted him on October 16th 2010. Since then our family of four, including Cooper's older sister Chloe, has had a great time going for walks, visiting friends at the dog park, and relaxing on the couch at home. He has been an amazing addition to our family and it has been so great watching him grow up, become more coordinated, finally being able to make it even on the couch, and spending hours wrestling with Chloe. He is an amazing boy and we can't wait to spend the rest of his life with him!"

"In September, 2010 Jessie the grey tabby came home with me. She had been at the shelter so long I felt she really needed a forever home. But as it turns out, I didn't adopt her, SHE adopted ME! I can't believe she is 11 years old as stated in the shelter record. She zooms around the house like a kitten, plays with her toys and the laser light. I love having her here, she has so much personality. And she evidently loves it here, too!"

"I just want to let you how much our family is enjoying out two new kitties, Rikki and Java, (shelter names Randy and Garth). They are such fun. After our elderly old cat passed away last Spring, we didn't think we would want another cat, but then missed him so much we adopted two. Java now comes up and mews in his shy voice when he wants affection and petting, and responds when he hears his name. Rikki, the black kitten, was outgoing and friendly from the beginning, climbing into our laps or onto our computer keyboards, purring and demanding attention. Thank you for connecting us with our new boys!"

"We just wanted all the staff and volunteers at Santa Cruz Animal Services to know how much we love Mr. Tom Tom, a five-year old cat we adopted last Thursday. He is so happy to snuggle up with with our 8-year old daughter and is just a giant love bug. I know we made a cat and a child very happy this Christmas. What could be better?"

"It has been about a month since we adopted "Houdini." He won our heart because, not only had he been at the shelter since August, he is also a black cat, which we know made him "less adoptable." Although it was a challenge at 1st, introducing him to his new siblings, it wasn't long before they were playing and cuddling. Houdini is curious and smart, playful and cuddly, and very handsome. He has added a whole new dynamic to our home.We just wanted to tell the staff and volunteers how well he is doing, and to encourage those that have lost a pet, to consider another. It certainly helps heal the heart. I also encourage people to consider a black cat. They have truly wonderful personalities!"

"We were looking for the right dog to join our little family for quite a while. At Santa Cruz Animal Services there was a flier with a picture of "Darcy. I immediately took the phone number attached to it. I called her foster mom and we spoke for what seemed like an hour. It sounded as if Darcy was perfect for us and we were for her. One problem...I accidentally kept referring to her as Darla. We met her back at the shelter in Watsonville and it was love at first sight. I picked her up the next day and had some alone time to bond with her a bit. Since then she has followed me everywhere and looks for me when I’m gone. We changed her name to Darla and it fits her perfectly. She is our Little Rascal!"

"This is our sweet Shadow out in the garden soaking up the sunshine. I was severely injured in 2007. I adopted Shadow in 2008, when my doctor wrote a letter to my landlord letting him know that I would benefit emotionally from having a cat. She was 14 years old when I adopted her. I found her on the Santa Cruz Animal Services Website and just had to meet her. She was the oldest cat at the shelter at the time. Shadow is now having health problems. I hope to have her as a part of my family for as long as possible. The love that she brought into my life has helped me cope with debilitating physical pain."

"Scout is a wonderful addition to our family. She plays with our two kids, ages 6 and 3, and loves to chew on squeaky toys. She is doing great in her obedience class and enjoys going on walks. She thinks she is a lap dog and spends lots of time snuggling with us on the couch. She loves people and always wants to say hello to everyone when we go for walks. We are so glad we have her in our family. Thank you!"

"Tillie and Lila (aka Dignity and Dream) are doing great! They love roaming several times a day, eating vegetables, and snuggling together. They are so friendly. We love to sit on the floor and let them climb all over us."

"Arizona came to Santa Cruz Animal Services in early winter 2010 as a two-month old puppy. I had been watching the website religiously, looking for the "perfect" dog for my husband and me to adopt. When I saw Arizona’s picture I felt sure she was our dog. Arizona, AKA Zona, has now become part of our family and we have so much fun with her! The staff at Santa Cruz Animal Services clearly love their animals and want the best for them in their new homes. Thank you SCAS for helping us find our "perfect" dog!"

"Reggie, formerly known as Chipper, adopted from the Watsonville shelter a couple of months ago--we don't remember the exact date, but it has been pure bliss. Reggie is shown with his favorite toy, the turkey. He loves knocking over his basket and fishing out his toys, going for walks, and in short, hanging out. Thanks for a wonderful match."

"This is Lacy, (formerly Hope) who was adopted on December 5th, 2009. She came to the shelter, matted dirty an a little agressive after running loose for 3 months with a pack of dogs in Watsonville. She delivered 2 babies the night she came in. I fostered her and the babies and she was adopted while in my house. She lives like a princess(as you can see in the picture) in Boulder Creek. Another Adoption success!"

"We adopted Buddy in August 2010 and absolutely love him. From what we know, he was about 10 months when we adopted him so we had decided that October would be his first birthday. The above picture was sent out to his friends on his party invitations and he sure does love the camera. Thank you to Santa Cruz Animal Services and his foster mom Joan for matching us with Buddy as his quirky personality fits in perfect!"

"We adopted Buster, the Boxer, in September of 2010. He is very well behaved, has a loving personality, and fits in perfectly with our family. He and his older brother, Chester, are inseparable and our 20 year old cat even likes him!"

"I adopted Cricket New Years Eve 2008 and we've been best friends ever since. Thank you so much. He is a delightful dog and loves every critter he meets."

"Murphy was adopted in December of 2009 from the shelter. He is now friends with Tucker (Also a success story) and they are best buddies! We hope everyone has had as wonderful of an experience adopting, as we have had with Tucker and Murphy!"

"Just want to let you all know that Lucy (Booberry) is doing great. She is a perfect fit for our family. Loving, well behaved and learns very quickly. We could not have asked for a better companion. She's a perfect little love. Our privilege to give her a second chance and a great match for us retired folks. Thanks for all your help--we are very happy with this adoption. She should have a long a happy life."

"We adopted Archie from SC Animal Services in September 2009. He is now a year old and the love of our life. We have learned so much about being responsible Pit Bull parents and helping Archie develop into an Ambassador for his breed. Thank you SCAS for bringing this joy to our life!"

"We got Tucker June 2009 when he was 3 months old and maybe 15lbs. He’s now pushing 65lbs now and growing into a wonderful dog!! It’s been such a treat to rescue him and take him into our home – he certainly makes us happy! He’s been enjoying bike rides, jumping in the break at the beach and having play time with all the new playmates he’s met. Thank you so much for having a great pup for us to adopt – we’re very appreciative!"

"Goose has quickly become a member of our family. He is the most wonderful dog. We all love him. Thank you for helping us adopt Goose."

"I adopted this wonderful little kitty, 7/25/2010. He's been a joy to our house hold every since, he's smart, extremely lively and so much fun to play with. Of course he's taken over the house, as well as taken our hearts. Here's some pic's of him in his new digs. Thanks you so much for this wonderful addition to our family."

"We adopted Emma about 7 years ago when you were in Scotts Valley. Originally her name was Ebbonnie but we changed her name to Emma. She is a wonderful family member. We have two kitties from your shelter whom we adopted last November also named Kimo and Kona. All three are our babies."

"He is such a character! He loves belly rubs, riding in the car and absolutely loves being pushed in his bike/stroller. I ride my bike and he loves it! He sits on his custom made pillows and loves the wind in his face. We took him in his stroller to San Francisco and he was a doggy celebrity. He also loves the clothes I stick on him. He has such a wonderful personality and loves everyone. I am so thankful to be the one to adopt him. Thank you Santa Cruz Animal Services!"

"As a volunteer at Santa Cruz County Animal Services I could have fallen in love with any of the animals there but "Russell, now "Tyto certainly caught my eye. After seeing him there for over two months I couldn’t understand why he was not adopted (and I still do not). I adopted him not knowing if he was "too much for me and my husband. After three weeks of bonding and finding out what works, and what doesn’t, I have to say, Tyto has captured our hearts and he has found his forever home with us. We (including my cats) have made adjustments, but that is what family is all about! He has brought great joy into our lives."

"I adopted "Banana" on 6/29. He was advertised as having some "unwanted behaviors" besides chewing a lot. Well, I just want to report that he is more wonderful than I could have imagined. He is great at the dog park. Slept in his new soft crate last night with no problem. He does not run off, heels on the leash almost perfectly and he definitely knows that he is home."

"We adopted Daphne, formerly "Dory," in Nov 2009 right after the Thanksgiving holiday. She came to us a slightly damaged kitty with a scrappy personality and a tendency for biting when overstimulated. The staff told us she was found "on property" and that the biting was a concern for them, so she most likely had a rough start to life. Seeing her potential, we adopted her anyway as a companion/playmate for my 10yr old cat, Eva. Thanks again for letting us adopt her, she certainly has found her forever home."

"Annie the Treeing Walker Coon Hound got my attention the moment I walked into the shelter. She way baying so loudly that you couldn't hear much else - but such a lovely soft sound it was anyway. I love her dearly - thank you for letting me adopt her. Thats her on the left with her best friend Emma who died last year."

"We adopted KiiJii (previously Miles) in September 2009. I had been looking for months at virtually every animal shelter I could think of for the perfect little baby and was so close to giving up! I said to myself the minute before opening the Santa Cruz Animal Services website that "If there isn't a small dog listed then I give up," and there was little "Miles" who had just been newly posted! He's been such an energetic and loving little furball of fun ever since! Everyone who meets him loves him right away! Thank you Santa Cruz Animal Services!"

"We adopted Goose, now Doshi, after we lost our dog of 14 years. Doshi was adopted late February and has become a big part of our family. He has already learned every trick in and out of the book. He is so smart. He loves playing with other dogs and swimming and his favorite was the snow. We are so happy to have him because of all the love he gives to us. Thank You so much for letting us adopt him."

"Toby has adjusted wonderfully to his new surroundings meeting the other 3 chocolate labs Marley, Shadow, and Coco that live on either side of us. He even made friends with his 2 cat house mates which have lived here for 12 years. He enjoys the ocean beach, mountain walks, eating his chew bones, eating like a horse, playing with Marley, having his stomach rubbed, and getting treats from his friends. He is doing great and I wanted to say thank you to the Santa Cruz Animal Services team for doing such a great job and service in our community!"

"I had been volunteering at Santa Cruz Animal Services for two weeks when I met Carla, the Pit Bull mix. My husband and I fell in love with her immediately and we had to bring her home. She is the most amazing dog and has become best friends with our Lab, Ben. They spend their days playing, walking to the beach, relaxing and loving life. We love her and feel so lucky to have her in our lives! Thank you guys for everything you do!"

"We adopted Joey (brown dog) from the Scotts Valley Shelter just over 4 years ago. He has been a real special part of our family and brings such a joy to us! Now Jasmine (nicknamed Jazzy/ previously Tiana) has been with us just 2 and a half weeks and words cannot describe how much fun she is, how precious she is, and how much ENERGY she has! We are so thankful to have both of them in our lives!"

"I adopted Bowie from the shelter on January 2nd, 2010. She was called Topaz because of her beautiful blue eye. She has turned out to be an amazing dog. She is very smart and cocks her head from side to side when you talk to her. She is very agile and I am going to keep her in training for agility classes. Just wanted you to know I am very happy with her."

"Adopting Tod (formerly Charlie) from your shelter (around February 2009) was the best choice we've ever made. He is the most perfect little guy! He comes everywhere with us and makes lots of doggie pals everywhere he goes. He loves going on long walks, playing fetch, chew toys, long belly rubs, and thoroughly enjoys snuggling up in the covers. Thank you so much for our best friend! We love him more than words can describe and we can't thank you enough! We hope others find their doggie soul mates by adopting as well!"

"I adopted my cat Bella (she was given the name Minnie at the shelter) in 2006. I lived alone so she was my family. I love her to death and I’m so thankful for her and all her personality; the biggest love bug ever! Thank you to the shelter for rescuing her. The best pets come from the shelter, and I’m really thankful for the ones I’ve had and still have. Thank you."

"In the mid 1990s I adopted Daisy, a black lab mix from the Santa Cruz SPCA. In November 2008, I adopted Umbulali my cat, from the Watsonville shelter. Recently I adopted Sunshine (Sunny), formerly Daisy. (Seen in the picture) All three get along fantastically and are the best companions you could wish for. They all love car rides and adventures - even the cat!"

"I adopted my puppy (right) from Santa Cruz Animal Services in November of 2008. He was only one of dozens of dogs rescued from the Burnett property, he was born at the shelter from a pregnant dog who was rescued. I cannot thank the Shelter enough for providing such loving care for him during the first four months of his life.

We have a truly complete and fulfilling family now, with the two dogs being the light of our days (and the bane of the cat's existence). Thank you again."

"Pepe was adopted just after Christmas. He is adored by everyone who meets him, including my 16 year old cat. Thank you so much!"

"In November of 2009 I adopted my sweet little kitty "Bella." It was love at first sight! She was 5 months old had been at the shelter for 3 months. Her Mother and siblings were all adopted, but she was apparently passed over because she was very shy. She now has the run of the house! She loves sitting in her favorite chair in the sun and looking out the window watching the happenings of the neighborhood."

"I adopted Bella at the end of October. I have to say, it was the best decision I have ever made. I just love her so much, and she has become my best friend! I don’t do anything with out her, she is such a trooper! Once she got used to her new home, she came to life and is just the sweetest thing ever! Thank you so much for everything!"

"We adopted Buck (brown Tabby) several months ago. He is just the greatest! He sleeps with me every night and is the most cuddly and lovable cat ever. Our dog Daisy adores him too. He had a hard start to life but his wonderful foster parents and the Santa Cruz Animal Services staff gave him the best care until we came along and now our family is complete."

We adopted a sweet one year old German Shepherd mix dog last St. Patrick's day (2009). We were looking for a companion for our very active and nervous five year old cattle dog, Scooby. Samantha was the perfect match! We brought Scooby to meet Samantha at Animal Services a couple of times to make sure that they would get along. They were instant friends and they never stop playing. Samantha has really helped Scooby with his nerves and she is a happy, loving addition to our family! Many thanks to the staff at Animal Services for their kindness and dedication to the care of animals!

Just thought we would give you an update on our recent kitty addition, Mietta. We adopted her on 2/21/10, and she's fitting in quite nicely. She is definitely a kitty who LOVES people and her fuzzy ball toys. She's still learning how to play properly with her two brother kitties, Mocha and Clicquot - and we see progress everyday. We adopted Clicquot back in November of 2006, and he is a delightful character as well. Thanks so much for all you do.

To the wonderful ladies at the Santa Cruz animal shelter,
My boyfriend and I adopted sweet Will a couple of weeks ago and are just thrilled to have him as part of our family. He is the sweetest, most loving orange tabby and adds such a delightful and vibrant presence to our home. He is a complete love bug and lap cat but loves to play and has quite a bit of frisky kitten still in him. We wanted to send along pictures and thank you again for everything.

Brighton (brindle dog) and Linus, the puppy, were both adopted from Santa Cruz Animal Services. Linus was adopted in March 2010, and has since become Brighton's best buddy. Now, they enjoy playing together and going on daily outings with their wonderful owners!

Kane was adopted in December of 2009. His new owners say he has grown into a wonderful dog, and say he is playful, and loves going for car rides!

"Thank you so much for bringing both Lapis and Esme into our lives. Esme (formerly Puma) was adopted in August 2009, and Lapis was adopted in 2003. Both of them have changed so many lives for the better. Thanks again, for your hard work and for bringing such joy to our lives!"

"I just wanted to write and say thank you to SCCASA for pairing me up with Olive (formerly Pink) six months ago. She is such a funny, energetic little dog! Thanks again, she's made our family so happy!"

We adopted Stanley 3 months ago and we love him to death! He is such a good puppy and pretty much the most adorable dog ever. He is a dachshund-chihuahua mix with a great temperament who is great around people. We had a great experience with the shelter and we were very appreciative of the crate they lent us and the starter bag of dog food provided. The training materials were helpful too. Thanks!

"We are coming up on 8 months now. Her name is now Lucy. She is a wonderful, wonderful dog. She is loving and sweet. We take her on long walks each day. We take her to the dog park to play with other dogs. She is so beautiful when she runs, so joyful. She enjoys being trained - and she is very smart. Further, she is great with the kids and other dogs in my extended family.

We just could not be happier. She has become a beloved member of our family! Your staff at Santa Cruz Animal Services was kind and well-informed, answering our many questions and helping us along the way. Thank you so very much."

After losing my cat of 17 years to cancer over Thanksgiving weekend, we went to the Santa Cruz County Animal Services Agency to find another animal companion. "Alvin" was friendly, curious and playful and we bonded with him right away. After taking him home, he hid under our bed for a few days, coming out at night to sleep with us and be petted. After awhile he became more comfortable with his surroundings, and as our only cat, he now has the run of the house. He spends his days playing with his toys, sleeping, sitting in the bay window and waiting for us to come home from work so that we can shower him with love. Mac is truly a joy and we feel blessed to have him! Thank you for making the adoption process so easy!

Jackson was adopted in early 2009, and has since become a wonderful, well adjusted family dog, and his new family just adores him.

Our family adopted Tippy on Feb. 5th 2010, and he has been the most wonderful addition to our home. We fell in love with him immediately and within in a few hours he came home with us and it was as if he belonged here all of the time!

He has brought so much joy to our family in such a short amount of time. Thank you so much Santa Cruz County Animal Services!

Diablo is a special dog, with a wonderful story. Diablo was overlooked because of his "tough" Pit Bull image, which sadly is all too common for the breed. After sitting in the shelter for many months waiting for his forever home, the perfect home finally came and scooped him up! His new owner says he does wonderfully with his children, and is charming everyone he meets. Diablo's leash manners have improved, and he is fitting in perfectly with his new family.

We want to wish Diablo's new family the best of luck, and thank you for adopting this special boy!

Harper was adopted in 2008 as a companion for a little dog. Since then, they have become the best of friends, and they do everything together. Now, Harper is a social cat that gets along with everybody, and in true feline fashion, demands to be brushed before his owners can have their morning coffee!

Chance has continued to make my life wonderful! We still take alot of trips, we spent 12 days in Oregon in September and he is quite the soccer player as well. He has become a little lazy since he turned 2 yrs.old, but has his moments. He has taught me to live in the moment and helped me through some extremly difficult times. He is very spoiled, and loved by everyone, even perfect strangers. I am not sure I have told you this but he is an amazing talker, I have been told I should put him on youtube! He says, "Momma" and "I love you", and a few other words, such the character.

A note from Champ's 11 year old owner:

Champ is my dog. He’s my best friend too. My first dog died when I was three. I hadn’t had a dog until now. Eight years. When I first picked up Champ, he shook, whimpered and squirmed to get to his beloved foster family. He was scared. The foster family told us that him and his litter mates had an unknown past. When the owner died, they were brought to the shelter. They all were frightened and snarly. The youngest of the foster family sat with Champ, known as Aqua Man in the shelter, and eventually, he became friendly and snugly. Unfortunately, his brother had to be put to rest, leaving him and his sister left. When I went to the shelter, only Champ was there, and I picked him out of all the other dogs. He took about two days to fully get used to me, and our house.

Kuma and Loki were both adopted from Santa Cruz Animal Services. Kuma was adopted in 2007, and Loki (right) was adopted in March of 2009. Both are doing wonderfully, and spend their time going to the park, playing and napping together. They also share their home with a kitty that was adopted from the SPCA back in 1995!

A note from Nikki's family:
I adopted Nikki from your Scott's Valley shelter way back in October of 2004. At the time, she was 2 months old. She has become an integral part of our life and loves to go hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing, etc. with us. She is a very agile dog, obedient and loves her family. Thanks for bringing her into our life.

Charlie was adopted in September of 2009. Since then, his new family says he has been settling in well, and that he enjoys going to the beach and for car rides!

Rosie and her sister were both surrendered to the Shelter terribly shy and frightened. Rosie was adopted in October of 2009, and she is doing wonderfully in her new home! At first she hid under the bed in her new home, but quickly became the friendly, affectionate cat she was meant to be.

A note from Wiley's owner:
Wiley was adopted in April 2009, just few weeks after my elderly Chihuahua passed away. He was shy at first, but he is such a happy busy bee now, you'd never have known! Thanks to your fostering program, he was given a chance and is now the joy of my life. He's looking for a little sister to play with and we're headed your way!

Hank was Adopted in early November of 2009. His new owners saw Bentley on PetFinder, and immediately drove all the way from Berkeley to Adopt him that day! He is now living the life in his wonderful new home, and his owners are so happy to have him!

Boyo was adopted in September of 2009. His new family says he is a wonderful addition to their family, and that he even gets along with the horses! They say he is also doing great in his Puppy Training Classes, and is now an inside dog. Congratulations to Boyo and his new family!

Sparky was adopted September 19th, 2009. Since then, he has settled in nicely with his new family, even the family cat likes him!

Gozer was adopted back in 2004, when Animal Services was still in Scotts Valley. His owners say he has become a very interesting cat, and the perfect family cat!

Sake, pronounced Saw-Key, is enjoying her new adoptive home, and loves to explore, and greet her owners at the door when they come home.

Shelby, named after her owners 65 Shelby Cobra, was adopted in July of 2008. Then a kitten, she is now a beautiful cat with three siblings of her own, loving her forever home!

We wanted to write and let everyone at the 7th Avenue Animal Shelter know that we really appreciate all of you for taking care of these animals and giving them opportunities like Ozzy's. He couldn't be happier (actually he went to the beach for the first time today and that was like heaven to him!). We attached a picture of the little guy...who is getting bigger each day! Thanks again.

Mr. T was adopted August 14th 2009. His new family has said that he has adapted quickly in his new home, and is a social butterfly and loves everyone he meets!

Max was Adopted July 16, 2009. In the Shelter, Max was a very quiet, shy cat but has quickly warmed up to his new home, and continues to do well. Max's Adoption inspired his owner to become a Volunteer at our Shelter, and help other homeless cats like Max!

Bodhi was Adopted by a wonderful family, on August 16th, 2009. He is already doing wonderfully in his new home, and is behaving like a real gentleman. Bodhi is living proof that Shelter dogs make wonderful pets!

Daisy Mae (right) was Adopted on March 15th, 2009. She is really fitting in nicely with her new family, and has blossomed into a beautifully social dog. When Daisy Mae was Adopted, she was 5+ years old, so training had already set in and was a breeze for her new family!

Nugget was adopted in April of 2009, and is now a neighborhood favorite. He spends time with all the neighbors and everyone loves him including his new family!

Leila (right) was adopted July 12th, 2009 after having been in the Shelter for 3 months. Leila found a fabulous family, including a new Chocolate Lab sibling, Bear! Leila is thriving in her new home, and is truly a success story!

Paco was Adopted around May 2009. Since then, he and his new family have traveled to Alaska, and soon will travel to South America! Now a well traveled pooch, Paco enjoys spending his time with his wonderful family, and new Italian Greyhound sibling!

Maeby was adopted to a wonderful family who say she is a wonderful addition to their family. She loves her toys, loves to go in the car, and go to the beach.

In April 2008, Anna Belle's (formally Nayda) family came to the shelter to adopt a perfectly groomed puppy they saw on the internet. When they arrived they saw Anna Belle. She was underweight, matted, shaved and dirty. Once they looked in her eyes they new that they had found their new family member. Now she spends time accompanying her family on every adventure. She has discovered that she loves boating!

In January of 2009, Pandora's owners went in search of a dog friend for their dog, but left with Pandora! She is now enjoying her days with her new canine sibling in a wonderful home.

Daisy, formerly Genesis, was adopted in March 2009. Her new owner was just visiting the dogs, and came home with her new cat! Daisy is now doing wonderfully in her new home.

Pepper's owners first saw him at an Adoption event, and quickly fell in love. They drove all the way from Cambria the next day and Adopted him in March of 2008.

Poor Rusty was from a cruelty case, and had most of his fur shaven off after having gasoline poured on him. Rusty finally found a home, but was returned. Once again, he found another wonderful, and this time forever, home. Rusty is still recovering, and his fur is starting to grow back. Now, he has two kitty siblings that he loves to play with! Thank you for giving Rusty such a wonderful home!

Spencer (formerly "Kongo") was adopted at the end of May, 2009 to a wonderful family in Boulder Creek. Now, Spencer enjoys spending the day with his owner at work, he goes to Day Care once a week, and loves to go on nature hikes!

Star is a Staff Favorite. She is a very special dog that captured the hearts of the Staff here at Santa Cruz Animal Services. Named "Star" by a Volunteer, she lives up to her name. She was taken to training at Our Pack (http://www.ourpack.org), and learned to "Sit", "Lay down", "Watch me", and "Leave it". Star found a fabulous home May 5th, 2009. Although a bittersweet ending, we know Star is in the wonderful, loving, dedicated home she deserves.

Poor Evan was a shy, scared little guy who just wasn't coming out of his shell. Until an understanding person came to meet him, and fell in love. Evan now spends his time with his new canine brother, Luke, who also was adopted from a Shelter.

Dude could sometimes be a cranky cat, but an 8 year old boy fell in love with him and couldn't stop talking about him. He was Adopted anyway, and is now the best of friends with his new "brother".

A note from Louie's Family:

Two weeks ago, we adopted Yiko at the DogFest. We are calling him Louie, and we love him!!! He is snuggly and loving. He loves bedtime! Here is a photo of him enjoying an outing at Peet’s. He likes to go everywhere with us and ride in our car. He killed a gopher last week, so now he is a neighborhood hero! He is especially excited that we homeschool and he can be with us most of the time. We feel so lucky to have found Louie.

April had been in Foster care before finding her perfect home with her new feline brother, Oliver!

Cardamom came from a hoarding situation. After having been at the Watsonville Shelter since November 2008, a Volunteer decided to foster Cardamom, and adopted him in April 2009.

Deevah was adopted May 1st, 2009 and has quickly settled into her new home! Congratulations to Deevah and her new family!

A Note from Nina's new family:

Just before the new year we adopted "Boggles", who now answers to "Nina". You may remember her as the black cat with alopecia that had lost most of the hair across her belly and back legs. Since coming home, Nina has learned how to play (which we think she didn't know because she was terrified of her toys initially), has discovered that my office is the best place for napping in the sun all morning, and spends as much of her day as possible curled up sleeping in my lap or following me around the house. Best of all, however, is that Nina's hair is growing back! She has stopped over-grooming, and her hair is now beginning to grow again across her bald spots.

Thank you to the two volunteers who pointed her out to us.

Jack the goat was adopted February 13th, 2009 by a wonderful woman with 2 other goats, and 2 dogs in Sebastopol, after she saw a video of Jack on the Animal Services website. Once Jack was home, his new owner feared he and the other goat, Ouija, would not get along. Ouija was really bossing him around and butting him with his horns. After four days, they became best buddies. Now Jack enjoys his days romping around in an apple orchard with his other goat friends!
Congratulations, Jack!

Sadie was adopted by a family that has other goats, and dogs. Sadie now spends her time with her new goat and canine siblings, and showing off for the neighbors!

Lilly (then "Linda") was adopted from the Watsonville Shelter in November of 2008. At first, she was shy and unsure about the other dogs in the neighborhood. Now, she is the life of the party and even has other doggie friends she walks with every day!

Fonzie is now living the high life in Carmel Valley, and is enjoying life with his new sister, Scarlett, the Bull Terrier!

Bob was adopted in April of 2009, and is now living the high life with his new family of canines and felines!

Roxy, formerly "Paz", was adopted March 29th, 2009. Very shy and timid at first, Roxy is quickly warming up in her new home!

After Nancy was adopted, it was found that she was deaf. She is quickly learning hand signals, and is the best of friends with her new brother, Charlie, and the family cats.

ShyAnn is a wonderful Pit Bull mix that was adopted back in 2006. She is now an "office dog", and goes to work with her mom every day. ShyAnn now has a new human brother, Brodie, who she loves as one of her own!

In April of 2007, Nelli's (now) owners stopped by the Shelter to make a donation. Before they knew it, they fell in love with Nelli. They ended up Fostering Nelli and in May 2007, they officially adopted her! She now knows over 15 tricks, and is so happy in her forever home!