Santa Cruz SPCA

Santa Cruz SPCA Nonprofit animal shelter serving Santa Cruz County since 1934. We rescue & rehome cats and dogs and keep pets & people together.

No government funding — powered entirely by our community 🧡
🐶 Adopt · 🏡 Foster · 🙌 Volunteer · 💛 Support

Caillou checking in with a very important question: Is it his turn yet? 👀🐱Caillou has been with us since February and is...
08/29/2026

Caillou checking in with a very important question: Is it his turn yet? 👀🐱

Caillou has been with us since February and is currently enjoying life in foster! He’s an easygoing guy who loves lounging in sunny spots, his scratcher, and - perhaps most importantly - belly scratches. ☀️😂

He’s not a big lap cat or overly demanding, just a chill guy who’s happy to hang out. And even better? His adoption fee is sponsored! 🎉

Let’s get this boy his forever home! 💕 Interested in Caillou? Submit an adoption application and we’ll coordinate a meet-and-greet with his foster.

It’s , and guess who’s checking in from foster life? 👀🐾💗Our sweet Kimber is back with us after being adopted and return...
08/29/2026

It’s , and guess who’s checking in from foster life? 👀🐾💗

Our sweet Kimber is back with us after being adopted and returned through no fault of her own. Turns out, cats are simply not on her list of preferred roommates.

Thankfully, she landed with an amazing foster family and is already soaking up the good life: long walks, lots of hanging out, and plenty of love. Here’s a photo from her first night with her foster family! 🥹

Kimber is an 8-year-old Husky who LOVES people, is amazing with kids, and generally does well with other dogs. And even better - her adoption fee is sponsored by Loren Morse, Santa Cruz County Realtor! 🎉

Want to meet her? Kimber will be making the rounds at two events this weekend, including the PAWSH Retreat at the Chaminade Resort & Spa on Sunday! Come say hi - she won’t turn down the extra attention! 🐾💕



Meet Dahlia! 🌸🐾Dahlia is a 10-month-old, 52-pound Border Collie mix who recently joined us from one of our partner shelt...
08/26/2026

Meet Dahlia! 🌸🐾

Dahlia is a 10-month-old, 52-pound Border Collie mix who recently joined us from one of our partner shelters - and yes, she’s every bit as sweet as she looks. 🥹

We’re still getting to know this gorgeous girl, but so far, Dahlia has shown us what a gentle sweetheart she is. She walks nicely on leash, has a mild-mannered side, and, being a young herding dog, has plenty of energy to keep things fun! And can we talk about those eyes?! 👀💕

Since Dahlia is still young, she has plenty of growing, learning, and exploring ahead of her! With some continued training, plenty of activity, and lots of love, she’ll be ready for all kinds of adventures with her new family.

The best part? Dahlia is ready to go home! 🏡🐶 Come meet this sweet girl during our browsing hours, Tuesday–Sunday, 11 AM–5 PM.

Dahlia’s adoption fee includes her spay, microchip, recent flea and deworming treatment, age-appropriate vaccinations, a certificate for a free vet exam, and an adoption packet with pet care information and coupons. 🐾

📷: Becky Hall 🫶

NINETEEN adoptions last week! We’d say that’s a pretty good week around here. 🎉🐾 Swipe to see who headed home! 👉💕🐶: Zill...
08/26/2026

NINETEEN adoptions last week! We’d say that’s a pretty good week around here. 🎉🐾

Swipe to see who headed home! 👉💕
🐶: Zillah, Jimothy!, and Radley.
🐱: Captain Moustache, Rowan, Scarlett, Captain, Swan, Oreo, Jade, Venice, Spring + Summer + Azul (all together!), Thermal, Autum + Winter (together), Tigger, and Labrador.

And we already have a few happy updates rolling in! 🥹 Jimothy headed off to country life with his new Blue Heeler sister, Zillah is blossoming in her new home (and apparently takes her new job as neighborhood security very seriously 😂), and Purdy Boy Radley is settling in with lots of love and cuddles.

A huge thank you to all 19 families who chose adoption and gave these animals their next chapter! 💕🐾

Could your adoption be part of next week’s Happy Tails? 👀 Meet our adoptable animals at spcasc.org or stop by Tuesday–Sunday, 11 AM–5 PM!

Calling all teachers, after-school leaders & youth educators! 📚🐾Looking for a fun, meaningful way to bring animal educat...
08/25/2026

Calling all teachers, after-school leaders & youth educators! 📚🐾

Looking for a fun, meaningful way to bring animal education to your students? The Santa Cruz SPCA offers FREE Humane Education Classroom Programs for classrooms, assemblies, after-school programs, youth groups, and events!

Programs cover topics like:
🐾 Animal Care & Welfare
🐕 Dog Safety - featuring a live dog!
🦊 Local & World Wildlife
👩‍⚕️ Careers Working with Animals
💭 Animal Ethics & Compassion
✨ And more!

Led by an experienced Humane Educator, our presentations are engaging, age-appropriate, and may include stories, interactive activities, hands-on learning, and even live animal encounters!

💬 Teachers call our programs “engaging, informative, and exactly at the students’ level” - with one sharing, “I’ll definitely be recommending this program to my coworkers!”

📅 Our calendar is open through May, and multiple bookings are welcome!

Ready to bring humane education to your students? Learn more & sign up:
https://spcasc.org/classroom-presentations/

Questions? Email our Humane Education Coordinator, Ruth, at [email protected].

Know an educator who might be interested? Tag them or share this post! 🐾💕

08/25/2026

Some of our kittens have officially moved from behind the scenes to the cat wing! 🐱💕 Some shy, some mischievous, and all very cute.

Come by and get to know these little faces - they’re officially ready to be adopted! 🐾

🐾 ONE WEEK until Foster Orientation! 🏡We’re looking for more foster homes, and we’re in special need of fosters for our ...
08/25/2026

🐾 ONE WEEK until Foster Orientation! 🏡

We’re looking for more foster homes, and we’re in special need of fosters for our bigger dogs and dogs who may need a little extra support. 💛

Fostering gives a shelter dog a chance to decompress, experience life in a home, and show us more of who they are outside of the shelter environment.

📅 Monday, August 31
⏰ 5-6 PM
💻 Online via Zoom

Whether you’re new to fostering or have been thinking about giving it a try, join us to learn more about our foster program and how you can help!

🐶 Big dog lovers - we especially need you!

🔗 Sign up for Foster Orientation: https://spcasc.org/foster-application-2/

👉 Swipe to see some of our amazing foster families and a few of the pups who’ve spent time in foster care! 🐶💕

Have questions about fostering? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d be happy to help!

Valentino got an updated headshot, and we felt it deserved a spot on the feed. 😻📸This 5-year-old hunk is still waiting f...
08/23/2026

Valentino got an updated headshot, and we felt it deserved a spot on the feed. 😻📸

This 5-year-old hunk is still waiting for his person, looking as handsome as ever while he does it. Come meet Valentino today and see if he’s just as charming in person. (Spoiler: he is. ❤️)

📍 2601 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz
🐾 Browsing hours: 11am–5pm

📷: Shoutout to our wonderful volunteer, Jacqueline Gentry Van Metre, for always making our kitties look like the stars they are! ✨

Happy Caturday from Melly - now Kit-Cat! 🐱💕Melly’s happy ending came with a little twist. After being adopted and later ...
08/22/2026

Happy Caturday from Melly - now Kit-Cat! 🐱💕

Melly’s happy ending came with a little twist. After being adopted and later returned to us, a neighbor who already knew and loved her decided she belonged with them. 🥹

Now Kit-Cat is happily settled into her new home and even gets her outdoor fix with daily leash walks! Her adopter says she’s taken to leash training like a pro, so she gets to safely explore the great outdoors with her favorite person by her side. 🌿🐾

Her adopter shared, “She is really such a wonderful cat and every day I’m thankful for finding her!”

We think these two were meant to find each other. Happy life, Kit-Cat!

Address

2601 Chanticleer Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA
95065

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 6pm

Telephone

+18314655000

Website

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