Santa Cruz SPCA and Humane Society

We provide safe harbor for animals in need in and around Santa Cruz County. Our facility on Chanticleer Ave is an ideal environment to provide specialized care. Animals that might otherwise be overlooked find love at the SCSPCA. Community support allows us to save hundreds of animals, including those with special needs and those that might be a bit rough around the edges. Animals receive health and behavior assessments, preventative health care, enrichment and training, spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchips, and any treatment needed prior to adoption. We make great matches between people and their pets and provide both pre- & post-adoption counseling.During fiscal year 2022-23 we adopted out 479 animals; this was a 152% increase over the prior fiscal year. This demonstrates how we are taking advantage of the increased capacity our new facility offers.

Second Chance Fund provides "above-and-beyond" care for needy animals. This includes extensive veterinary care for animals who are sick or injured as well as extended care for animals with behavior challenges. Many of the animals saved by this lifesaving fund were previously at risk for euthanasia, and transferred from shelters that lacked the resources to provide the same level of care as the Santa Cruz SPCA.

Recognizing the need for a holistic approach to animal welfare, our Pet Food Pantry is a vital "safety net" program which keeps pets with the families that love them and out of the shelter system. During fiscal year 2022-23 our Pet Food Pantry provided over 72,000 pounds of dog and cat food to struggling families, and demand for this support continues to increase. We host a weekly onsite walk-up pantry, which is run by a dedicated team of volunteers; we also partner with human service organizations to extend our reach and allow the distribution of food and supplies to more families in need.