Adoptions in Sacramento are up!
Shelters see pet adoptions soar in Sacramento County
By Hudson Sangree
Published: Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1B
During one of the worst economic years in memory, Sacramento-area residents opened their homes in unprecedented numbers to take in abandoned and unwanted animals.
The Sacramento SPCA experienced a record-setting adoption rate in 2009, with nearly 1,000 more dogs and cats placed than the year before, said Executive Director Rick Johnson.
The shelter on Florin-Perkins Road came out ahead, even though many pet owners surrendered their animals – more than 600 dogs alone – because of foreclosure and unemployment.
"There's a caring side of the community that has come forward," Johnson said.
The Sacramento city animal shelter saw almost a 7 percent increase in pet adoptions over 2008, said shelter manager Penny Cistaro.
Adoption numbers for the Sacramento County Animal Care facility spiked dramatically in December, with a more than 100 percent increase in the number of cats that went to new homes, said director Pat Claerbout.
A total of 319 dogs and cats were adopted last month compared with an average monthly rate of about 170, she said. Complete figures for 2009 have not been compiled yet.
There were some obvious reasons for the banner year: The SPCA and county shelter waived adoption fees for adult cats in December. And the county's new state-of-the-art $23 million shelter drew pet seekers.
But shelter directors said they could only guess at other factors behind the outpouring.
"Maybe even though people have less disposable income and aren't going to Europe on vacation, they're thinking, 'Let's get a pet that we can take camping and walk in the park,' " Claerbout said. "People are staying closer to home and have more time for a pet now."
Cistaro said those who have the means are helping creatures in need.
"We have more animals being turned in because people can't afford them," she said. "But the people who can afford it are adopting."
At the SPCA, Johnson said an intensive outreach campaign and reduced adoption fees played a role.
On Tuesday afternoon, the SPCA was busy with people looking for the right dog or cat.
Christina Stevens, 24, of Sacramento used her cell phone to send a video to her husband of Sweety, a Jack Russell terrier mix that she said was her favorite.
"Hopefully he likes him," she said.
Daphne Nunes, 22, who recently got laid off from her job as a security guard, said she was going back to school and was looking for a lap cat.
She played with Shilo, an 8-month-old tuxedo cat who she said was affectionate.
"He was purring the first time he met me," she said. "I think I'm in love."
And even though they had just come in for an initial look, the Sanchez family of Elk Grove fell at first sight for a 2-month-old Chihuahua mix puppy named Bijou.
Abel and Donna Sanchez said they had decided their children, 9 and 6, were ready for a dog.
As the puppy licked the children's fingers, bad news came: Someone else was already adopting Bijou. But that person soon backed out, and the Sanchezes filled in the adoption paperwork.
"She's ours," Donna Sanchez said later. "When it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
