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Adopt

Search and see photos of adoptable pets in the Santa Cruz, CA area.

Find a pet to adopt

Santa Cruz SPCA

2601 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95065

Contact
Email
Phone (831) 465-5000
cats & dogs at Santa Cruz SPCA

Areas Santa Cruz SPCA serves

Santa Cruz County, CA, Monterey County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, San Benito County

Santa Cruz SPCA's adoption process

1.

Submit Application

https://spcasc.org/adoption-process/

2.

Approve Application

If we think we've found the perfect match for you, we will reach out to you regarding the next steps.

3.

Interview

This includes a phone conversation and/or email to make sure we've found the right match for you.

4.

Meet the Pet

Meetings are brief, about 15 minutes or so in length. If there are other dogs in the home, a dog-to-dog is required. None for cats.

5.

Take the Pet Home

We're offering a 7-day foster-to-adopt trial for all pets (excluding kittens/puppies)

6.

Sign Adoption Contract

If you decide this pet is yours for life, the adoption will be finalized over the phone.

Additional adoption info

In response to COVID-19, and the current social distancing rules, all of our animals are now being housed in foster homes and our adoption procedures have changed. Please read the following ADOPTION STEPS on our website for further details!

**Please Note: Most of our adoptions are beginning with a foster-to-adopt period, and because of this, we are temporarily unable to consider applications from households outside the counties of: Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Monterey.

If you rent, please have a copy of your lease or a letter from your landlord that states you can have a pet(s) ready.

If you’re adopting a dog, introduce your future friend to any other dogs in the family (dog adoptions only).

Adoption application

About Santa Cruz SPCA

The purpose of the Santa Cruz SPCA is to ensure the best possible quality of life for animals and to promote respect and reverence for all. We are a 501(c)3 charitable organization. All of our programs and services are supported through the generosity of our contributors. We do not receive any federal, state, or local government funding.

Santa Cruz SPCA's adopted pets

Make a donation to Santa Cruz SPCA to help homeless pets find homes

Adopt a Pet is the easiest way for you to search for a new pet in Santa Cruz, CA.

Support adoption and rescue. Why go to a dog breeder, cat breeder or pet store to buy a dog or buy a cat when you can adopt?

Why should you adopt?

Dog adoption and cat adoption saves lives. Adopt a dog or adopt a cat and you'll have a friend for life.

What is the difference between adopting a dog, adopting a cat, adopting a kitten or adopting a puppy versus getting dogs for sale, cats for sale, puppies for sale or kittens for sale from a dog breeder or a cat breeder?

When someone is breeding puppies or breeding kittens, they are creating new dogs and cats who need homes. Some people are interested in a very specific breed of dog, cat, puppy or kitten and they think the only way to find that specific breed is to buy a dog for sale or buy a cat for sale from a puppy breeder or a kitten breeder. Yet animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats who must find homes.

So rather than buying a dog or puppy for sale from a dog breeder or buying a cat or kitten for sale from a cat breeder, we encourage people to adopt a dog, adopt a cat, adopt a puppy or adopt a kitten at their local animal shelter, SPCA, humane society or pet rescue group.