{"id":12460,"date":"2026-06-05T14:02:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=12460"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:02:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:02:18","slug":"adoption-fees-waived-at-150-animal-shelters-in-southern-california-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=12460","title":{"rendered":"Adoption fees waived at 150 animal shelters in Southern California Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

Save money! Save a life! Find true love!<\/p>\n

All that\u2019s hard to pass up, even for folks (such as myself) whose pack already includes three dogs, two birds and one grand-cat.<\/p>

Read more FIFA cancels World Cup tickets to about 60 fans who got them for free due to error<\/a><\/p>\n

On Saturday, June 6, adoption fees will be waived at more than 150 California animal shelters and private rescues, including the big ones in Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and San Diego, and many smaller places as well (see details below).<\/p>\n

The fees would usually run from $25 to $200 at the municipal shelters, or $300 or $600 at private rescues. Orange County Animal Care will carry the spirit forward through all of June, waiving adoption fees for all dogs weighing 25 pounds or more (and older than six months).<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s adopt-a-thon is part of the third annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day, sponsored by the California Animal Welfare Association, the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.<\/p>\n

The goal is to find homes for 5,000 dogs, cats and other small animals in a single day. Ambitious? Yes, but more than 8,500 animals found homes via the adopt-a-thon over the past two years, officials said. Find participating organizations near you at https:\/\/caadoptapetday.org\/.<\/p>\n

But none of this means animals are \u201cfree!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adopters still have to pay licensing fees (which vary by city, by county and by the animal\u2019s sterilization status), ranging from lows of $14 (if the adopter, presumably a human, is 60 or older) to highs of $159 for unsterilized dogs (belonging to humans of any age).<\/p>

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All of this is important because, according to data from ShelterPetsCount.org, more than 110,000 animals didn\u2019t make it out of California shelters alive last year.<\/p>\n

If the thought of euthanizing animals doesn\u2019t break your heart, think of the people \u2014 animal lovers, all \u2014 who have to do<\/em> it. I can\u2019t imagine a more painful job. This carnage can be lessened by responsible ownership, spaying\/neutering \u2014 and by adopting rather than buying animals from puppy mills and breeders.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdoption promotion works,\u201d said Michael Mavrovouniotis, an animal activist and statistics whiz who has watched OCAC closely. \u201cAnd it\u2019s more efficient if you do it with big adoption events like this one! My own research shows that shelters have room to increase adoptions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hard to be a cat in OC<\/h4>\n

Things are getting better at Orange County Animal Care, which faced blistering criticism for its policies during and after the pandemic.<\/p>

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While the number of animals arriving at the OC shelter has, sadly, increased of late, intakes are still well below the 2019 highs. The number of euthanized animals dipped last year, but that metric has held pretty steady compared with 2019.<\/p>\n

Cats have it worst \u2014 more on this in a minute.<\/p>\n

\u2013In 2025, OCAC had 12,388 live intakes; 2,040 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 94.2%. For cats, it was 75.7%. That put the overall save rate at 83.2%.<\/p>\n

\u2013In 2024, there were 12,196 intakes; 2,284 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was steady at 94.3%. For cats, 72.2%. The overall save rate was 81.3%.<\/p>\n

\u2013In 2023, there were 11,336 intakes; 2,229 didn\u2019t make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 93.9%. For cats, 69.5%. The overall save rate was 80.2%.<\/p>\n

\u2013In 2022, there were10,384 intakes; 1,854 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 94.2%. For cats 73.6%. The overall save rate was 82.1%.<\/p>\n

\u2013In 2021, there were 8,240 intakes; 1,068 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 94.8%. For cats, 81%. The overall save rate was 86.8%.<\/p>\n

\u2013In 2020, there were 7,590 intakes; 915 didn\u2019t make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 96.3%. For cats, 81.6%. The overall save rate was 88.2%.<\/p>\n

\u2013In 2019, there were 15,044 intakes; 1,976 didn\u2019t make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 96.5%. For cats, 81%. The overall save rate was 86.9%.<\/p>\n

The overall save rate is shy of 2019\u2019s, though it has been climbing since 2023. Erstwhile critics have been happy to see the kennels opened again to visitors, and believe that has played a role. Folks also can check a dog out of the shelter, much as one might check a book out of the library!<\/p>\n

Dog\u2019s Day Out<\/h4>\n

That\u2019s the very cool Dog\u2019s Day Out program, which lets you take a dog for \u201cfield trips,\u201d fun and sun outside the shelter. This gives the dogs affection, attention, exposure to new adventures and a break from the shelter scene. That, in turn, helps them relax, show off their true personalities, and connect with humans. Studies have found that dogs participating in programs like this are 5 to 14 times more likely to be adopted.<\/p>

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