Tag Archives: SPCA

National Nonprofit Petco Love Invests in Sacramento SPCA to Save and Improve the Lives of Pets in the Sacramento Region

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Sacramento SPCA was awarded a $15,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for animals in the Sacramento region.

Over the past several years, there has been an increase in pets entering the Sacramento SPCA's care with preexisting behavior challenges. To meet the needs of every pet and ensure they are adopted as quickly as possible, the Sacramento SPCA's Behavior and Adoptions Teams developed new programs to provide these pets with the extra support they need while in the shelter and resources they can go home with as they adjust to life with their new families.

Thanks to the lifesaving investment from Petco Love, both dogs and cats needing extra behavior support will benefit from these new programs. Funds will purchase materials for their in-shelter enrichment as well as items for an "Adoption Success Kit" that will go home with them when they are adopted.

"We are incredibly grateful for Petco Love's continued investment in our lifesaving work," said Sarah Haney, Interim Chief Executive Officer. "Their partnership will allow us to provide customized care for pets needing extra behavior support. With this initiative, the Sacramento SPCA can continue to be a resource for adopters in our community, reduce the number of pets returned to our care for behavioral reasons, and keep as many families together as possible."

Petco Love is a national nonprofit leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested nearly $400 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations - like ours - across North America, with 6.8 million pets adopted and counting.

"Our investment in the Sacramento SPCA is part of more than $15M in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized," said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. "Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us. We launched Petco Love Lost, a national lost and found database that uses patented image-recognition technology to simplify the search for lost pets."

As the only full-service 100% nonprofit animal shelter in the Sacramento region, the Sacramento SPCA relies on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to support their lifesaving work. They are local, independent, and not affiliated with any other SPCA or humane society, including the ASPCA. All funds stay right here in the Sacramento region - helping pets - and the people who love them - in our own communities.

For more information about the Sacramento SPCA visit https://www.sspca.org/.

Learn more about Petco Love here: https://petcolove.org/.

About the Sacramento SPCA:

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 132 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life. Visit sspca.org/ for more information and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn.

About Petco Love:

Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since our founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, we've empowered animal welfare organizations by investing nearly $400 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. We've helped find loving homes for more than 6.8 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Our love for pets drives us to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets, and lead with passion, inspiring and mobilizing communities and our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change alongside us. Is love calling you? Join us. Visit PetcoLove.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, and LinkedIn to be part of the lifesaving work we lead every day.

MULTIMEDIA:

Image link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/24-0718-s2p-sacspca-300dpi.jpg

Photo Caption: Staff from the Sacramento SPCA gather with pets and the Adoption Success Kits they will take home in the shelter's Adoption Center.

The Sacramento SPCA was awarded a $15,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for animals in the Sacramento region.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/

Doggy Dash with the Sacramento SPCA on June 5, 2021

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Sacramento SPCA is hosting their annual Doggy Dash on Saturday, June 5, 2021 - and this year is sure to offer more than just another walk in the park.

Now celebrating its 28th anniversary, the Sacramento SPCA's Doggy Dash has grown into Northern California's largest 2K/5K dog walk and pet festival - with a goal this year to raise $150,000 in registrations and donations to support the life-saving programs that help animals and the people who love them in the Sacramento region. Donations from last year's Doggy Dash helped the Sacramento SPCA provide care to the more than 30,000 animals that entered their doors in 2020.

With restrictions still in place for large group events, the Sacramento SPCA is hosting its largest community event and fundraiser of the year virtually for a second year in a row. "Just because we can't walk side by side, doesn't mean we can't still walk together to save lives," said Dawn Foster, Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director.

An estimated 5,000 animal lovers usually gather at William Land Park for this special event each year, with and without their canine companions - to raise funds for animals at the Sacramento SPCA and enjoy pet-friendly vendors, demonstrations, contests, food trucks, beer garden, local entertainment and more!

Pet enthusiasts living far and wide are encouraged to join the Sacramento SPCA on June 5, 2021 from their homes, neighborhoods, parks and trails for the 2k/5k walk and also connect online to share photos and enjoy the event's live broadcast and pet festival. "By participating in our own communities, people and their dogs (and even cats!) who would not normally be able to participate at William Land Park, can now do so," added Foster.

The virtual event will be broadcast from the shelter's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA at 9 a.m. on June 5, 2021; participants will hear from Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine and GoodDay Sacramento's Courtney Dempsey as they share how the Sacramento SPCA is helping animals and people in the Sacramento region and beyond, followed by a very special tour through the new Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center before officially kicking-off the 2k/5k walk.

Doggy Dashers are encouraged to share photos and video of them and their dogs walking and participating in the event's activities throughout the day using the hashtag #SSPCADASH2021.

As the only full-service 100% non-profit animal shelter in the Sacramento region, the Sacramento SPCA relies on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to support their life-saving work. They are local, independent, and do not receive funding from state or local government agencies.

Supporting this year's Virtual Doggy Dash by walking, sharing, or donating will help Sacramento SPCA continue to give more than shelter to the animals who need it most.

To register for the event or donate to help animals in need, visit https://www.sspca.org/dash.

About the Sacramento SPCA:

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 129 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

Learn more at:
https://www.sspca.org/dash
https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA/
https://www.instagram.com/sacramento_spca/
https://www.twitter.com/SacramentoSPCA

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dawn Foster
Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director
dfoster@sspca.org
or (916) 802-0915

The Sacramento SPCA is hosting their annual Doggy Dash on Saturday, June 5, 2021 - and this year is sure to offer more than just another walk in the park. Now celebrating its 28th anniversary, the Sacramento SPCA's Doggy Dash has grown into Northern California's largest 2K/5K dog walk and pet festival.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/

The Sacramento SPCA Races to Complete The Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Sacramento SPCA announced today that they have reached more than 90% of their fundraising goal to finish construction of the Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center - and the non-profit organization is asking for community support to help cross the finish line.

Completion of the new 6,400 square foot animal hospital will increase the Sacramento SPCA's spay/neuter surgery capacity by 38% (to 23,000 annual surgeries), expand their low-cost vaccine and wellness clinics and help provide more animals entering the shelter with life-saving medical care.

The Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center was designed to help animals like Estelle.

When this four-week-old puppy and her littermates arrived at the Sacramento SPCA, they tested positive for Parvo, a highly contagious and often fatal disease. The shelter's medical team quickly began treatments and after making a full recovery, Estelle was placed in a loving foster home.

But Estelle's battle wasn't over, yet. After a few weeks in foster care, her family noticed that she was having trouble swallowing, and X-rays revealed an abnormal vascular ring around her esophagus, restricting her ability to consume solid food.

"One out of every five animals that enter the Sacramento SPCA needs specialized care before they can be placed up for adoption," said Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine. "Completing the Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center will allow us to say yes to more animals like Estelle, who require life-saving care."

With her surgery scheduled in February, Estelle's future looks bright. Finishing the Sacramento SPCA's state-of-the-art medical facility will ensure a hopeful future for all animals and support the emerging needs of the community in 2021 and beyond by:

* preventing animals from entering all of the region's shelters

* getting animals who enter the shelter into homes faster

* providing early detection and treatment of high-cost illnesses that force many families to surrender their animal

Thanks to a generous lead gift by local business leader and animal lover Zoe K. McCrea, as well as the generosity of individuals and community partners throughout the Sacramento region, more than 90% of the funds needed to complete the project have been raised.

The shelter is seeking the community's support to help finish the life-saving project.

As the only full-service 100% non-profit animal shelter in the Sacramento region, the Sacramento SPCA relies on donations from individuals, businesses and foundations to support their work. They are local, independent, and do not receive funding from state or local government agencies.

Donations to complete the Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center can be made online or by mail to: Sacramento SPCA, 6201 Florin Perkins Road, Sacramento, CA 95828. Learn more: https://www.classy.org/campaign/zoe-k-mccrea-animal-health-center/c293556

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/2zIIj2RBn_s

About the Sacramento SPCA:

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 129 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

LEARN MORE:

http://sspca.org/savepetslives

https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA/

https://www.instagram.com/sacramento_spca/

https://www.twitter.com/SacramentoSPCA

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dawn Foster, Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director dfoster@sspca.org or (916) 802-0915

*IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0129s2p-sspca-health-center-300dpi.jpg

*Image caption: The new Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center - scheduled to open in early 2021.

The Sacramento SPCA announced today that they have reached more than 90% of their fundraising goal to finish construction of the Zoe K. McCrea Animal Health Center - and the non-profit organization is asking for community support to help cross the finish line.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/

Pets and Fireworks – Tips to Keep Pets Happy and Safe on July 4th

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Every Independence Day, shelters are filled with lost and injured pets. The Sacramento SPCA is recommending the following tips to keep your pet safe so you can all enjoy a happy and safe Fourth of July.

* Make sure pets are microchipped and the chip registration (owner's contact information) is up to date.

* Ensure pets are wearing a properly fitting collar with ID tags.

* As a backup plan, write your phone number on your pet's collar with a sharpie marker.

* Provide physical and mental stimulation with a walk or playtime during cooler morning hours - it can help pets stay calm in the evening.

* During peak firework hours the week surrounding July 4th, bring all pets indoors, offer their favorite toy or a stuffed Kong, and add some ambient noise (such as television or radio) to distract them.

Whether the plan is to visit friends for your holiday festivities or stay close to home, it's important to remember our furry friends do not enjoy the celebration as much as humans do.

"Every year, animal shelters are inundated with pets that panicked at the sound of fireworks and fled into the night, winding up lost, injured or killed," said Kenn Altine, Sacramento SPCA CEO. "By following these few simple tips, pet owners can keep their pets safe and sound at home and avoid unnecessary worry, reclaim fees and heartbreak."

What Do I Do If I Find a Stray Animal?

The Sacramento SPCA is encouraging community members to follow these Found Animal Tips to help healthy stray animals find their way home; including checking the animal for an ID tag and microchip (which can be scanned at a vet's office, shelter or pet store), asking around the neighborhood, making flyers or posting online in local lost and found groups or on neighborhood specific social media platforms.

For sick or injured animals found in Sacramento City, residents should call 311 and in Sacramento County, call 916-875-5000.

"It's been long thought that bringing animals to shelters was the best way to help them, but we now realize that most of the time, they can be easily reunited with their family by staying near where they were found,' said Altine. "That leaves the shelter with room for the animals who really do need our help - those whose owners can no longer keep them or animals that are sick or injured."

The Sacramento SPCA is the only shelter in the region offering pet owners a place to take their beloved animals when they have nowhere else to turn; regardless of age, breed, health condition or behavior. Though the Sacramento SPCA had to adapt their services due to the COVID-19 health crisis, they have continued to say yes to the animals and have expanded public access to their lifesaving programs by offering appointment-based services.

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 128 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

Learn more:
* https://www.sspca.org/
* https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA/
* https://www.instagram.com/sacramento_spca/
* https://www.twitter.com/SacramentoSPCA

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dawn Foster, Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director dfoster@sspca.org or (916) 802-0915

*IMAGE link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0701s2p-sspca-fireworks-300dpi.jpg

Every Independence Day, shelters are filled with lost and injured pets. The Sacramento SPCA is recommending the following tips to keep your pet safe so you can all enjoy a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/

Dogs Trapped in Hot Cars – The Sacramento SPCA is Helping Keep Pets Safe

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- As the Sacramento region heads into an extremely hot week, one local animal welfare organization is taking action to help animals left in hot cars. The Sacramento SPCA is providing thermometers to all animal control officers in Sacramento County in an effort to prevent animals from suffering and dying in hot cars and to hold those who caused this suffering accountable.

Each year police and animals control officers in our community respond to hundreds of calls about animals - most often dogs - left in hot cars. These are reported by Good Samaritans who hear the animals crying for help or, in the worst cases, notice an animal that has passed out or stopped breathing. California law now allows these Good Samaritans to break into the vehicle under certain circumstances.

"We need the community to know that there are consequences to leaving an animal in a car - no matter the reason," said Kenn Altine, CEO of the Sacramento SPCA. "The consequences for the animal are horrific," he said, "but too often the person is not held accountable."

Altine said the thermometers, which are certified tested and calibrated, will allow the animal control officers to accurately capture the ambient air temperature in the vehicle as part of their evidence collection.

"By having a reliable and accurate recording of the temperature using a certified thermometer, we can better hold the people accountable for their actions," said Sacramento County DDA Hilary Bagley-Franzoia. The Sacramento County District Attorney handles cases of animals left in cars.

They've already had several cases this year, including an animal who was left in a car where the temperature reached 130 degrees, causing the animal to have seizures, neuropathy and to bleed through its skin and paws. Forty-five minutes after the animal was freed from the car, its internal temperature was still 108 degrees (normal body temperature for dogs and cats is 101 to 102.5 degrees).

About the Sacramento SPCA:

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 128 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

Learn more:
* https://www.sspca.org
* https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA/
* https://www.instagram.com/sacramento_spca/
* https://www.twitter.com/SacramentoSPCA

MEDIA CONTACT: Dawn Foster, Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director dfoster@sspca.org or (916) 802-0915

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0623s2p-sspca-hot-dog-300dpi.jpg
*Photo caption: The Sacramento SPCA is providing thermometers to all animal control officers in Sacramento County.

As the Sacramento region heads into an extremely hot week, one local animal welfare organization is taking action to help animals left in hot cars. The Sacramento SPCA is providing thermometers to all animal control officers in Sacramento County.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/

Sacramento SPCA – Giving More Than Shelter – Need for lifesaving work is surging during COVID-19 crisis

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Sacramento SPCA announced today that demand for its COVID-related services is surging in May despite an anticipated decrease based on federal stimulus and unemployment payments to Sacramento area residents. The increase in need comes at a time when the organization is preparing to expand programs, including adoptions, as part of the area's re-opening plans.

"Instead of seeing a decrease as people's financial stability was bolstered by the stimulus plans, we are actually seeing a dramatic increase in need for our community's animals so far this month," said Sacramento SPCA CEO, Kenn Altine.

"The amount of free pet food being distributed at our twice-weekly drive-through panty is up 50% in the past two weeks, the number of animals we have placed foster homes has increased 84% since the lockdown was put in place, and the number of calls for people who need help with a sick or injured stray has continued to rise," said Altine.

While the Sacramento SPCA had to adjust their operations due to mandates surrounding COVID-19 in late March, the shelter continues to provide lifesaving care and support to animals at the shelter, hundreds of more animals in foster homes and those still arriving at their doors in crisis.

"As the only shelter in the region offering pet owners a place to take their beloved animals when they have nowhere else to turn; regardless of age, breed, health condition or behavior - closing our doors completely was never a consideration," said Altine. "From March 20 to April 30, the Sacramento SPCA took in 164 animals in crisis and treated more than 20 animals requiring emergency medical care."

Animals like Miss Chonk, who arrived to the Sacramento SPCA as a stray with pyometra, a serious and life-threatening infection. She also had a skin and ear infections as well as problems with her eyes. The shelter's medical team jumped into action to help the sweet girl - she received an emergency spay surgery and medication for her skin, ears and eyes and is now on her way to recovery.

When the shelter in place orders were first issued, the shelter teams worked diligently to find temporary foster homes for as many animals in the shelter as possible so they could focus on the urgent and emergent needs of the community, including animals requiring emergency medical attention.

The shelter reached out to recruit foster families just days before the County order to stay home was issued and in a matter of days, 800 community members volunteered to help. Since March 19, more than 260 animals have been placed in foster homes.

A positive side effect of people being at home is that many of the families fostering animals for the Sacramento SPCA have bonded closely with the animals and expressed interest in adopting. As of May 1, more than 40 animals have been adopted or are in the process of adoption by their foster families.

Because the shelter recognized that many of the people who use their low-cost vaccine clinic had animals at the beginning or half-way through a series of needed shots (canine influenza, distemper, parvo, etc.), they reached out to families and created a way for them to come in for the vital vaccinations while protecting their health and the health of the shelter staff. As a result, more than 500 vaccinations were administered to 376 animals (including booster vaccines for 263 puppies under seven months of age).

In addition to adapting their current programs, the Sacramento SPCA also launched a free pet food pantry to help keep pets and their people stay together and support those who could no longer afford to buy pet food. The twice-weekly drive-through #PAWPantry takes place at the Sacramento SPCA located at 6201 Florin Perkins Road in Sacramento from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday. As of May 1, more than 900 families have visited the pantry and received more than 12,000 pounds of free pet food.

"As we watched the flood of layoffs wash over our region, we laid the plans for a drive-through pet food distribution to ensure that no one had to contemplate surrendering a pet because they couldn't afford or access food," said Altine. "This resource has been a lifeline for pet owners who weren't sure how they would buy food for their pets, especially as many are still waiting for income assistance."

But what started as a temporary relief program for area residents is now likely to become a long-term program at the Sacramento SPCA. "We thought the need would decrease as the stimulus packages came on line," said Altine, "but the opposite has happened."

Plans for Re-opening

While the Sacramento SPCA has had to restrict the number of people at the shelter, their lifesaving work has continued as an essential community organization. And with Governor Newsom's four-stage plan for how the state can ease stay at home restrictions in the coming months, the shelter is already planning to expand public access to programs in the coming weeks.

"Expanding access to lifesaving programs while maintaining the health and safety of the community and our staff is our highest priority," says Altine. "Our teams will be leaning heavily on technology to expand access through appointment-based processes for pet adoption, low-cost vaccinations, animal support and spay and neuter services."

How Can the Community Help

As the only full-service 100% non-profit animal shelter in the Sacramento region, the Sacramento SPCA relies on donations from individuals, businesses and foundations to support their work. They are local, independent, and do not receive funding from state or local government agencies.

With the Big Day of Giving on May 7, the Sacramento region's 24-hour giving campaign to support local nonprofits - the Sacramento SPCA is asking for monetary donations to ensure that they can continue to support animals and people whenever and however needed. Learn more: https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/SacSPCA

Donations can be made online or by mail to: Sacramento SPCA, 6201 Florin Perkins Road, Sacramento, CA 95828.

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 128 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

Learn more and follow:
* https://www.sspca.org
* https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA/
* https://www.instagram.com/sacramento_spca/
* https://www.twitter.com/SacramentoSPCA

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dawn Foster, Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director dfoster@sspca.org or (916) 802-0915.

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0506s2p-sacspca-mschonk-300dpi.jpg
*Photo caption: Pictured, Miss Chonk recovers at the Sacramento SPCA following her lifesaving surgery.

The Sacramento SPCA announced today that demand for its COVID-related services is surging in May despite an anticipated decrease based on federal stimulus and unemployment payments to Sacramento area residents. The increase in need comes at a time when the organization is preparing to expand programs, including adoptions, as part of the area's re-opening plans.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/

Moving from COVID Pandemic to Kitten Crisis: The Sacramento SPCA Braces for an Overwhelming Kitten Season

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Sacramento SPCA announced today that, since April 1, it has seen a 500% increase in the number of underage kittens (younger than six weeks) come in to the shelter at 6201 Florin Perkins Rd in Sacramento versus the same time period last year.

While most of the public programs are currently suspended at the Sacramento SPCA due to mandates surrounding COVID-19, the shelter is receiving a record number of stray kittens being abandoned in front of the shelter or dropped off by local citizens who are trying to help.

"Because the city shelter on Front Street and county shelter on Bradshaw are limiting stray animal intake due to COVID-19, we are seeing more stray animals in crisis - especially kittens - arriving at our doors," said Sacramento SPCA CEO Kenn Altine.

The Sacramento SPCA typically cares for more than 600 underage kittens each year, with about 10% of the kittens being under 6 weeks of age and arriving without a mother to feed them. With the number of these neonatal kittens already nearly exceeding the annual intake, the shelter is bracing for an overwhelming kitten season.

"We need the public's help to address this issue - in education on leaving kittens in place, in becoming 'bottle-baby' fosters, and in supporting our spay/neuter programs through donations," Altine said. "The needs of animals were not put on hold during this pandemic. We may be closed to the public, but we are always here for the animals. We are the only haven for unwanted animals and owners in crisis who need to surrender a cherished pet, regardless of its age, breed, health or behavior."

The Impact of Suspended Spay & Neuter

In addition to an increase in stray animals abandoned at the Sacramento SPCA, there is another looming concern: with spay & neuter programs suspended for the last month due to COVID-19 and potentially into the next month, animals that would have been altered are now able to reproduce, compounding the current animal overpopulation problem.

The Sacramento SPCA operates the 7th largest spay & neuter clinic in the nation, altering more than 18,300 animals annually and preventing hundreds of thousands of unwanted animals from entering our region's shelters. The clinic altered 11,867 cats and kittens in 2019, including nearly 4,000 additional cats that were altered during the Sacramento SPCA's Feral Cat Clinic offered each Sunday.

With these services being suspended in April and potentially longer, public animals and community cats have been left with the opportunity to reproduce and overwhelm a region that already needs more access to spay & neuter capacity.

"We recognize that demand for low-cost spay and neuter services in our region far outweighs the current capacity," said Altine. "With the shut down of our spay & neuter services in April, the need to protect our animals and community will be even greater."

The potential magnitude of this crisis is still uncertain, but with growing animal overpopulation, limited shelter capacity and animals requiring resources beyond the community's capacity, concerns are rising.

What to Do When You Find a Kitten

All local animal shelters recommend leaving the kittens where you found them. In most cases, the mother is nearby or out hunting and will return shortly. Kittens have a much better chance for survival with their mother, so moving them should only be considered if they are in a life-threatening or dangerous location.

When in doubt, follow this kitten guide for specific steps you can take to give the kittens the best chance for survival; how to determine their age; and when to get involved, including fostering them yourself: https://www.sspca.org/helpifoundkittens.

How the Community Can Help

Foster. Donate. Repeat.

Because the shelter is currently receiving more neonatal kittens requiring specialized care, they are actively recruiting fosters with previous "bottle baby" experience to help with the current and impending kitten storm. As these young kittens transition from bottle feeding to wet food, they can be moved to other foster homes until they are old enough for spay & neuter and adoption.

Foster parents experienced in caring for neonatal kittens are encouraged to contact the Sacramento SPCA at catfosterrescue@sspca.org.

As the only full-service 100% non-profit animal shelter in the Sacramento region, the Sacramento SPCA relies on donations from individuals, businesses and foundations to support their work. They are local, independent, and do not receive funding from state or local government agencies.

And with the closing of the Sacramento SPCA's public programs, the revenue that provides a significant part of their income has disappeared. They are asking the community to make monetary donations to ensure that they can continue to support animals and people whenever and however needed, including providing critical supplies like formula, bottles/nipples and wet food to foster families during kitten season.

Donations can be made online or by mail to: Sacramento SPCA, 6201 Florin Perkins Road, Sacramento, CA 95828. See: https://www.sspca.org/donate

About the Sacramento SPCA

Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 128 years. They provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and pets together for life.

Learn more at: https://www.sspca.org/

Follow on social:
* https://www.facebook.com/SacSPCA/
* https://www.instagram.com/sacramento_spca/
* https://www.twitter.com/SacramentoSPCA

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dawn Foster, Sacramento SPCA Marketing & Communications Director dfoster@sspca.org or (916) 802-0915.

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0424s2p-sspca-KittenCrisis-300dpi.jpg
*Photo caption: Sacramento SPCA notes that since April 1, it has seen a 500% increase in the number of underage kittens come in to the shelter.

The Sacramento SPCA announced today that, since April 1, it has seen a 500% increase in the number of underage kittens (younger than six weeks) come in to the shelter at 6201 Florin Perkins Rd in Sacramento versus the same time period last year.

Related link: https://www.sspca.org/