Santa Cruz SPCA
Our Mission
The Santa Cruz SPCA provides a safe harbor for animals in need and promotes an active, humane community through dedicated adoption, advocacy, and education.
Who We Are
Founded in 1934 by Dr. Charles Edward Graves, we have served Santa Cruz County for decades as an independent, community-supported nonprofit. We operate without federal or state government funding, relying entirely on the compassion and financial generosity of our supporters to keep our programs thriving.
Our Care Model
Our modern, purpose-built shelter on Chanticleer Avenue offers a comfortable environment where we prioritize individualized medical and behavioral care for every dog and cat. Beyond our facility, we cultivate a strong foster network that provides temporary homes, allowing us to offer the extra attention our animals need while they prepare for life with their new families.
A Joyful Partnership
We believe that every adoption is the beginning of a life-changing relationship for both the pet and their human companion. Our goal is to create lasting matches by getting to know each animal's unique personality and ensuring every member of your household is part of the process, setting everyone up for a successful transition into a new forever home.
Join Our Community
Whether you are looking to bring home a new best friend, volunteer your time, or support our efforts through our pet food pantry, we invite you to be part of our mission. Visit us Tuesday through Sunday to meet our current residents, or explore our website to discover how you can help us continue our work for the animals of Santa Cruz.
- Community support services
- Dedicated animal care
- Withholding behavioral information
10/9 - Ruff Estimate: How Santa Cruz County Pet Owners Can Prepare For, and Pay, a Surprise Vet Bill
Learn how to manage emergency vet costs with pet insurance, payment plans, local financial assistance in Santa Cruz County and pet emergency savings.
6/29 - Supporting pets, people and community: Santa Cruz SPCA joins Lookout's Civic Partner program
At Lookout Santa Cruz, our Civic Partnerships are rooted in a shared commitment to community care. We’re proud to partner with the Santa Cruz SPCA, an organization that has spent decades supporting both pets and people across Santa Cruz County through rescue, adoption, education and outreach.
5/29 - Strictly Business | Behind the Scenes of Saving Animals - Press Banner | Scotts Valley, CA
At the Santa Cruz Gala event last month, hosted by the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce, I was lucky to be seated next to Nancie Newby, executive director of the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation. Sometimes at large events you can be seated with people you have never met before and either the experience […]
5/21 - A most worthwhile day: Adopt-a-Pet on June 6
There are certain occasions that deserve a place on your calendar, and June 6 is one of them. On that Saturday, the Santa Cruz SPCA and the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter will once again join more than 150 other shelters across California for the third annual Adopt-a-Pet Day, a coordinated effort to place at […]
10/11 - Yesterday was 10/10, but Gladys is a 10 every day. 🙌 This bulldog babe is single and ready to mingle! Think you can handle a sassy girl like Gladys? She’s waiting for someone to make it official! Come adopt this 10/10! We’re here Tuesday-Sun 11-5! Don’t wait too long, we have a feeling this pretty lady won’t be single for long! 📍 2601 Chanticleer Ave | Tues-Sun, 11-5 #santacruzspca #adoptdontshop #bulldoglove #badgirlsclub #adoptabledogs
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10/10 - Joan has a sneaking suspicion she’s being watched…😂👀 Can’t a chonky girl enjoy her birdwatching, spa treatments & beauty sleep in peace?! Apparently, being this cute means having ZERO privacy. Joan is living the (really) good life in foster care, but she’s ready for a forever home (and a full-time admirer) of her own! 💕 Learn more about Joan on our website or call our Adoptions team to coordinate a meet & greet! #santacruzspca #adoptdontshop #adoptjoan #chonkycatsofinstagram #fosterfriday
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10/9 - A little pool time, a quick towel dry, and some quality time with our PAWS kids! Spud & Tot had a blast splashing around in the doggy pool & hanging out with our Humane Education students. These potato boys did great with the kiddos and literally soaked up all the attention! Both are still looking for their forever homes! Come meet these cuties here at the Santa Cruz SPCA! #santacruzspca #adontdontshop #adoptablepups #humaneeducation #spudandtot
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10/5 - It’s their month and they know it. 🐈⬛🎃 Our black cats are fully embracing their October celebrity status. Come meet the stars of spooky season! 🖤 Check them out at spcasc.org - (link in bio)! #blackcats #adoptdontshop #spookyseason #santacruzspca #adoptablecats
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10/5 - How it started vs how it’s going… 🐱🩷 What a difference a few hours can make… We’re so excited that sweet Betty got adopted today! Happy tails, Betty! 🐾🥰 #santacruzspca #adoptdontshop #happytails #catadoption #adoptlove
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10/5 - Lazy Sunday is being taken VERY seriously in our group room. 😴🐱 Nyx, Tux, Nemo & Oreo are sweet, snuggly, and clearly experts at doing absolutely nothing. 😂 They’ve done enough dreaming about forever homes…come meet them and help make those dreams come true! ❤️ 🗓️ We’re here Tuesday-Sunday 11-5! 📍 2601 Chanticleer Ave in Santa Cruz! #santacruzspca #adoptdontshop #kittenadoption #adoptablekittens #santacruzcats
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9/30 - PAWS & Jr. Animal Care Team are back! 🙌🐾 September was a busy month at the shelter! We had 17 young animal lovers getting hands-on experience and learning all about shelter life! 🩷🐶🐱 Over 3 weeks, our students learned about animal care, how to conduct mock medical exams, dog training, creating enrichment activities, playing and socializing with animals, and even dog walking! 🦮 Do you have an animal lover in your family who might want to get involved? Sign up now for PAWS or Junior Animal Care Team between now and December and start the journey of learning, helping, and making a difference. ✨ Our October PAWS Foundations is already SOLD OUT, and there’s only ONE spot remaining for PAWS Ambassadors. ✨ Want to learn more or sign up? Head to the link in our bio and click Humane Education! Questions? Reach out to Ruth, our Humane Education Coordinator, at ruth@spcasc.org. 🐾 Don’t wait - spots fill quickly! #santacruzspca #humaneeducation #younganimallovers #santacruzkids #animalwelfare
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9/29 - Fresh potatoes, now roaming free. 🥔🌱😂 Tater, Tot & Spud had their first yard adventure and wasted NO time making themselves at home. Their sister’s been adopted, so it’s just the boys now! Which little potato are you picking: Tater, Tot or Spud? 👀🥔 #PotatoPups #AdoptAPuppy #SantaCruzSPCA #AdoptDontShop #SantaCruzPets
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9/24 - Turns out our dogs have VERY strong opinions about books. 📚😂 Frank, Mirabel, Poppy, and Enzo put their literary tastes to the test and picked their favorites. Mirabel, however, decided zoomies were more her speed. Now it’s your kiddo’s turn to pick a book! Rescue Readers is TOMORROW (along with #DollyPawtonDay), and we still have a few spots available! Make Dolly proud & join us! ✨ Sign up through the link in our bio > Rescue Readers! 📚 Friday 9/25, 5-7:30pm 🐾 Read to our shelter animals! 💙 Limited spots available! #rescuereaders #santacruzspca #humaneeducation #santacruzkids
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9/23 - Imagine waiting all week for someone to come read you a story…and no one signs up. 😿📚 Rescue Readers is this Friday 9/25, and a few of our cats are still waiting for a young reader to come spend some time with them. 📖 Don’t let these little faces down! We have just a few spots left for kids to grab a book, get cozy, and make a shelter cat’s evening a little brighter. ✨ And with #DollyPawton Day happening Friday too, we think story time is a pretty purrfect way to clock out of the 9-to-5. 😉 ✏️ Sign up through the link in our bio and click Rescue Readers! #rescuereaders #humaneeducation #santacruzspca #dollypawtonday
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9/22 - What a special morning. 💜🐾 This weekend, we had the privilege of joining our community at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Aptos, with a few of our adoptable pups, Enzo & Kimber, by our side. There were lots of wagging tails, new friends, sweet moments, and plenty of love to go around. We’re so grateful to everyone who stopped to say hello to our pups, and even more grateful to have been part of a morning that brought so many people together for a cause that touches so many lives. Thank you having us! We were honored to be there with you all. 💜🐕 #walk2endalz #endalz #santacruzspca #community #adoptabledogs
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9/20 - We’ve got some new faces around here! 🐶 Meet Sway-Zee + the Potato Pups: Tater, Tot, Spud & Fry. All around 3 months old, all ridiculously cute, and all ready for adoption! Puppy adoption fees are $300 and include spay/neuter, microchip, flea & worm treatment, age-appropriate vaccinations, a certificate for a free vet exam, and an adoption packet. 🐾 Come meet them today - we’re here 11-5! 📍 Santa Cruz SPCA 2601 Chanticleer Ave Santa Cruz, CA #santacruzspca #adoptdontshop #puppyadoption #adoptlocal #santacruzdogs
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