Sacramento shelter waives fees as roughly 1,000 pets need new homes: ‘Every day is a struggle’
Are you looking for a forever furry friend?
The Sacramento Front Street Animal Shelter will waive its adoption fees from Wednesday to Sunday to alleviate stress on shelter resources, according to a statement from the city.
“Every day is a struggle to keep animals moving through the system toward positive outcomes,” said Ryan Hinderman, a spokesman with Front Street Animal Shelter.
“We have had to resort to pairing two, and sometimes even three or more dogs in the same kennel, which puts stress on the animals and raises the chance for disease transmission and fights between dogs,” he said in a statement.
More than 250 animals — dogs and cats — are at the shelter on 2127 Front St. An additional 744 animals are in foster homes. The shelter is filled with both young and older huskies, pit bulls, German shepherds, chihuahuas, terriers and Labrador retrievers.
Both domestic short and long-haired cats are also available.
How to adopt a pet at Front Street Animal Shelter
The adoption process is simple, but you have to be quick if your eyes are set on a specific furry friend.
Here are a couple of tips to know before you make your way to the shelter, according to the city’s website:
- You must be at the shelter to join the waitlist to meet animals.
- You should have more than one animal you’re interested in just in case your first choice is adopted by someone else.
- Owned dogs cannot meet adoptable dogs.
- Don’t forget to check the animals in foster care.
Here are the steps to adopting an animal at the Front Street Animal Shelter:
- Visit the shelter or browse online to find an animal you’d like to meet.
- Join the shelter’s waitlist online, which opens every day at 11:30 a.m.
- Be patient. Potential adopters will be serviced in the order they’ve joined the list.
Will my adopted pet be spayed or neutered?
When you adopt an animal at Front Street Animal Shelter, they’ll come with a list of preventive care services like vaccines, surgeries and exams.
Every dog adoption comes with the following, according to the city’s website:
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Microchip (with registration)
- Bordetella & DHPP vaccines
- Vaccinations
- Rabies vaccination
- Heartworm test (over 6 months old)
- Flea Preventative
- Deworming preventative
- 1-Year license (City residents only)
- Free health exam certificate
- Dog collar & leash
Every cat adoption comes with the following, according to the city’s website:
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Microchip (with registration)
- FVRCP vaccination
- Rabies vaccination
- Flea preventative
- Deworming preventative
- 1-Year license (city residents only)
- Free health exam certificate
- Cardboard cat carrier
Adoption fees at Front Street Animal Shelter
Front Street Animal Shelter will waive its adoption fees starting Wednesday.
Fees will return to normal on Sunday — between $25 and $150 for a dog and from $25 to $100 for a cat — depending on the age of the animal.
Remember: The shelter may charge higher adoption fees for popular animals to help fund cats and dogs with special requirements and lower the fees for those who’ve been in the shelter for a while, according to the city’s website.
Adoption fees are always waived for military veterans who show proof of their status.
FOSTERED ANIMALS
The steps to adopting an animal in foster care are a little different. To learn more about a fostered animal, click on their profile and complete an online application.
Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento
Address: 2127 Front St., Sacramento
Hours: noon on Wednesday through 5 p.m. on Sunday
Walk ins are welcome, no appointment is needed.
This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 3:05 PM.