Santa Barbara County shelters waive adoption fees for holiday weekend
For local animal shelters, it’s officially the season of giving.
Seven shelters across Santa Barbara County are waiving adoption fees this weekend for animals six months and older, making those adoptions totally free. At the Santa Barbara Humane Society, kitten adoptions are two for one this weekend.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to find your new forever best friend–for free,” Santa Barbara Humane Society Director of Development Martha Donelan said.
The first “Homes for the Holidays” promotion sets to spread holiday cheer and to match as many animals as possible with a permanent home. Shelters in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Buellton and Lompoc are taking part.
“That’s how we play our part in this,” said Ailigh Vanderbush, the Manager of Behavior and Training at the Santa Barbara Humane Society. “We make sure we have lots of animals for everybody to choose from. And hopefully, instead of going to the mall you’ll come here and find your match.”
The Santa Barbara Humane Society has cats and dogs available for adoption. Some animals came from Ventura County shelters that became overcrowded after the Woolsey and Hill fires displaced thousands of people and animals.
Normal adoption requirements will still be in place, but the shelters hope the promotion will lead to more adoptions.
“We still talk to you and find out, making sure we have a good fit,” Vanderbush said. “What we find is [the promotion] tends to motivate people who were thinking about it, but this just gives them that extra kick to come in.”
There were already several adoptions on Friday, bittersweet for those who care for the animals at the shelters.
“Sometimes they’re here long enough and you spend a lot of time with them it’s almost hard to let them go,” Vanderbush said. “Hopefully we’ll get all of our pets out of here and everyone can be nice and safe and snuggled up with the fire for the Christmas holidays.”
The promotion runs through Saturday, and through Sunday for shelters that are open on Sunday.
The following locations are participating this weekend:
ASAP (Animal Shelter Assistance Program)
5473 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 683-3368
Friday, Saturday, 10 AM to 4:45 PM
Sunday, 12 Noon to 3 PM
www.asapcats.org
Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society
111 Commerce Dr, Buellton, CA 93427
(805) 688.8224
Friday, Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM
www.syvhumane.org
Santa Barbara Humane Society
5399 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 964-4777
Friday, Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM
www.sbhumanesociety.org
Santa Maria Valley Humane Society
1687 West Stowell Rd, Santa Maria, CA
93458
(805) 349-3435
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM
www.smvhs.org
Santa Barbara County – Santa Maria Animal Center
548 W. Foster Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 934-6119
Saturday 10 AM to 3:30 PM
www.sbcanimalservices.org
Santa Barbara County – Lompoc Animal Shelter
1501 W. Central Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436
(805) 737-7755
Saturday 10 AM to 3:30 PM
www.sbcanimalservices.org
Santa Barbara County – Santa Barbara Animal Shelter
5473 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 681-5285
Saturday 10 AM to 3:30 PM
www.sbcanimalservices.org
