Half price dogs, cats and pets at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is cutting its adoption fees by half this holiday season, driven by a continued surge in homeless pets after the COVID-19 pandemic.

From now until Jan. 3, puppies under 6 months old are $105, adult dogs are $75, kittens are $60, adult cats are $50, and rabbits are $35. The cost covers vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, and a microchip.

As of Dec. 24, there were 24 dogs, 56 cats, and 14 rabbits at the shelter, along with three roosters, a parakeet and a turtle. That includes Max, a fluffy Great Pyrenees who loves riding in the car and gets along well with other dogs. Jaspurr, a grey-and-white cat who the shelter staff say is not just adventurous but loves to “lead the parade.” And Squirt, a turtle who — though not native to the area — was found abandoned in a local pond.

“Our numbers have remained high, and our staff is tired — and most importantly, we want our animals to have loving homes,” said Amber Rowland, the shelter’s manager. “We decided to do half-price adoptions because the shelter is more full than it ever has been this year.”

The shelter is located at 1001 Rodriguez Street and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., aside from Christmas and New Year’s Day.