Working for the Working Dogs: Inside the Santa Cruz SPCA’s New Shelter

Sonny and his pal (photo SCSPCA)

Who ever thought trying to open a brand-new animal shelter in the middle of a pandemic was a good idea? It certainly wasn’t what we planned, but - much like all of 2020 - we made it work for the animals.

The dedicated team of staff and volunteers here at the Santa Cruz SPCA busted our boots to get feet and paws into our beautiful new space and, in December, were finally able to call 2601 Chanticleer Avenue home. We gratefully graduated from a 1,200 square foot converted bungalow to an over 7,000 square foot state-of-the-art animal shelter, designed with animal safety, comfort, and enrichment in mind. 

Now that we’re here and enjoying all the wonderful advantages this space allows, one of the most exciting pluses is that we’re finally able to take larger dogs. Previously, our space constraints limited the size of dog we could house – but now, the Great Dane’s the limit! Trends show that larger dogs are currently making up the majority of shelter dogs in need, and we’re glad we can help our animal partners where the help is needed most. 

Many times, that help is especially needed with the adoption placement of working dogs. Because of their intelligence and stimulation requirements, working breeds like Willow, a 2-year-old Husky, too often find themselves in shelters like ours. Dogs like Sonny, a 9-month-old Border Collie/Bull Terrier, have energy to spare and can’t thrive in confinement without a job to do. And dogs like Coffee Cake, a year-old, under-socialized Cattle Dog, need patient owners who can help them build confidence and blossom. 

While the best place for dogs like Willow, Sonny, and Coffee Cake is in a loving home, we work hard to make sure their needs are met while they are in our care. Throughout the day, volunteers take them on long walks, sometimes on forest hikes or beach runs. We also facilitate playgroups where these lively,  social creatures can come together for an energy-burning playdate, complete with pool time. Our Behavior Team works every day to manage typical working dog behaviors by providing physical and mental stimulation, rewarding the dogs when they apply their smarts for good instead of for total destruction.

The front of the new shelter (photo SCSPCA)

One of the things we’re most excited about at our new shelter is our enrichment program. An individualized enrichment schedule spells out all the elements that need to be provided to each animal to meet their sensory needs. Music plays in the animal areas, varying from smooth jazz, classical, or reggae, to audio books or nature sounds to soothe or stimulate, as needed. Safe, natural, and sometimes novel scents (like duck!) are added to blankets or toys for a fun sniff session. Chews and chew toys are provided to allow dogs to practice one of their most natural instincts – using those teeth. Working toys are also provided - such as frozen stuffed Kongs, snuffle mats, and treat puzzles - to stimulate the dog’s natural instinct to forage.

The Santa Cruz SPCA’s new shelter gives us the space and tools to work alongside our volunteers and fosters to provide the animals in our care with the best shelter experience possible. It’s a place well equipped to meet the needs of even the smartest of smarty pants working dogs who might otherwise fail to thrive in a shelter setting. 

If you’re interested in getting involved with or taking a tour of the new Santa Cruz SPCA, please contact us at foreverhome@spcasc.org or call 831-465-5000. It takes a village,  but at the Santa Cruz SPCA, we’re dedicated to working for the working dogs - and every other dog that comes our way.