Adoption fees waived at 150 animal shelters in Southern California Saturday

Save money! Save a life! Find true love!

All that’s hard to pass up, even for folks (such as myself) whose pack already includes three dogs, two birds and one grand-cat.

On Saturday, June 6, adoption fees will be waived at more than 150 California animal shelters and private rescues, including the big ones in Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and San Diego, and many smaller places as well (see details below).

The fees would usually run from $25 to $200 at the municipal shelters, or $300 or $600 at private rescues. Orange County Animal Care will carry the spirit forward through all of June, waiving adoption fees for all dogs weighing 25 pounds or more (and older than six months).

Saturday’s adopt-a-thon is part of the third annual California Adopt-a-Pet Day, sponsored by the California Animal Welfare Association, the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The goal is to find homes for 5,000 dogs, cats and other small animals in a single day. Ambitious? Yes, but more than 8,500 animals found homes via the adopt-a-thon over the past two years, officials said. Find participating organizations near you at https://caadoptapetday.org/.

But none of this means animals are “free!”

Adopters still have to pay licensing fees (which vary by city, by county and by the animal’s sterilization status), ranging from lows of $14 (if the adopter, presumably a human, is 60 or older) to highs of $159 for unsterilized dogs (belonging to humans of any age).

All of this is important because, according to data from ShelterPetsCount.org, more than 110,000 animals didn’t make it out of California shelters alive last year.

If the thought of euthanizing animals doesn’t break your heart, think of the people — animal lovers, all — who have to do it. I can’t imagine a more painful job. This carnage can be lessened by responsible ownership, spaying/neutering — and by adopting rather than buying animals from puppy mills and breeders.

“Adoption promotion works,” said Michael Mavrovouniotis, an animal activist and statistics whiz who has watched OCAC closely. “And it’s more efficient if you do it with big adoption events like this one! My own research shows that shelters have room to increase adoptions.”

Hard to be a cat in OC

Things are getting better at Orange County Animal Care, which faced blistering criticism for its policies during and after the pandemic.

While the number of animals arriving at the OC shelter has, sadly, increased of late, intakes are still well below the 2019 highs. The number of euthanized animals dipped last year, but that metric has held pretty steady compared with 2019.

Cats have it worst — more on this in a minute.

–In 2025, OCAC had 12,388 live intakes; 2,040 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 94.2%. For cats, it was 75.7%. That put the overall save rate at 83.2%.

–In 2024, there were 12,196 intakes; 2,284 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was steady at 94.3%. For cats, 72.2%. The overall save rate was 81.3%.

–In 2023, there were 11,336 intakes; 2,229 didn’t make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 93.9%. For cats, 69.5%. The overall save rate was 80.2%.

–In 2022, there were10,384 intakes; 1,854 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 94.2%. For cats 73.6%. The overall save rate was 82.1%.

–In 2021, there were 8,240 intakes; 1,068 did not make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 94.8%. For cats, 81%. The overall save rate was 86.8%.

–In 2020, there were 7,590 intakes; 915 didn’t make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 96.3%. For cats, 81.6%. The overall save rate was 88.2%.

–In 2019, there were 15,044 intakes; 1,976 didn’t make it out alive. For dogs, the save rate was 96.5%. For cats, 81%. The overall save rate was 86.9%.

The overall save rate is shy of 2019’s, though it has been climbing since 2023. Erstwhile critics have been happy to see the kennels opened again to visitors, and believe that has played a role. Folks also can check a dog out of the shelter, much as one might check a book out of the library!

Dog’s Day Out

That’s the very cool Dog’s Day Out program, which lets you take a dog for “field trips,” fun and sun outside the shelter. This gives the dogs affection, attention, exposure to new adventures and a break from the shelter scene. That, in turn, helps them relax, show off their true personalities, and connect with humans. Studies have found that dogs participating in programs like this are 5 to 14 times more likely to be adopted.

OC Animal Care also runs “specials” of a sort every now and again, such as 2-for-1 kitten and cat adoptions.

“The shelter is in much better shape now than in the dark days of 2022-2023,” Mavrovouniotis said. But he still wants to see playgroups to socialize large dogs — the majority of shelter residents — and worries about “selective intake,” when shelters turn away owner-surrendered dogs saying the kennels are full.

“We need clarity,” he said. “What is the policy, exactly?  At what number does the shelter say it’s full? When and how did the shelter change the policy? Did the cities that contract with the shelter approve this?”

The cat situation, though, keeps OC’s overall save rate stuck in the low 80s, a smidge below the state average, in the mid-80s. This is where things are getting worse, Mavrovouniotis

Orange County ended a trap-neuter-release program for homeless cats (to stop them from creating more homeless cats) in the wake of legal action that argued it’s inhumane to release cats to the street, even if that’s where they were found. So our feral cat population grows. Which means more death.

Other counties have faced legal challenges over spay-neuter-release but found a way to make it work. In San Diego, where the the save rate for cats was 90% last year — way better than O.C.’s 75.7% — policy tweaks appear to have solved the problem. San Diego exerts more effort to differentiate pet cats from feral cats, so that, ideally, only feral cats are returned to the streets sterilized, not Aunt Fiona’s cat Fluffy. OC might want to try something like this.

‘Not every animal can be saved’

The folks at OC Animal Care said its save rate “reflects the reality that not every animal can be saved due to the severe condition they arrive in, and is shaped by several measurable factors including return to owner numbers, pet adoptions and transfers to other agencies,” said spokesperson Denise Woodside via email.

“OC Animal Care’s first priority is to get a pet back home with their family. When comparing 2024 to 2025, we experienced a 3.44% increase in lost dogs being reunited with their family, and 1.39% increase in lost cats being reunited with their family, which directly contributes to our overall save rate.”

A plus from the pandemic’s lockdown/remote work era was a significant increase in pet adoption and fostering nationwide, she said. But after that surge, adoptions declined as veterinary and pet care costs rose, inflation increased, and folks returned to the office.

“The encouraging news is that organizations like Shelter Animals Count are now reporting adoption numbers trending upward again, which matches what we’re seeing locally at OC Animal Care,” she said.

On the cat issue. “Locally, OC Animal Care has been advised by counsel that the release of unowned cats into the community is prohibited by law. Since not all municipalities share this same understanding, we continue to monitor litigation processes happening around the state for rulings that may impact the penal code.

“It is widely acknowledged that (the trap-neuter-return policy) plays an important role in animal welfare, and we, like the local community, look forward to clear direction on this issue, whether it be through resolution by litigation or a legislative fix at the state level.”

If you find yourself adopted by one of these strays, which are dubbed “community cats,” OCAC recommends contacting a nonprofit like Golden State Humane Society Animal Care Services, which offers “Feral Fridays” care and low cost spay/neuter. “These organizations provide alternatives that support community cats without relying on the shelter,” she said.

Statewide

The big picture looks a lot like the smaller picture, with more animals are winding up at shelters.

–In California last year, 729,149 cats and dogs arrived at shelters and rescues. Sadly, 110,036 did not make it out alive. That’s a save rate of 85%, which has held steady for several years.

–In 2024, 713,429 arrived; 108,934 did not make it out alive.

–In 2023, 731,591 arrived; 112,197 did not make it out alive.

–In 2022, 694,551 arrived; 88,229 did not make it out alive.

–In 2021, 602,373 arrived; 70,979 did not make it out alive.

–In 2020, 569,063 arrived; 64,897 did not make it out alive.

Who’s waiving fees?

In Orange County, the shelters and rescues participating include Irvine Animal Care Center, Mission Viejo Animal Services, Newport Beach Animal Shelter, OC Animal Care, Coastal Animal Services Authority and WAGS Pet Adoption.

In the Los Angeles County area, they include Angel City Pit Bulls, Burbank Animal Shelter, City of Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, Eastwood Ranch Foundation, Kitten Rescue, Kitty Bungalow Charm School, Long Beach Animal Care Services, Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, Pasadena Humane, Paws for Life K9 Rescue, Santa Monica Animal Shelter, Southeast Area Animal Control Authority, Stray Cat Alliance, WAGS, Wallis Annenberg PetSpace and West End Shelter for Animals.

In the Inland Empire/San Bernardino/Riverside area, there’s Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire, City of Corona Animal Shelter, City of Moreno Valley Animal Services, City of San Bernardino, City of Victorville, Friends of Upland Animal Shelter, Hesperia Animal Control, Inland Valley Humane Society & SPCA, Loving All Animals, Mary S Roberts Pet Adoption Center, Rancho Cucamonga Animal Center, Riverside County Department of Animal Services, San Bernardino County Animal Care, Town of Apple Valley Animal Services Department and Town of Yucca Valley Animal Shelter.