I am proud to announce that OC Animal Care is kicking off three exciting new pilot projects on January 25. Pilot projects enable us to evaluate new and creative strategies to manage trends in animal welfare and help people and pets in Orange County. Staff has been working hard on the development of these programs since the fall, and we are excited for the launch date on Saturday, January 25.
Quarterly Adoption Events
OC Animal Care will host an adoption event each quarter with discounted adoption fees, resource booths for pet owners, and more fun, seasonal activities for the whole family.
The first adoption event of the year is Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 12 to 4 p.m. We hope you will join us!
The kick-off event will feature:
Adoption opportunities for dogs, cats, and other small animals in need of loving homes
Resource booths featuring OC Animal Care and other County agencies
Pet care advice like Ask the Trainer
Facepainting
Food truck
Special $25 adoption fees during the event
Expanded Weekend Viewing Hours
OC Animal care will be expanding Viewing Hours on weekends as part of a six-month pilot project, providing the community with additional viewing hours during peak visitation days.
In response to information gathered from the current hybrid operational model offering Daily Adoption Options, coupled with community interest and feedback:
Our numbers show that the largest percentage of dogs is adopted by people choosing to pre-schedule their visit. This is a great success, and ultimately, helping dogs get adopted is our priority.
On Saturdays and Sundays, we see an increase in families interested in dropping by the shelter.
This pilot program will blend analysis of how people are choosing to adopt with community interest and feedback. We’ll be monitoring impacts to adoption rate along the way as we evaluate the success of the pilot.
A lot of thought goes into adopting a pet, and OC Animal Care is here when you’re ready to make that commitment. That’s one of the many reasons why we choose for our adoption center to be open 7 days a week. And with this new pilot, over half of our adoption hours will include viewing hours for people to drop by and walk through our kennels.
Free Virtual Dog Training Scholarships through GoodPup
Another resource we’re providing to the community is through grant funding from California for All Animals.
OC Animal Care was awarded a grant for $75,000 from California for All Animals specifically for behavioral support services, and all of that money will be used this year to provide families who adopt a dog from OC Animal Care with a four-week, virtual training scholarship from GoodPup.
GoodPup is a virtual dog training service that adopters can do at home and on-demand with flexible scheduling options. Each scholarship includes a weekly live one-on-one call with a trainer as well as access to tools and tips.
Both first time dog parents and experienced dog owners can build long-term success by addressing not only immediate issues with their new dog but set the dog up for continued good behavior throughout its life. With the right training and support, we hope that adopters develop a strong bond with their new canine companion and are more likely to feel capable of keeping the dog for the long term, minimizing the likelihood of return.
While not mandatory, we believe this training will be a benefit for both our adopting families and their new furry family members.
Helping animals get adopted and stay out of the shelter is our priority. The goal for all of these pilot projects is to see more animals get adopted, reduce the return rate for animals being brought back to the shelter, and to provide pet parents with information and resources to help keep their pets at home.
The launch of these new pilot programs is just one of the many examples of our commitment to improving the welfare of animals. By testing and exploring new approaches to care, adoption, and outreach to our community, we hope to not only help more animals find loving homes, but also create sustainable solutions that will have a long-term impact. The shelter consistently utilizes pilot programs to give us valuable insights to shape the future of our long-term programming and ensure we’re meeting the evolving needs of both the animals and our community.
We hope you’ll join us Saturday, January 25, 2025, from noon – 4 p.m. at our kick-off event or drop by the shelter during viewing hours. For the convenience of adopters, you can also pre-schedule your visit by calling 714-934-6848. Together, we can make the future brighter for homeless pets in our community.
