Talkin' Shop

Here’s what’s been going on at CCAS.

What is something you are really proud of as an organization? We are a team of individuals each playing a key role in our programs to support positive outcomes for animals that come into our care. In the last few years, we have placed a focus on strengthening our kitten foster program and developing a dog foster program that includes doggie “day out” and “weekend sleepover” experiences.

What is something that makes your shelter unique? The people. Our staff and volunteers are amazing.

What is a program that you run that is really important for people to know about? Our enrichment program was developed to help reduce stress and boredom for the animals in our care while also allowing our staff and volunteers the time to get creative with innovative enrichment experiences. Helping an animal destress in a shelter is often the key to their success. Many people think of dog walking or cat socialization as the answer to the animal’s boredom however, there are many animals who cannot leave their habitats for various reasons, so we need to get creative. Ideas like playing music, offering various scents, creating play groups, animal-safe food/scent puzzles, offering a reading program, interactive toys and beds/hiding boxes are just a few of the great ideas staff and volunteers use for enrichment programs.

Can you share a story of a specific pet you helped recently? “Ducky” (a 7-month-old male brindle whippet mix) was found injured in a parking lot by a good Samaritan. He was provided care for a broken tibia in both legs by our local emergency vet clinic, our medical team and then the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching department in their fracture repair program. After his surgical repair, he has been recovering in a wonderful foster home while waiting to find his forever family.

How many donors do you have? 500 plus per year.

To what extent are pet license fees contributing to your overall budget? Around 11%.

Do you have any specific advice for pet owners that you’d like to share? Remember to have fun with your furry family members; play with them with intention. Teach them that it is okay to have their feet, mouth, nose and tail handled. This will make it easier when they must be handled by the vet or the groomer. Play the “recall” game with lots of good treats and happy voices. Making sure they know to come running back to you for love and treats may save their life one day!

Is there anything else you want to let us know so we can get the word out? Contra Costa Animal Services is a community-driven sheltering model. We want to invite our community to imagine a better place for pets in need and to help create opportunities for people to help save and enhance the lives of animals in Contra Costa County. Help us to think beyond the shelter and focus on community-based programs. We want to help keep animals out of the shelter and get people the help they need right in their neighborhoods.

For more information about Contra Costa Animal Services, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/7282/Animal-Services