ALAMEDA — Furry, four-legged creatures seeking human companions are getting a little more visibility this holiday season with the opening of a new pop-up adoption center at Alameda’s South Shore Center.
The shopping center gave Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter the vacant space for five weeks to host a menagerie of dogs, cats and rabbits — all of which are looking for their forever homes.
It’s the first time the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter, which operates the shelter for the city of Alameda in addition to raising funds to support it, has opened a pop-up shop, said Carla Thornton, the shelter’s coordinator for development and communications. Sales from merchandise, including Christmas stockings and stocking stuffers, toys for children and jewelry for adults, calendars featuring dog-totting firefighters and more, all support the shelter and its operations, Thornton said.
“It’s more visibility, more foot traffic,” she said, “which is what they need.”
Springtime is usually the high season for strays, and especially newborn kittens, that fill the shelter to capacity over the summer, said Steve Ferguson, the operations and facilities manager for the shelter. But this year, the shelter is at capacity even during what is typically the slow season, he said. There are over 150 dogs, cats and rabbits looking for homes, and the staff at the shelter is hoping the pop-up center will usher a wave of adoptions.
That doesn’t mean, however, that the shelter is adopting out animals to anyone who walks through the door, Ferguson said. Staffers still take time to interview perspective pet owners and make sure the decision is right for them and their families, he said. And they try to counsel people on finding the right pet for their lifestyle, he said.
“We’ve been very vigilant about interviewing and making sure it’s a decision they’ve been thinking about before (coming in),” Ferguson said.
Patty Posada, of Oakland, was at the shop on Sunday looking for a new companion after her 15-year-old Chihuahua, Chula, died. She spent some time with two Chihuahuas, Star and Izzy, debating whether to adopt now or after returning next month from a vacation. She had found Chula on the streets of Oakland when the dog was around two years old.
“I grew up with dogs,” she said. “So I can’t imagine life without them.”
Scott Deskin, of Alameda, stopped by the store with his wife and two young daughters. They weren’t looking for another animal after having already adopted two cats from a different rescue organization, he said. But they wanted to come and support the shelter’s work.
“We support their mission,” he said, “and we certainly want to give them resources to take care of all the needy pets in Alameda.”
The pop-up shop will be open on every Thursday and Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 23. It will also be open on Christmas Eve, Monday, Dec. 24. It is located across from Modern Mouse at the Alameda South Shore Center, which is at the corner of Otis Drive and Park Street in Alameda.
The Alameda Animal Shelter is open for adoptions on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The shelter is located at 1590 Fortmann Way in Alameda.
What to look for when adopting a pet:
Pet adoption is a serious responsibility. All animals that leave the shelter are spayed or neutered and microchipped. The Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter had this advice for prospective pet owners:
- Space: Make sure you live somewhere that can accommodate your pet. Do you have enough space for a large dog in a small apartment? If not, consider a different breed of dog or a different animal that requires less space.
- Money: Food and toys are one thing but veterinary bills can reach triple and quadruple digits. Make sure you’re financially capable of taking on this commitment.
- Attention: Do you have time to care for a pet? Is your work schedule fairly regular or do you get called out for business trips each month? Either way, make sure that if you take in a furry friend, you can be around to give them the time and attention that leads to happy, well-adjusted animals.
- Is this dog/cat/creature right for me? Remember that despite your animal’s breed, personalities still vary greatly. Consider fostering an animal first before adopting to ensure their personality — and activity level — matches yours.
- Other humans or pets? Before bringing a new dog, cat or other animal home, make sure everyone in the family is on board. That includes roommates if you’re living with friends and any other animal in the house. There’s no way to know if a new cat will get along with the resident dog, so make sure to do animal introductions slowly and in a controlled environment.
- Ongoing training: For families and people considering adopting dogs, the shelter also offers ongoing obedience training. This ensures dogs adjust to life with humans and is a great bonding experience for canines and their human companions alike.