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Constance Chandlee is a local artist who has generously donated her talent to finance our Second Chance Fund and Creature Comfort Fund (animals who need extra medical care or creature comforts while they are in the shelter). All profit from these sales will directly benefit the animals at the Watsonville Animal Shelter (Santa Cruz County Animal Services). You can keep our Second Chance Fund alive by purchasing this artwork!

Artwork will be sold, starting in April 2010, at the Cabrillo Farmer's Market (Aptos, CA). Original water-colors were photographed with a museum-quality camera, and printed using the highest quality of Giclee Prints. (This camera is used at the Vatican and the Smithsonian, among other top art museums.) We will also ship artwork, with postage and handling expenses added, if you wish to have this artwork delivered in the mail. Please call FOWAS and leave a message if you have any questions or would like to make a purchase: 831-475-2432 CLICK HERE for more information.

On June 7th, Bad Rap (Bay Area Dog-lovers Responsible About Pit bulls) came to Ramsey Park in Watsonville to provide free vaccines for dogs, free spay/neuter certificates for pit bulls, free collars and leashes for dog owners who were willing to trade in their dog chain, and free training and behavioral advice for dog owners. FOWAS was proud to donate $200 of free microchips and pamphlets about our low-cost spay/neuter program. FOWAS also helped to distribute the door-hangers that brought so many dog owners to this event. Bad Rap reported that at least 70 dogs were vaccinated, about 50 dogs received a free spay/neuter voucher, and many owners came to the event in order to get a free microchip or free dog collar and leash. California has a new anti-tethering ordinance that makes it illegal to chain dogs, and encourages more humane methods of containment.

This educational event was Bad Rap's first annual shot clinic in this area, and they were very impressed by the number of owners who really love their dogs enough to do what's best for them. They commented that the dogs were much nicer than many pit bulls they meet at events like these. Several owners even signed up for free pit bull classes in Berkeley, and a few skeptical dog owners were invited to tour East Bay shelters to see how many purebred pit bulls end up in shelters with little hope of finding a good home. Everyone who participated in this event went home with new knowledge and goodies, and we are all looking forward to a bigger and better event in 2010!

Christine Allen, Director of Legal Affairs for Bad Rap, was the driving force behind this event. Christine is a staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco. She moved to California in 2005 after completing her graduate degree on the East Coast. She is constantly educating poor, underserved communities about the laws and rights that are relevant to their dogs. Remember the Michael Vick's dog-fighting trial in 2007? Christine helped Bad Rap with that disaster, and in the process, increased public awareness of dog-fighting and abuse. Our own awareness of bully-breeds and local dog violence escalated last year when Santa Cruz County Animal Control Officers confiscated at least 45 aggressive dogs from an illegal and abusive breeder in Boulder Creek. We want to make sure that type of thing doesn't happen again in this area.

These pets were owned by low-income families who could not afford to have this done. In our current economic climate, it's painful to ask families to choose between vet care for their animals and paying their mortgage or phone bill. We need your help to keep these pets from entering the shelter due to financial difficulties.

Please read about our program and consider donating to keep this program alive! Our data is solid, and this program has helped spay and neuter over 2,000 pets from low-income households. Statistically, these pets are the most likely to get pregnant and their litters frequently end up at the animal shelter. Our Spay/Neuter Program has saved lives and also saved tax money by reducing the number of pregnant and baby pets surrendered to our local shelter.

On June 7th, Bad Rap came to Ramsey Park in Watsonville to provide free vaccines for dogs, free spay/neuter certificates for pit bulls, free collars and leashes for dog owners who were willing to trade in their dog chain, and free training and behavioral advice for dog owners. FOWAS was proud to donate $200 of free microchips and pamphlets about our low-cost spay/neuter program. Bad Rap reported that at least 70 dogs were vaccinated, 50 dogs received a free spay/neuter voucher, and many owners came to the event in order to get a free microchip or free dog collar and leash.

This educational event was Bad Rap's first annual shot clinic in this area, and they were very impressed by the number of owners who really love their dogs enough to do what's best for them. They commented that the dogs were much nicer than many pit bulls they meet at events like these. Several owners even signed up for free pit bull classes in Berkeley, and a few people were invited to tour East Bay shelters to see how many purebred pit bulls end up in shelters with little hope of finding a good home. Everyone who participated went home with new knowledge and goodies, and we are all looking forward to a bigger and better event in 2010!

Several animals from the Watsonville Animal Shelter are available for adoption at the Farmer's Market at Cabrillo College, once a week on Saturdays at 9:00-11:45AM except on rainy days and holidays when the Watsonville Animal Shelter is closed. See their You Tube video!

May 2009 News: Second Chance Fund Provides Kitten with Life-Saving Medical Care

This kitten came to the shelter with five siblings and no mother. He was one of the friendliest and most outgoing of the bunch, but had an emergency issue with his digestive tract. The Second Chance Fund allowed his foster family to cover medical expenses for a life-saving surgery. His foster family didn't even know they made post-surgical cones in such a small size! They named him "Koni" in honor of how cute he looked in his headgear.

Koni quickly recovered and is happy, healthy and ready for his forever-family. Without the Second Chance Fund, Koni would not be here today: The Second Chance fund was literally the financial net that made the difference between life-and-death. Please consider donating to help cover Koni's medical expenses.

February 2009 News: Our February FREE Spay and Neuter certificates were a big help to the families in our community who cannot afford to have their animals fixed. 51 free certificates were given out in February. The result will be fewer stray or surrendered pets in our community and in our shelter.

The Watsonville Animal Shelter no longer houses livestock now that the new Santa Cruz Shelter is open. To make use of the space, FOWAS volunteers are planting veggies that will be used to feed rabbits, other small animals, and will provide the cats with plenty of catnip! The area has already been prepared for gopher wire, which will be installed soon.

Here are some things we need if anyone one has some leftover stuff in their garage. Donations are tax deductible! Please drop donations off at the Watsonville Animal Shelter.

Garden markers so we know what is planted in each location

Weedwhacker, Lawnmover

Other items will be needed in the spring!

Please note that FOWAS has a new mailing address:

P.O. Box 1438

Freedom, CA 95019

The Watsonville Animal Shelter has a goat and a sheep that were found stray after the first of three fires in Santa Cruz County. We suspect that the owners just opened their pen in hopes of saving them but no one has come to claim them since they are been here. FOWAS is committed to finding them a home so used Second Chance funds to have them both neutered and had the sheep's tail docked. We had the sheep sheered and he is so much happier. Their adoption fees are $75 each but they are also available to an established rescue group. We have so many other recently confiscated goats (females) that our poor goat and sheep have to be in small pens and we would like to have them adopted or rescued ASAP. Both are social and beggars for treats. They can go together or separately.

The Santa Cruz County Animal Services in Watsonville provided emergency shelter to pets evacuated or displaced by the Santa Cruz fires. During the latest fire on June 11, Santa Cruz County Animal Services received over 100 horses, 50 alpacas, 40 goats, and numerous chickens, ducks, exotic birds, dogs and cats. We desperately need donations to help these animals.

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