Who We Are

Santa Cruz County Animal Services (including the Santa Cruz and Watsonville shelters) spends much of their revenue on staff salaries and building and vehicle maintenance. They cannot afford many supplies that benefit the adoptable animals, or programs that aid the adoption process. FOWAS (Friends Of Watsonville Animal Shelter) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the animals at the Watsonville Animal Shelter with special projects and donations. This assistance saves many lives, donates extra supplies, brings more adopters and volunteers to the shelter, and reduces stress-related problems for the shelter animals. See our U-tube videos of adoptable pets!

FOWAS ensures that the City's sheltered animals are comfortable during their stay by providing extra "creature comforts," such as blankets, toys, and supplies. We also help sick and injured animals get the care and "second chance" they need through our SECOND CHANCE fund.

FOWAS is also active in the community. In 2004, partnering with a team of  local veterinarians, FOWAS developed and implemented an important SPAY/NEUTER program that provides free spaying/neutering of pets for low-income families who are residents of Freedom or the City of Watsonville. Business owners in the City of Watsonville or Freedom receive low-cost vouchers to spay and neuter feral cats living on the business site. In December of 2004, FOWAS spearheaded the passing of an important City Ordinance that helps regulate animal breeding, sanitation, health, and spaying/neutering. These programs reduce the number of homeless animals, and allows the shelter to have high adoption rates. As of Fall, 2008 FOWAS is no longer offering free spay/neuter certificates due to limited funds and program costs. However, we still provide low-cost spay/neuter certificates to low-income families in Watsonville.

FOWAS believes that all creatures, big and small, deserve humane treatment. Rabbits and small animals are often neglected or "let loose" when owners are not properly educated. That is why we provide special workshops for staff, and supplies for small critters that would otherwise receive little attention. The rabbits at Watsonville Animal Shelter are kept indoors because mosquitoes carry a virus that is fatal to rabbits, and because wild animals often frighten or kill rabbits that are kept outside in hutches. The rabbit room is a great place to learn about the benefits of indoor rabbits, including information about litter box training. Our rabbits are all litter box trained and are kept busy with safe rabbit toys and daily exercise. Reptiles, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, and birds also receive better care than they would at most shelters.

The FOWAS board meets regularly and will continue with an aggressive set of goals for the coming year. We hope to expand our education and information program working with local schools and agencies. If you have any questions or would like to find out how you can help, please contact us.