‘Tis the season for adopting pets at the Stanislaus County Animal Shelter, also known as the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency in Modesto. In the spirit of giving and loving, kind-hearted samaritans have decided to make a few tails wag by adding a furry friend to their families.

Zola Hayes, 18, decided to adopt a cat to be her feline companion after getting no love from a cat that their family already owned.

“I was doing some research and I wanted to find a cat that I really connected with. When I took Jimmy, the cat, into the adoption room, he really connected with me,” Hayes said.

When it came to finding the right pet for Hayes, adopting became her option of choice after coming across an “adopt don’t shop” post on her Facebook timeline.

Adopting cats from the Stanislaus Animal Shelter only costs $45, and the fee covers spay/neuter, microchip and age-appropriate vaccinations. While adopting a dog costs $90, but the fee also covers spay/neuter, microchip and age-appropriate vaccinations.

The icing on the cake is that you can take your new member of the family home that same day, which is a brand new adoption policy.

However, there are a few downsides of living the shelter life. The animals are only fed when there are volunteers present; therefore, if there are not many volunteers there is less feeding. Also, the animals that are not adopted, fostered or rescued by a no-kill shelter will be euthanized 30 days after their arrival to the shelter. 

This is why it is of utmost importance to check out your local shelter before going to a breeder or a pet vendor.

Fostering would be another option in aiding the animals. When you foster, you are temporarily taking in an animal for their health whether it be emotional or physical. These animals are in desperate need of love and cuddles.

Francisco Nava, a Johansen High School student, says that he volunteers to gain community service hours along with gaining work experience.

“It’s really easy to volunteer at this organization. All you have to do is come to an orientation one time and fill out an application. And you can volunteer and help the animals out in this wonderful facility,” Nava said.

Another option to aid the animals is by fostering. When you foster, you are temporarily taking in an animal for their health, whether it be emotional or physical. 

Foster parent, Luis Castillo, decided to introduce Kitten, a curious long legged feline, to his family.

“If you foster them until they are older it is safer for them to have the operation (spay/neuter)…They’re healthier and then you can adopt them,” Castillo emphasized. 

It was made apparent to Castillo that it would not be healthy for Kitten to be exposed to other cats before the appropriate neutering age, which would be putting him at a higher risk for catching a disease.

The Stanislaus County Animal Shelter makes it easier to become a foster parent with its one page application.

Donating is another great way to help animals in shelters. According to the Sacramento Bee, Kim Pacini-Hauch, a local real estate agent in Sacramento, is paying 100% of the adoption fees at the Front Street Animal Shelter in order to help find the animals homes for the holidays.

“I think someone from Stanislaus County should step up to the plate and do the same here,” Annette Patton, the Executive Director of the Stanislaus Animal Shelter, said.

When it comes to adopting pets for the holidays, Patton is in favor. 

“I think that adopting animals for the holidays is perfectly fine,” Patton said. “Any time of year I think is perfectly fine.”

Patton also mentioned that there is a radio advertisement currently playing on 95.1 which talks about how adopting a perfect dog is better than diamond earrings.

However, she warns that dog ownership should be taken seriously.

“It is a lifetime commitment. It’s not something like ‘Oh I’m moving and my landlord won’t accept any dogs.’ Well that’s too bad; you knew you were moving,” Patton stressed.

You just don’t give up a dog. A dog relies on you to take care of it,” Patton said. 

You can find the dogs that are available for adoption here, and the cats that are available for adoption here.

It is important to note that adoptions are on a first-come first-serve basis, so if you have your eye set on your perfect pal make sure you arrive early.