Shelters First is a coalition of Silicon Valley Shelters who strive to find permanent homes for all healthy animals. The member organizations are: Humane Society Silicon Valley, Palo Alto Animal Services, San Jose Animal Care Center, Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, Santa Clara County Animal Care & Control, and Town Cats.

Why do animals end up in shelters? A number of reasons…

Puppy mills are a big problem…people order a puppy online thinking it’s coming from a local breeder but actually it may very well be coming from the Midwest or Florida…puppy mills are notorious for keeping dogs caged in terrible conditions and repeatedly breeding them.

Some people get a pet on impulse and when they realize that it’s not what they like or it’s too much work, they either give it  up to a shelter or simply let the pet go outside…many dogs come into shelters as strays.

The Silicon Valley Shelters are offering $12 adoptions of all adult animals through the end of December. These animals

are spayed or neutered, have up to date shots, and are micro-chipped. All animals going up for adoption have had a personality assessment to better match them with adoptive people.

Beth Ward is the COO of Humane Society Silicon Valley and Julie St. Gregory is a spokesperson for San Jose Animal Care Center.