OC Animal Care is launching a regular weekend event to give more dogs a chance to meet potential adopters.
Pooches on the Patio will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays going forward, officials said.
Susy Lara and her 9-month-old son Pablo meet Sapphire, a.k.a. Susie Q, at the OC Animal Care Pooches on the Patio adoption event in Tustin on Saturday, October 29, 2022. The shelter has about 140 dogs available for adoption. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
OC Animal Care volunteer, Mary Evans, watches Yollie, a 4-year-old German shepherd, frolic during the Pooches on the Patio adoption event in Tustin. Four dogs were adopted on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Channing keeps his stuffed Teddy Bear near as he waits for someone to adopt him during the OC Animal Care Pooches on the Patio event in Tustin on Saturday, October 29, 2022. The 10-year-old pit bull mix is an “a happy, unpretentious love bug,” said shelter volunteer Randy Yearly. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jeanie waits with OC Animal Care volunteer, Robin Rogers, for someone to adopt her during the Pooches on the Patio event in Tustin on Saturday, October 29, 2022. In honor of Adopt a Shelter Dog month, the center will waive adoption fees for all animals through October 31, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Robert Lara and his 9-month-old son, Pablo, check out Tawny during the OC Animal Care Pooches on the Patio adoption event in Tustin on Saturday, October 29, 2022. The shelter has about 140 dogs available for adoption and is waiving adoption fees for all animals through October 31, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wren Kropke, 10, right, his mom Keri Kropke, and his friend, Max Clayton-Tarvin, 10, meet Princess at OC Animal Care Pooches on the Patio adoption event in Tustin on Saturday, October 29, 2022. Wren ended up adopting the 6-year-old, 75-pound shepherd mix. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
During the event, several dogs will be out on the patio to meet visitors at the agency’s Tustin animal shelter at 1630 Victory Road.
“The public can enter the patio, meet the dogs and ask staff any questions that they may have. If a person is interested in adopting the dog, our staff will be able to assist with the adoption process during that time, too,” OC Animal Care spokeswoman Jackie Tran said in an email.
At the start of the pandemic, the shelter shifted to an appointment-only system for adoptions, and now limited walk-in visits are offered, but the shelter has come under fire from animal advocates for not allowing visitors as much access to the facility and adoptable pets as before.
The shelter waived fees in October to encourage more adoptions, and pets that get adopted all come vaccinated, miccrochipped and spayed or neutered. For information about adoptable pets or to make an appointment, call 714-935-6848 or visit ocpetinfo.com.
