The Irvine Animal Care Center (IACC) is the proud recipient of the 2007 Shelter of the Year award presented during the Purina’s Pro Plan’s 53rd Annual Show Dogs of the Year Awards, by Dogs in Review and Bow Tie Inc.The shelter was selected for the award based on their innovative programs and disaster relief efforts during the Southern California wildfires last fall.
The Irvine Animal Care Center is the largest pro-humane animal shelter in Orange County which receives nearly 4,000 animals each year. The shelter is situated on a beautiful five acre facility that looks more like a park than an animal shelter. The IACC prides itself on mimicking a family life for the shelter pets that are temporarily in our care.Each pet enjoys a daily routine of having playtime in the dog exercise yards or the cat socialization rooms with their friends, going for walks with dedicated volunteers (or receive socialization from volunteers), and receiving high quality pet food from Science Diet.The shelter is also home to 14 farm yard animals including two goats, three pigs, and nine chickens.The farm yard animals were used for humane education and are now being pampered in their retirement.
The shelter’s innovative programs have not only helped to educate the community about the needs of homeless, abandoned, and abused pets but has also saved thousands of lives through our 3rd Chance for Pets program and adoption events.The shelter’s 3rd Chance program transfers happy and healthy pets whose time is running out at animal shelters to the Irvine Shelter for another opportunity at finding their loving and permanent home.The success of the shelter can also be measured by the number of animals that they receive that are reunited with their original owners: 43% of all dogs that enter the shelter are returned to their original owners (national average is 15%) and 5% of all cats that enter the shelter are returned to their original owners (national average is 2.5%).90% of all animals that enter the shelter are adopted into new and loving homes or returned to their original owners.
During the Firestorm, the shelter received more than 90 pets from families who had to evacuate their homes from San Diego, San Bernandino, and Orange Counties. All animals were safely returned to their original owners after spending an average of eight days at the shelter. To help care for the additional animals, staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to make sure that each animal was comfortable with blankets, beds, toys, treats, and given extra TLC.The community’s support of donations was greatly appreciated and helped the shelter accommodate the additional pets in their care.
The shelter also responded to a request for assistance from the Escondido Humane Society (EHS).The EHS was overwhelmed by the number of animals they received from evacuating families.Representatives from the IACC made an emergency trip to Escondido, where 20 dogs were picked up and taken back to the Irvine Shelter for adoption. Since then, the shelter has made return trips to EHS and taken an additional 37 dogs to adopt through our facility. The collaboration helped alleviate the strain on a shelter that was at one point in the direct path of flames and in fear of evacuation.
How can you help?
ADOPT.Do you have love and a home to spare?The shelter currently has hundreds of dogs, cats, and rabbits that are searching for their furr-ever home.Make a difference by giving love and affection to a homeless pet.Please visit our website www.irvineshelter.org for pictures and more information about animals that are available for adoption.
DONATE.The IACC spends a large amount of money each year on treatable health conditions of animals.We are happy to accept donations through the mail, the shelter website, and in person.Also, there are many things that the shelter needs that may be lying around your house.Newspaper, blankets, new or gently used towels, and more!Please visit our website for a more comprehensive wish list.
VOLUNTEER.Our pets available for adoption need your love and attention! The IACC was recently voted as one of the best places to volunteer in Orange County.Find out why and make a difference to animals that need your affection.Visit our website www.irvineshelter.org for information and to register for a volunteer orientation class.
