San Jose opens ‘PAWp-up’ adoption center downtown for the holidays
City officials hope to find 100 animals a new home during the month of December.
A former FedEx Office in downtown San Jose is going to filled with much cuter packages for the next month now that the city of San Jose has transformed it into a pop up, er, “PAWp-up” adoption center for the holiday season.
It officially opens this Friday, right on the heels of a city auditor’s report released this week that included dozens of recommendations to improve conditions and outcomes at the San Jose Animal Center on Monterey Road.
“Last night, the city auditor gave us 39 recommendations, but I just have one for you — adopt,” Mayor Matt Mahan said during a preview event Wednesday.
The satellite location on the corner of Third and San Carlos streets will officially open Friday and will be open from noon to 6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays until Jan. 5. You can find out which animals will be available by going to bit.ly/SJPAWPUP.
City officials hope visitors stop by after visiting other sights like Christmas in the Park, San Pedro Square or Downtown Ice — and take advantage of an offer to waive fees on the dogs, cats and rabbits adopted from the downtown venue. The goal is to find homes for 100 animals over the month.
Public Works Director Matt Loesch said the downtown adoption center should have a good selection every day, with four or five dogs, seven cats and at least one rabbit. The dogs have a large space with several beds and toys, kittens are in cages near the windows and cats have a room of their own to hang out.
Even having just a dozen animals at the downtown location will help provide those on Monterey Road with more space and lower their stress levels, Loesch said.
The adoption center won’t just be a good place to find a new furry companion; you can also get a hot cup of coffee thanks to Kevin Johnson, founder of San Jose’s Coffee Companions Coffee Co.
Johnson is donating coffee for the run of the temporary adoption center, where the city hopes 100 animals can find new homes over the next few weeks. He started Coffee Companions after he started training service dogs, something that helped him through a dark time following the death of his mother. Coffee Companions donates a portion of its sales to Bay Area animal rescues.
“For me, animals are more than just pets. They are healers, teachers and friends,” Johnson said Wednesday at a preview of the downtown adoption center. Adopting an animal, he said, “is not just going to change their lives, it’s going to change yours.”
What's Your Reaction?
