Free Senior Pet Adoptions At Oakland SPCA

OAKLAND, CA — Meet Homestead, a 19-year-old senior cat who is looking for her forever home. One volunteer said about her,"I spent 16 minutes rubbing and petting her; she purred the entire time. Sweet cat!" Another said, "She leaned in with all her might for head and chin scratches."

She's at the East Bay SPCA in Oakland, and the people there believe the perfect home for her has a senior citizen. In fact, the East Bay SPCA is launching a new program called Seniors for Seniors. Starting Wednesday, adoption fees for shelter dogs and cats over age 7 will be waived for adopters who are 65 or older.

Karalyn Aronow is the VP of Operations. She says, "There are many benefits to adopting a pet. Research shows having a pet can help people reduce stress, lower your blood pressure, decrease your risk of strokes and heart attacks, and more. The quiet home of a senior citizen and the often calm and gentle demeanor of senior pets can be a perfect match for a mature animal in need of a second chance, and a senior citizen looking for companionship."

Whether you live in a home or an apartment, East Bay SPCA staff will help you select a pet who fits your lifestyle and housing situation.

All cats and dogs adopted from the East Bay SPCA are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped.

The Adoption Center is at 8323 Baldwin St., Oakland, 94621. The hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.