Where: SPCA of Solano County shelter, 2200 Peabody Rd in Vacaville next to CSP Solano
When: Saturday, October 15th, 2016 noon – 4:30 pm (rain or shine)
Why: Promote responsible and active dog ownership and help raise funds for the SPCA.
If you are interested in being a vendor please complete this form and we will contact you!
***All canopies (pop up tents) must be weighted and/or secured to the ground due to the likelihood of wind***
Meet Gino.
Gino has had quite the experience in a short time. One of our volunteers took on the project of trapping and spaying or neutering the stray cats in her neighborhood. Some of them were feral but not all of them. She found a few kittens that jsut needed a little love and attention. That is where Gino’s story begins.
Gino was trapped with a group of kittens in a Vacaville neighborhood. He showed signs of friendliness and was taken to a foster home. He bonded with foster family but became wary of others, so he went to Petsmart so that he could get used to different people. Gino has really come out of his shell during his time there. He love to play and be petted by all the volunteers. He likes other cats and is very sweet. He does need someone cat savvy as he can be particular about who he chooses as his people. Gino is good with other cats and would most likely be fine with quiet dogs that have lived with cats.
Gino is a 10 month old neutered male. He has been tested FELV/FIV negative, is current on his vaccination and is microchipped.
Gino would like a semi quiet home where he can spend quality time with his people. He is a sweet boy that needs a family of his own. If you are interested in meeting Gino or would like more information please fill out the contact form below and we will get back to you!
The retail store at the SPCA has been doing well and expanding so it was time for our first trip to the show.
SO here we go.
SuperZoo is the national show for pet retailers. If you want an animal related product they had it. Large, small, exotics, horses, EVERYTHING! The event attracted a record number of pet industry professionals and was held at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas. (That is where the vacation part came in) sort of.
I was completely overwhelmed with over 1000 exhibitors, grooming competitions, new product contests, and the seminars there is no possible way to see everything. We probably didn’t even see half of it. We had a map of the people we wanted to talk to and I think we did actually talk to most of them. This was our first SuperZoo and it won’t be the last.
The classes were fantastic. I did learn that we don’t have a lot of the problems many stores have because we are a shelter as well. The speakers had great ideas about promoting your business and partnering with local rescues (which is where we are different). We are fortunate enough to have people that believe in what we are doing and want to help.
Many of the speakers discussed the new advertising strategies that are now primarily social media platforms such as Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, etc. It was interesting to see the group of people who fear all things technology and stick with the yellow pages. I don’t even have a copy of the yellow pages.
We learned a lot and found a lot of great new items for the store. The discussion for next year SuperZoo has already begun. I’m not sure I will have recovered yet.
Construction projects are frustrating when they somewhat as planned. They never come in on time or under budget and you are at the mercy of whatever trade is currently working on their part of the project. The drywall guy is mad at the framers, the painters are made at the drywall guys and on and on.
Of course with this project there has been the added bonus of PG&E challenges, waiting on grant money, and most recently getting the equipment we have into the clinic building with a tractor and borrowed forks. We never would have gotten them moved in there without it, we really could have used a forklift. We made it work just like we always do and nobody got hurt! 🙂
It is starting to come together. The PG&E is straightened out, sort of. At least there is a plan in place and progress is being made. Having the equipment in place, at least part of it is very encouraging. It helps to see what the finished product is going to look like. Everyone is starting to get very excited. The staff that will be working in the clinic is fantastic. That was the one aspect of this project that just came together.
It is finally getting there. Just a little bit longer…..
SPCA of Solano County Volunteer Program
The dedicated volunteers of the SPCA of Solano County have given thousands of hours of time during the past nine years . Growing from a very small pool of original volunteers, the program now has over forty regular volunteers who give their help every single day. Volunteer tasks include cleaning kennels, doing laundry, walking, socializing and training dogs, and socializing cats.
All Volunteers attend a General Orientation, and additional training specific to working with dogs and cats. There are also other volunteers who help with special projects, such as creating mailing labels, spreadsheets and documents from their home computers, assist with special events including car washes, BBQ’s, and other activities, and open their homes for animals needing foster care. Select experienced Volunteers are chosen to be Mentors and/or Greeters, and are available to assist and train newer volunteers.
Volunteers meet together on a monthly basis to stay up to date on shelter policies and procedures, and are also kept current via emails from the shelter. Many volunteers are involved with the SPCA of Solano County’s Special Events Committee, which holds fundraisers regularly. Annual events include the Spring Family Day, Fall BBQ Feed, Doggy Derby, and Holiday Cat Adopt-a-thon, which along with other smaller events help raise awareness and funds for the shelter.
Volunteers work with shelter staff and management to help ensure the animals of the SPCA of Solano County receive the best care possible during their stay. They are dedicated to the shelter’s philosophy and mission. Most importantly, they are committed to the animals in the
shelter’s care, and to helping them find loving, responsible, forever homes. Volunteer orientations are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 6:00 to 7:00 Pm at SPCA at 2200 Peabody Rd in Vacaville.
At least this week. Two steps forward and one back but at least it is moving forward in the right direction. Due to a PG&E snafu (imagine that) our spay /neuter clinic that was scheduled to open June 15th is now moved back to the first week in July.
I am sitting here in my office typing on battery power and a cell phone hotspot because PG&E is putting in a transformer so we will have enough power to run everything out here. With this clinic project being our third major renovation out here in the last seven years I should know that everyone has an opinion and nothing EVER comes in on time or under budget. It hasn’t driven me completely crazy yet and the end is in sight.
I am trying to be patient…
The clinic itself is nearing completion and equipment should be going in this coming week. It looks fantastic inside and I am so thankful to all the people who have stepped up to help us and donated their time and materials. We have had several groups working on fundraising activities for the project and all have been very successful. Thank you to Mission on the Hill, Humane Animal Services, Cal West Pet Hospital, Walker Floors, Shelden Steele, Jared Wade, Tim Abbott, Master Drywall, Bowser Construction, Joe Dillon, Jax Heating, Air & Solar & NSCAR, just to name a few.
I will be very happy when the construction phase of this project is complete and I can move on to the fun part of getting all the new equipment ordered and installed!!