When you last heard from us - last year! - we made the bittersweet announcement that we would no longer be providing our life-saving programs to dogs at Bradshaw Animal Shelter.

Well, it's only a few weeks later, and we're already helping more shelter dogs - this time with our friends at Stockton Animal Shelter!

In the past, the amazing Stockton shelter staff opened their doors to us to get their dogs tested in playgroups and to learn all about the incredible positive impact playgroups have on shelter dogs’ mental and physical well-being.

Now, we're taking this wonderful partnership a step further by helping their dogs find fosters and adopters!

When we say "where all dogs matter," we mean it - and we're excited to continue helping dogs at a shelter working to save lives!

And there's more exciting news:

We're about to break ground on our new facility at the Boys Ranch!

This facility holds unlimited potential and will allow us to help even more dogs in need and save more lives!

It's going to take a village to get this up and running, so if you'd like to volunteer for the effort, please email us at sspadogs@gmail.com with your availability!

Saint (formerly Youkon) found a wonderful forever home where he fits right in!

The day they brought him home, his adopters said: “So Youkon, who now is named Saint, did amazing all the way home. He and my Bassett Hound (last photo) are doing amazing. He actually is a little afraid of her and the cats. Too funny! I don’t think he has ever seen cats before. Anyways, all good he’s doing amazing. I am in love with this dog already! Thank you so much! He and my Bassett Hound are playing now; it’s cute she’s flirting with him. He sits and shakes for treats! I can’t understand how someone wasn’t looking for him, he’s so well-behaved and trained!”

Congratulations, Saint, and thank you to his family for adopting!

Lilah was adopted!

This adorable girl spent most of her time with an amazing foster, and it's no surprise she caught the eye of her adopters!

She is now in a home that's willing to work with her to help her cope with her fear of men.

We can't thank her adopters and foster enough!

Victor found his home!

This little guy caught plenty of attention when we shared him, but needed a family that could go at his pace and be patient.

Ultimately he found a wonderful family willing to take it slowly and give him time to get comfortable!

Congratulations, Victor, and thank you to his family for adopting!

Colby Jack is soaking up all the love in his forever home!

His adopter says, "“Hi! I wanted to give an update on alumni Colby Jack. I rescued him back in March and I would not have survived quarantine/ COVID-19 without him. His likes are: walks, naps, sleeping under the covers, and yogurt (sparingly as a treat). His dislikes: rain and the vacuum. He is such a sweet boy and I wanted to thank you for bringing him into my life and helping to protect animals. I urge anyone reading this to adopt a senior dog, the joy they can bring to your life is unmatched!”

We agree - senior pets are AMAZING!

Congratulations, Colby Jack, and thank you to his family for choosing to adopt!

Peaches continues to thrive with her forever family!

Her adopter, Lisa, says: "Thank you for all your team of volunteers has done over the years. With the help of Delyse, we adopted Peaches, formerly known as Ellen, in 2014. We love her so much and she has truly been the best dog! She’s a bit more grey these days but still an energetic, loving girl."

These updates mean the world to us!

Thank you so much to her adopters for giving her such a wonderful home!

We'd love to share your story! Have your own SSPA story to share and/or want to be interviewed for SSPA's newsletter? Email us at sspaupdates@gmail.com!

We just can’t get enough of seeing this incredible survivor flourish in foster!

He continues to make huge strides with his amazing foster after receiving life-saving emergency care from the Bradshaw medical team and long-term burn care from UC Davis, funded by T.E.A.M!

Thank you to everyone who has supported this remarkable pup in his recovery! We are so honored to have been part of this inspirational boy’s story and continue to be amazed by him!

Go Phoenix!!!

During the summer of 2014, I started as a dog walker for the shelter at the same time SSPA (PB SOC) had started running the large-dog playgroups program. Being out at the shelter consistently every Friday night helped me get involved with fostering multiple dogs at a time, fostering very special orthopedic medical dogs, and walking the “TLC” dogs (the ones who didn’t make it into playgroups), which was such an amazing experience. I was in awe of Delyse and her ability to handle and read dogs so easily. So, I wanted to do more! It was the show “Shelter Me” on my local PBS station, where shelters across the country were learning how to use playgroups to enhance dogs’ stay in shelters while waiting for adoption, that FINALLY brought it all together for me. It may have taken a couple more months after that show to gain the courage to ask (I’m incredibly shy), but I very happily became a part of the family. I have never looked back, and the rest is history.

If I had to choose one memorable moment, it would have to be when PB SOC became SSPA. It’s been such an honor and privilege being a part of the dream becoming a reality.

I hope to continue helping SSPA implement life-saving programs wherever the program lands and help the behavioral program become world renowned.

I’ve been very fortunate to be able to take most of my dogs with me to work since they are the “helper dogs.” I love being able to share my days with them doing the work I love. I’m not going to lie, I have been amused from time to time to see the shock on peoples’ faces as I pull up to a stop light with ”playgroups” going on in the backseat. Not many people get to live that type of dream, so I’m especially grateful.

Eli is a beyond-adorable, soft and sweet nugget. He came into the shelter terrified and shut down.

Now in foster care, with lots of positive reinforcement and a couple of well-rounded female dogs, he has really come out of his shell. Eli has the heart of a sweet, eager-to-please, playful and a bit mischievous puppy inside a cautious exterior.

His ideal forever family will understand that his shyness is due to his lack of proper socialization as a young dog. He’s looking for a family who will help him continue to grow into a balanced, happy dog. A playful, confident female dog would help!

Ready to adopt?! Fill out an adoption application!

This boy has smiles for days after arriving at his SSPA foster home from the Stockton shelter! That smile shines light everywhere!

He loves to play ball, is super sweet and submissive! He’d do best as the only dog in a home, but who needs more than this joyful face?!

He is heartworm positive but the shelter will handle his medical free of charge.

Ready to bring him home?! Fill out an adoption application.

This boy came to the shelter in bad shape. He was an outdoor dog, chained in a kennel his entire life.

With the help of our awesome SSPA team and his foster, he's developed more confidence and learned that life can be good.

Let us tell you - this boy is resilient! He had owners who didn't show him an ounce of compassion, but now he's found a way to trust and even show his silly side.

Understandably, he can take a bit to develop trust, but once he does, he's marvelous!

He's low maintenance, mellow and easy to please, and has successfully lived with cats and other dogs!

Ready to bring him home? Apply to adopt him.

Ready to bring him home? Fill out an adoption application.

Did you miss our previous newsletters? You can check them out here:

10/1/20 (First) Edition | 10/12/20 Edition | 10/19/20 Edition | 10/26/20 Edition

11/2/20 Edition | 11/9/20 Edition | 11/16/20 Edition | 11/23/20 Edition | 11/30/20 Edition

12/7/20 Edition | 12/14/20 Edition | 12/21/20 Edition | 12/28/20 Edition