For five years now, Sacramento Shelter Pets Alive and Prairie Pitbull Rescue have maintained an international partnership that is saving shelter dogs' lives.

Over the years, SSPA has sent numerous dogs (nearly 200) to Prairie Pitbull Rescue in Alberta, Canada, through a partnership that helps clear the shelter, saves kennel-stressed dogs and finds them homes up north!

As of this year, Teaching Everyone Animals Matter (T.E.A.M. Bradshaw) started funding the trips! A true team effort!

At the end of November, SSPA sent 12 dogs - nine large and three small - up north to Prairie Pits, where they will find loving homes!

We are so fortunate to have such an incredible, long-lasting partnership as part of our strategy to save more lives!

Watch the video above to learn more!

To each and every one of you who supported us for Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving: Thank you so much!

You helped us raised thousands of dollars for our programs and services!

Every dollar you donate makes a difference when it comes to our life-saving programs for Sacramento County's shelter dogs!

We truly can't thank you enough!

Dojo spent a full year at the shelter in our program, but we knew there was a family out there for this smart boy!

Our behavioral and playgroup programs were incredibly beneficial for Dojo, who showed an aversion to men, leash reactivity and some resource guarding. These programs were critical to getting him through a long shelter stay.

After a year, an incredible person, Natasha, adopted him and committed to maintaining the consistent routine and training we had established.

"He had this instantaneous energy that I knew would benefit my other dog, Carrot Cake," Natasha said. "She can be very timid and they are balancing each other out quite nicely."

Dojo has added a lot to her life, she told SSPA.

"He has given me many more opportunities for growth in patience of course haha, but also in areas to improve exercise as he is very high energy. His constant joy is always so surprising to me and I find myself smiling at him more often than not."

She says SSPA helped set her and Dojo up for a successful future.

"SSPA has been more than helpful. Dojo had many needs and they ensured we met success."

We are so happy this boy ended up with such a dedicated adopter who's going above and beyond!

Thank you, Natasha!

Watch a video about Dojo's story above!

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!

Our partner at Bradshaw Animal Shelter, T.E.A.M., is sponsoring adoption fees for 50 cats and 50 dogs!

The Home for the Holidays event begins Dec. 1 and will be available for pet adoptions through Jan. 3, 2021.

The sponsored adoption fee includes first-year animal licensing, microchipping, spay and neutering, and age-appropriate vaccinations.

There's no better time to adopt a shelter pet and brighten your holiday season!

I have been a volunteer with SSPA since 2017. I was at Bike Dog Brewing and ran into an old friend, Robert. We were chatting about how he volunteers at the shelter with a great group, and being the dog lover that I am, the rest is history.

What’s the best thing about being a member of the SSPA team?

The best thing about being a member is getting to help save lives. When walking and training these dogs, you can't help but fall in love with them. Watching the kennels continually change out is the most heartwarming thing to see. This happens because of socializing, training, foster and adoption through SSPA. The team is so passionate and they work so incredibly hard! This makes me feel proud to be a part of this group. I wish I could do more!

I would say getting to watch playgroups for the first time. It is so amazing to see all of these different large-breed dogs get together and just play. These dogs come from so many different situations and for them to let loose and get their energy out is so helpful for their stay at the shelter.

I would love to see this wonderful team at their own facility where they can do what they do best, which is save lives! I would follow this group anywhere to help out.

I have a rescue named Cheech, and she is a handful. My favorite thing about her is when she spins in circles chasing her tail like a crazy dog. Thanks to some training from Delyse and Sandy through SSPA, I am able to train and walk her so she can have a spoiled and wonderful life.

Papa John, our boy with the perfect eyepatches, scored one amazing family!

His family said, "Today this happy boy is officially a Germano-Heller! The final adoption paperwork went through this morning. We couldn’t be happier to call this baby ours 🐶❤️🐶 thank you @sac_shelter_pets_alive for PaPa!"

Their friends also made an adorable welcome-home sign!

Congratulations, Papa and family! We are so happy for you!

Guardian, our sweet boy who wanted nothing more than a forever home, had his wish come true!

His wonderful fosters feel head over heels for him and just had to make him a permanent part of their family!

His family said, "We’ve been fostering Guardian for the past month and we’ve absolutely fallen in love with this sweet boy. He’s been making himself at home on our couch as well as in our hearts. :) We would like to adopt him officially."

The Bradshaw medical team performed successful major ear surgery on him to correct issues left over from prior neglect, so he only has a bright future to look forward to now!

Congratulations, Guardian and family!

Macgee, one of our unbelievably adorable seniors, went home this weekend!

His adopters met him in foster and fell in love with him (no surprise there)! This guy is easy-peasy and such a cute and sweet nugget!

We hope he gets to enjoy plenty of snuggle fests with his new family and can't wait for updates!

Congratulations, Macgee and family!

We can't believe this cutie pie is still seeking a home!

He's known for giving puppy kisses and just being an all-around silly and joyful dude!

He's proved to be great on walks or jogs as well!

Things to note: He has some mouthiness and resource-guarding, so we'd prefer he go to a home without kids. He is also much more comfy with women.

Help us keep him smiling; apply to foster or adopt him below.

Our sweet 9-year-old boy shouldn't be spending his days at the shelter!

This boy deserves a comfy, loving home - and we hope he finds one ASAP!

Volunteers who took him for a Dog Day Out said, “Today we had Gravy. This guy is so good on a leash, it seems like he was leash trained at some point. He was interested in geese and other dogs, quietly watching as they passed. He enjoyed his walk, car ride and especially his puppuccino. We invited him to jump up on a retaining wall and he starting strutting around looking so happy. What a sweet, goofy, fun boy he is. He was a pleasure to spend time with.”

Let's get him home! Fill out an application below today!

This is one adorable girl! Once she’s warmed up to you, she’s a pure delight!

Volunteers said this about their Dog Day Out adventures with her:

1. “Today's walk was wonderful! What a sweet girl!!!”

2. “Enjoyed a beautiful day out with Muffin! This girl would just soak up every morsel of attention. She seems to not expect affection, but once she realizes how amazing it is, she relishes every moment. This sweetie seems to have a bit of ‘introduction anxiety’ to men. She cowered and tucked her tail and backed away from my husband and 16-year-old son. Once they talked to her and started petting her she was just fine and trusted them quickly. She is definitely attention/affection motivated. She hiked with me on the dirt trail and occasionally she would ‘stop, drop, & belly rub’ right in the trail. She loved every minute!”

Ready to bring her home? Fill out an application below!

This amazing guy is such a softie!

He takes time to warm up, but it's so worth the wait!

He's truly a lovely boy and is super mannerly in the home environment.

He snuggled right into the blankets on his Dog Day Out recently!

Have a nice, quiet home for this gentle boy?

Please complete an application below.

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

Oct. 1 Edition | Oct. 12 Edition | Oct. 19 Edition | Oct. 26 Edition |

Nov. 2 Edition | Nov. 9 Edition | Nov. 16 Edition | Nov. 23 Edition | Nov. 30 Edition