San Jose Animal Care & Services is in crisis. The shelter is full, and more dogs are entering than leaving. As a result, healthy, adoptable dogs are being given Final Dates—deadlines by which they must be adopted or rescued, or they will be euthanized.

This is why our petition matters: without public transparency, adequate notice, and intervention before labeling dogs as FINAL, these lives are lost without a fair chance.

**Request to San Jose Animal Care Center Leadership**

We are a dedicated group of volunteers and advocates committed to improving the well-being of the animals in your care. We recognize the complexities of shelter operations, but we respectfully propose the following actionable changes to enhance life-saving outcomes and collaboration:

**Transparency & Communication**  


- Publicly post all dogs designated as FINAL on shelter social media to give rescue groups and the public a chance to act.  


- Clearly note deadlines for FINAL dogs to ensure accountability.  


**Adherence to Existing Guidelines **  


- Ensure the 7-day holding period for FINAL dogs is respected to improve their chances for rescue or adoption.

**Spacing Out FINAL Designations**  


- Avoid designating multiple dogs as FINAL at once, as this overloads volunteers and limits effective advocacy.

**Shelter Accountability in Kennel Stress Outcomes**  


- Acknowledge that the shelter environment can negatively affect dogs' behavior. Dogs should not receive a FINAL status due to stress-related declines without a behavioral treatment plan designated by a qualified behaviorist.

**A Chance at True Rescue**  


- At the very least, provide a 7-day window after FINAL status before irreversible decisions are made. This time is crucial for networking and securing fosters to give these dogs a fighting chance. Thank you for considering these requests to better serve the animals in your care.

Below are just some of the dogs at risk:

🕒 Dogs with FINAL Dates:

• Sheldon – FINAL by 8/1 

• Mark – FINAL by 8/1​ 

• Tish – FINAL by 8/4 

• Roxie – FINAL by 8/4 

• Bruce – FINAL by 8/5 

• Nilla – FINAL by 8/5 

• Shirley – FINAL by 8/5

• Diana – FINAL by 8/6 

• Delilah – FINAL by 8/15

These dogs don’t need a miracle—they need visibility, time, and a commitment to fair policies that give them a real chance. Please help us advocate for change before it’s too late.