If you didn’t get a chance to visit San Jose’s “PAWp-Up” animal adoption center last month, no worries. The city announced the satellite shelter is now going to stay open until Feb. 15.
Nine dogs and 30 cats were adopted from the center on San Carlos and Third streets last month — short of the ambitious goal of 100 but still pretty good considering people who stopped by were likely on their way to or from downtown holiday events.
“The PAWp-Up has successfully brought our community together to provide loving homes for pets in need,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire, who herself has adopted three shelter dogs. (Of course, that was back in early December when the “PAWp-Up” opened; she could have more by now.)
The big goal is to get more animals into permanent homes, which will ease overcrowding at the San Jose Animal Care Center, a facility that’s had more of its share of problems lately. But adoptions aren’t the only thing that helps; donations go a long way, too. The Animal Care Center got about $65,000 in donations during its Hope for the Holidays campaign, which launched about a week before Thanksgiving.
The PAWp-Up is open Thursday to Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at 93 E. San Carlos St., and adoption fees are waived for animals at the PAWp-Up. There’s more information, including a list of adoptable animals, available at bit.ly/SJPAWPUP.
SPARTAN CELEBRATION: It’s been harder to say San Jose State is woefully underrated after the Wall Street Journal ranked SJSU fourth last year among public universities, but it’s still a fun party game — at least the parties I go to — to play “Guess who went to San Jose State?” (Here’s your starter pack: Stevie Nicks, Bill Walsh, Amy Tan, Joey Chestnut and Luis Valdez.)
Well, on Feb. 20, a lot of really good answers to that question will be honored at SJSU’s Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. This year’s cohort leads off with Oracle co-founder Edward Oates, who is receiving the lifetime achievement award; D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert R. Rigsby, who is receiving the Tower Award; California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who is receiving the President’s Medal; Neat CEO Janine Pelosi, who is being honored as alumna of the year (and who’s not related to former House speaker Nancy Pelosi); and Bette and Dave Loomis, who are receiving the Spirit of ’68 award for their support of several initiatives including the Spartan Food Pantry and the Record Clearance Project.
The “Spartans of Significance” event will take place at the SJSU Student Union Ballroom. Tickets are available at sjsu.edu/alumni.
HOST WITH THE MOST: Congratulations to Laura Garcia, co-host of NBC Bay Area’s “Today in the Bay” morning show, for hitting a milestone 25 years with the San Jose station. Garcia celebrated the anniversary on Friday morning’s show, along with co-host Marcus Washington and colleagues Kari Hall, Scott McGrew and Cinthia Pimentel. It’s worth cheering about, too. A quarter-century anywhere is worth cheering about, but in the television news business? That’s pretty special.
