Comments on: Doggie-dumping days may be numbered

By: Jean Bland

Jean Bland — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:18:29 +0000

The county shelter also takes dogs and cats from cities that contract with the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter without notifying that shelter and then disposes of the pets while their owners have no idea what happened to them. This must happen with other city shelters as well as it is difficult to believe this could only be a problem for Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel. Also there are large numbers of people, who live in cities that contract with the County Shelter, who lie to get stray or relinquished animals into city shelters rather than taking them to the county because people don’t want these pets to die. This negatively impacts the local city shelters and the county shelter would have many more animals to deal with if all the people who live in cities that still contract with the county shelter took all the stray and relinquished animals there. Also we have learned by calling the county shelter and asking about relinquishing an animal that the county shelter is NOT ALWAYS OPEN. The county shelter has told us they do not accept owner relinquished animals when they are full, the same as the city shelters do. Also, according to South County Animal Shelter Coalition Member Valerie Bromberg, who is a high school math teacher and ran the numbers from the county, if the county shelter director, Jennifer Phillips, had encouraged our 4 cities in So. OC who still contract with the county shelter to get their own shelter rather than fighting us in every city, this would have reduced the County’s overload of impounded pets by 10%.

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:09:36 +0000

I guess the no-kill shelters should just not even try helping adopting the stray pets that the People of these Communities discard.

Another solution would be after the no-kill shelter has ended their efforts to re-release the pets back on the streets and call the County to come pick them up.

The no-kill shelters appear to give these pets a little long life in hopes of getting adopted then just one stop pick up and kill county facility.

Why is this really an issue that another agency is helping these animals have a better chance (though longer available boarding) at getting adopted?

By: Dr. James Gardner

Dr. James Gardner — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:49:23 +0000

As many readers have noted, the problem of pet overpopulation has serious impacts not only to county but local shelters as well. We need to be working toward low cost spay and neuter and TNR (trap neuter and release) programs, and we need to better educate people on taking care of pets. But none of what has been printed can take away from the fact the the OC shelter is too old, too small, too crowded, and too far away to be viable. We need reform throughout the system, but nowhere is the system as broken as at the county shelter.

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:58:01 +0000

To Melissa:

While you’re certainly entitled to be skeptical of the OC Grand Jury’s findings, I can assure you that reports produced by the OC Grand Jury are not put together haphazardly. My father served on the OCGJ a few years ago (and happens to be an alternate this year), so I speak from secondhand knowledge. These reports are thoroughly researched and undergo more than one review (and not just for grammatical errors).

As for my personal experience with the Irvine shelter, I can confirm what “Former Shelter Employee” stated. It is not a “no kill” shelter in the truest sense of the term. I had to relinquish my first dog 8 years ago because of serious food aggression problems. The Irvine shelter brought in an animal behaviorist, who confirmed the dog was not adoptable and needed to be euthanized. That being said, I’ve always held the Irvine shelter in high regard because I believe they make every effort to hold onto dogs as long as possible until they can get adopted.

If there’s a model “no kill” shelter out there, I would point to the one nicknamed “Dogtown” in Utah (featured weekly on the National Geographic Channel). If a dog is not adoptable, they keep it and care for it until it dies.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:28:12 +0000

dudman said…”Part of the problem are these Mid-west puppy mills…” How about the disgusting lady in Laguna Niguel who ran an illegal dachshund puppy mill out of her home? She had most of the adult doxies de-barked (she and the vet who did this should be ashamed). These poor dogs are filtering into the MV Animal Shelter with no social skills. The sad thing is that she gets fined $500 and gets to keep a few dogs. So sad. To everyone who purchases dogs from “backyard breeders” and pet stores you should be ASHAMED. You are part of the vicious cycle!!

By: les

les — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:55:32 +0000

I know of a few restaurants in Garden Grove that will gladly take those stray dogs and cats.

By: rubypearl

rubypearl — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:24:43 +0000

irvine will not say its a no-kill shelter.

seal beach does not take pit bulls.

animal rescue organizations have no room, they are maxed out from san diego to la. the government needs to enact laws to curb animal population. something needs to be done. neuter enforcement, no puppy mills, and make rabbit and other animal sales illegal (they are not pets).

By: XOCBrat

XOCBrat — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:18:25 +0000

As long as there is not a very low cost Spay/Neuter available to people there will be dumped pets. I have been shocked to hear of Vets charging $350 - $600 to sapy a dog! Who can afford that or would pay it? The person who paid similiar to buy a dog via a pet store via a puppy mill?
Fine; that’s their choice (unfortunately) but they even don’t spay/neuter saying “Oh Not My Baby…” until baby runs away to seek mating or is attacked in the process.

I’ve worked for the SPCA decades ago & as low new person on the kennel I had the morning job of euthanasing! So I know it 1st hand. Not until every county Animal Reg.s uses their gathered fees to serve a purpose to pet owners with a cheap useable Neuter /Spay clinic will a dent be made in the problem. As it is I see the county kennels as a Taxed without Representation problem. Pet owners are taxed for a license with the false claim that your dog will be easily returned to you but IF a Volunteer makes the connection it will still cost you to bail your pet out. The $$$s collected really support a staff, to feed, clean & kill the animals.

By: t

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:58:00 +0000

Costa mesa just voted NO on spay and nueter law. Dumb. Also, watch out for pet stores and breeders for mini dauchsunds - 2 people I know got scammed. One bought from the Pet store at Fashion Island, was told its a mini, not a mini. After you fall in love with the dog, what, are you supposed to take it back once you realize its not a mini? Shame on you Fashion Island Pet Store!

By: theresa

theresa — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:34:22 +0000

If the problem is people, which I agree it is. Then why does everyone complain about the mandatory spay/neuter law.? We were so close to finally getting a little control from the root of the problem, which is simply too many animals being born. Now instead we are arguing over where to dump the dog. By the way…any animal shelter whether it is a no-kill or not is a horrendous place for an animal to spend its days. Many shut-down due to the stress and ALL are extremely lonely. It is kinder to euthanize in many cases. And kindest for people to get responsible and not breed their dog.