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Kills double at O.C.’s largest ‘pro-humane’ animal shelter
May 6th, 2009, 3:00 am · 62 Comments · posted by Anam Siddiq
The number of dogs and cats euthanized at the largest “pro-humane” animal shelter in Orange County has more than doubled over the past three years.
The Irvine Animal Care Center - crowned 2007 Shelter of the Year by Dog Fancy magazine - put down 425 dogs and cats in 2008, up from 146 in 2006.
That’s an increase of 191 percent, at the same time the intake of cats and dogs jumped 77 percent (from 2,209 to 3,912).
Chalk those numbers up to a crumbling economy, people losing homes and jobs and then giving up their pets, officials said. It’s a phenomenon happening all over the country.
The shelter stresses that its overall kill rate - cats, dogs, and everything else that comes through the door - has remained pretty steady over the three years: 12.9 percent in 2006, and 13.3 percent in 2008.
That’s a great deal less carnage than at the Orange County animal shelter (kill rate about 50 percent, as it is obligated to take all comers), but a great deal more than at the San Clemente/Dana Point animal shelter (2.5 percent) and the Mission Viejo animal shelter (which actually decreased its kill rate from 9 to 7 percent over two years).
The San Clemente/Dana Point shelter is a limited-access shelter, city spokesman Craig Reem points out; it can reject animals, so rarely take in those that can’t be adopted.
Mission Viejo accepts all strays, but not all owner-relinquished animals, so can make a decision on adoptability before the fact, Reem said. Irvine’s shelter accepts all Irvine pets that come to it, and it took in an unusually large number of un-adoptable cats over the past 3 years. He expects that to taper off this year, so those numbers should be dramatically reduced.
SIAMESE AND SOUL MATE?
The center certainly has some tricks up its sleeves to gain visibility and drive people to the shelter. Case in point: a singles mixer coquettishly entitled “Love Me, Love My Pet,” on May 16, where single owners can match their temperaments (”sassy, flirty, odd, calm, or excitable,” according to the flier) with other owners and find the man or woman of their dreams.
Securing a Siamese and a soul mate all in one night? Now that’s what we call efficiency.
Apparently such techniques - which earned the shelter recognition for its “innovative programs” by Dogs in Review and Bow Tie Inc magazines - seem to be working:
- Adoptions of cats and dogs increased 54 percent at the Irvine shelter ;
- about one-third of dogs were returned to their owners or otherwise released;
- and many cats and dogs were placed in foster care.
The shelter sits on “a beautiful five acres“ that look more like a park than an animal shelter, its web site says. It prides itself on “mimicking a family life” for the pets in its care: “Each pet enjoys a 
daily routine of having playtime in the dog exercise yards or the cat socialization rooms with their friends, going for walks with dedicated volunteers (or receive socialization from volunteers), and receiving high quality pet food,” the site says. “The shelter is also home to 14 farm yard animals including two goats, three pigs, and nine chickens. The farm yard animals were used for humane education and are now being pampered in their retirement.”
Irvine won its 2007 honor for jumping in to help animals during the Southern California firestorms. It took in more than 90 pets from families who had to evacuate homes in San Diego, San Bernardino, and Orange counties - scrambling to provide blankets, beds, toys, treats and love. All the animals were safely returned to their original owners after about eight days, on average, the shelter’s web site says.
Is the worst past? Irvine’s shelter was overrun with a record number of animals last September - 360 cats and dogs. Now, it is caring for about 250.
In the first four months of 2009, the center put down 82 cats and dogs, and if that trend continues, the year’s total would be about 250, significantly lower than last year’s 425, Reem said.
Here’s the city’s “what-you-need-to-know-about-our-shelter” statement:
The award-winning Irvine Animal Care Center provides nurturing care to an average of 2,900 Irvine animals a year. Through the diligent efforts of staff and the center’s many community volunteers, more than 85% of the shelter’s animals are reunited with their owners or placed in adoptive homes. The center staff also work with rescue organizations and wildlife rehabilitators to assist in placing animals into appropriate long-term environments. For more information on the Irvine Animal Care Center, including upcoming events, visit www.irvineshelter.org.
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I’ve been a long term volunteer at the Irvine Animal Care Center but I am writing this as an individual. I am not representing the Shelter or the City of Irvine.
During most of the time period mentioned the City of Costa Mesa had a contract with the City of Irvine to provide the sheltering for Costa Mesa due to construction at the OC Humane Society. That accounts for a HUGE influx in animals. Many of the animals from Costa Mesa were strays living on the street and not in good condition when they came in. I’d like to see Irvine’s numbers with the Costa Mesa animals factored out.
The Third Chance Program goes to area shelters that are overpopulated and picks up adoptable animals that are due for euthanasia due to overcrowding. Over the years thousands have been brought to Irvine and adopted out. Irvine recently picked up a number of pregnant cats and dogs or moms with kittens and puppies that would have been euthanised. This is done through donations with no cost to the taxpayers.
During our upcoming 3rd Annual Super Adoption event on June 7th rescue groups and other Shelters will be invited to The Irvine Shelter to adopt out their animals. In the last 2 Super Adoption events we’ve adopted over 600 animals in one day. We’ve had Home for the Holiday events just before Christmas for the last 2 years. Again Rescue Groups and other Shelters were invited. Many hundreds of animals were adopted in one day.
Our Foster Care program allows time for animals to grow or heal in a home environment.
I’ve known many staff members and volunteers over the years and they ALL love the animals. Anyone who doesn’t quickly leaves. Cleaning poo and vomit from your shoes is not that romantic. In particular the Clinic staff is devoted to the well being of the animals. There is a great feeling of sadness when one of their charges has to be put to sleep. They are not there to kill animals.
The citizens and taxpayers of Irvine have every right to be proud of the Irvine Animal Care Center. The City generously provides basic care. Expenses over and above are provided by our fundraising.
Attend one of our “Coquettish” events. The funds generated will save lives. Please visit the Shelter this June 7. Who knows? You may leave with a new best friend.
Steve Botan.
You should see how many animals PETA kills each year.
If the ignorant people of the world would stop buying pets before thinking of the future then we wouldn’t have this problem. Every day I search the rescue sites online and see horrifying reasons that the pet that was once a pet was turned in for ignorant reasons. Example..if you know you want a baby and you own a rottie or other type of large bread dog then maybe you shouldn’t have chosed that dog in the first place or have your dog trained. Too many people are treating there pets like dirty socks and disposing of them as such.
If you don’t have the room for a pet, don’t get one - if you think your finanancial future is shaky then find a way to downsize where you can take your pet, but it’s not fair to kill them due to your ignorance.
I agree with you 101%
Agreed. Mixed-bred animals are usually more tame than full-bred anyway. At least from my own experience. I adopted a chi-mix 3 years ago from a foster organization and she’s one of the most calm chihuahuas I’ve ever seen.
yeah exactly
Because Rotties are evil baby eating devil dogs?
I completely agree with you. There are alot of ignorant irresponsible people out there. Even one euthanization is horrific. Imagine how those scared little animals feel being taken back to the room. They know! People please be responsible - fix your pets, don’t get a pet if you’re not sure of your future and most of all love them like they are your kids.
This problem is not endemic to the Irvine facility. Every shelter in SoCal and across the country is struggling with soaring kill rates. Please, please, please do not buy from pet stores or breeders. There are thousands of healthy, well-behaved, well-tempered animals in shelters across Southern California. The joy of getting a new pet is only compounded when you also know you probably saved that animal’s life.
Please EVERYONE (and this means YOU!!!) Don’t adopt or buy an animal (pet) unless you have at least two years of liquid income to survive on, if you lose your job!
Furthermore, DON’T have children unless you have at least $100,000.00 in cash available to you!
To do otherwise in these times is pure SIN, and GOD will punish YOU!!!
Oh bobbyc - why worry about God’s judgment when we have self righteous you to judge everyone in this recession. Oh, should add (and this means YOU!!)
Sometimes I think these pro-humane shelters are a little to stringent on who they will let adopt their animals. I tried to adopt an adult cat as well as a kitten at two different times and was actually turned down because I have small children.
I agree with you. My husband and I were turned down when we tried to adopt a dog and ended up going to a breeder and we love our dog like he is our child and provide a great home for him.
Yes, shelters that are anxious to find homes for animals need to learn to bend a little. I have been turned down at the Mission Viejo shelter because they will not allow cats to be adopted to a home that allows them outdoors. All my cats have lived long and healthy lives going in and out through the dog door. There is a slim possibility that something could happen to them but isn’t it better that they have a home?
bobbyc’s comment is funny. I’m sure everyone out there wanting a child will be SURE to have $100K saved to start a family just like I’m sure you did or will. Please go preach that in the crowded streets of LA to try & make a difference. HA!
Want to slpw the killing and find these animals a home? Lower than adoption fee until the economy picks up! We paid $220.00 to adopt a mutt from the pound a year ago. That is way too much monet, especially now days Lower the prices!
If you cannot afford the adoption fee - you cannot afford the pet. A well-cared for dog costs, on average, 2800.00 per year - that’s more than 200.00 per month - the 220.00 adoption fee is just the first of MANY MANY more months of that kind of money shelled out.
I’d say that’s a pretty reasonable price since most places people adopt from pay for the animal to be spayed/neutered as well as covering the cost of the first round of shots. That’s what the organization I adopted my dog from did at least.
Please note that this person did not adopt from Irvine. Irvine’s fees are $150 for a puppy under 4 months and $120 for a dog older than 4 months. This fee includes:
Spay / neuter
Microchip
General vet exam
De-worming
Needed vaccinations and health screenings
post adoption vet check for your new best friend
a full size bag of Science Diet food
In addition, the pets here are loved and cared for by many volunteers and staff alike. The are their babies until they become adopted. Having to put one down is never a decision made lightly and is always difficult.
umm I dont see god punishing octomom
I adopted my cat from the Irvine Animal Shelter the day she was scheduled to be put down. The cat room was completely full, and almost all of the cats had been dropped off by their owners. It made me so angry that people view pets as expendable!
Laurie, I think they’re stringent on their adoption policies because they know that many people will unthinkingly give away a pet once it becomes an inconvenience, so they try to avoid placing it in a home that may have a potential issue (like, small children and pets don’t always mix well). Try the OC Animal Shelter; they’re not as strict! Good luck!
The Irvine Animal Shelter is a class act and it’s clear that the volunteers and staff there would do anything to help the animals in their care find homes.
Having and loving two large dogs myself, it pains me to think of people giving up their animals. They are part of my family and I take my responsibility for their welfare very seriously. Personally, I would live in my car with them before giving them up and would go to the ends of the earth to find them if they were lost. To care for them well is expensive. I’ve spent thousands on my dogs in the past two years - food, vet bills, pet insurance, toys, training, licensing, etc. - it adds up very quickly.
As your report clearly shows: the numbers are not everything to be considered. And, if you want to talk numbers, take a closer look at PETA’s kill numbers - as ‘johnadams’ posted. PETA not only has the highest kill rate, but they con people out of their money too.
People need to lay off the shelters - be angry at the irresponsible pet owners who buy animals when they shouldn’t (often from puppy-mill supplied stores), and refuse to get them fixed. It is their fault there is such a loss of money and animal lives.
People need to realize that having a pet is like having a child and that a pet can live upwards of 18 years. If you don’t have the time, love and devotion DO NOT GET A PET!
How would you feel if your parents gave you away or dumped you in a field and drove off when you were five?
Pet Pro Life has adoptable pets every weekend at PetsMart next to Costco (in Westminster?). Euclid exit off the 405, go north. We’ve adopted two cats and one dog. Take a dog for a walk around the store every once in a while. After a bit of time, you will find one that clicks with you. Then adopt him/her. You don’t need a designer dog.
Hold and play with the cats because you can’t take them for a walk. Last week there was one that kept licking me on the face just like a dog would. I like cats who act like dogs.
Then give Pet Pro LIfe a buck or two in their donation jar. It is cheap entertainment and they need the money.
To Lily,
I can relate! I too would never give my animals up no matter what the situation. So sad that some people actually do that because - they’re having a baby or they are getting married and their spouse is allergic or they are moving . . . . .UGH!
What you are seeing here is the effects of increased size on euthanasia. There is a considerable body of research that shows that as size increases, the % of animals killed also increases. This is why the OC shelter with 30,000+ animals per year killed more than 50% while smaller shelters such as Irvine and MV kill significantly fewer. With only 2209 animals (2006), the euthanasia rate was only 6% while as numbers admitted goes up, from 3063 (2007) to 3912 (2008), the % euthanized goes up, to 10% and then 11%. In a reverse manner, as admissions go up, adolptions go down, from 56% (2006) to 52% (2007) to 49% (2008).
It’s a shame that this article comes off as a criticism of the shelter.
The numbers speak for themselves: the influx has been increasing much faster than the number of adoptions.
Let’s take this article as an encouragement to adopt, spay, neuter, and otherwise help reduce the number of helpless animals that have to be put down.
We just lost our cocker mix after 17 years. We got him at the Mission Viejo shelter. He was a great friend.
that is not true, MV does not accept all strays as i know many rescue organizations that get calls from people who find animals with in the MV and LN city limits that are turned away by the Mission viejo shelter.
Like Steve, I have been a long time volunteer at the Irvine Animal Care Center (“IACC”). Also, I speak only for myself and not for the IACC, the City or any other group. For the past 17 plus years I have worked with dedicated volunteers and staff members at the IACC to assist in the care of wonderful loving animals (my main focus has been on the care of cats).
I was shocked at the headline “Kills double at OC’s largest “pro-humane” animal shelter”. Giving the OC Watchdog the benefit of the doubt, I hope your headline was to raise people’s awareness of the overpopulation crisis all shelters are facing today – too many wonderful, adoptable animals and not enough homes. If this was not your purpose, then shame on you for not headlining all the wonderful stories that do occur at the IACC.
These include, but are certainly not limited to: (a) our wonderful “Third Chance Program” which has over the years saved many animals, that would have been euthanized at other shelters, by bringing them to the IACC and finding them homes. In the past few weeks, many mother cats and their kittens were saved from death because the IACC cares enough to take them in and will, most likely, find homes for all of them; (b) our fund raising group, Irvine Pet Partnership, that raises money to, among other things, give extra comfort and care to the animals until they find “furever” homes, the Third Chance Program, our “extended care program”, the fostering programs run by volunteers who take in kittens and puppies (along with moms) and adult animals needing extra care, until they are all ready for adoption. This is all in addition to the money our wonderful City budgets for running the Shelter and to provide basic care; (c) special groups like PAWS and Purrfect Partners made up of volunteers who assist with the needs of dogs and cats, and our dedicated rabbit volunteers; (d) our television show, “Irvine Pets & Company” that showcases animals for adoption and educates about proper care and the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
While your blog is entitled “You Tax Dollars at Work” – please note that any taxes paid by the citizens of Irvine go to running a premiere Shelter and all the donations and volunteer hours go to make it even better.
Please focus on the positive, not the negative, come over to the IACC and see what a wonderful facility it is and donate your money and time to make it even better.
We just lost our beloved 14-yr-old dog. Oh, how we wish she could’ve lived with us forever. Pets are love and sunshine. They are THE MOST sweet, vulnerable and dependent beings in the world. People who abandon them are vicious, vile monsters. I can’t believe it is “accepted behavior” in our society to abandon a pet. I hope these people get to experience at some point in their lives the sheer TERROR these innocent babies feel as their loved ones strip them from the safety of their warm home, then helplessly watch as their loved ones walk away from them for the last time, leaving them with strangers in a strange place, only to then be thrown in a cold cage as they hear the desperate cries of the other doomed angels. This is worse than any horror movie you could imagine. The laws for pets should be much more strict than all the ridiculous laws protecting kids.
Ann
The possibility that something could happen to outdoor cats is not slim.
The average life span for an outdoor cat is 24-48 months. The average lifespan for an indoor only cat is 168 -192 months. Indoor only cats live on average much longer lives.
Irvine shelter, like most Orange County forward thinking shelters work with local volunteers and non profit rescues to increase the number of animals placed. Volunteers provide the gift of many hours to increase the opportunity for the animals. These extremely valuable gifts are rewarded thorugh providing some voice in creating the policies of the shelter.
I have spoken with dozens of Orange County foster families who at no charge help animals of a number of different shelters or rescues. My family fostered severely ill pets, an amputee, semi feral, senior and infant cats. Foster families provide time, supportive health care, training, transportation, and frequently cover all non veterinarian expenses for the pet.
Some foster families, wake up every two hours for weeks to insure that motherless infant puppies or kittens are feed. They gently apply soft warm water soaked cotton balls to wipe and help the tiniest of kittens poop. They place them inside at the necks of their shirts to help keep them warm and begin socialization with humans.
These generous contributions are gifted to help the animals. Indeed the volunteer efforts enhance what shelters are capable of providing to the animals and the community. In return they are provided with a voice in setting policies. Responsible organizations do not disrespect the gifts of time, skill, effort provided by their volunteers. Foster families look at the options of finding a home for 24 months or one for 192 months. They ask that the pets they help be placed in homes that care to provide the opportunity for a long happy life.
There are a lot of different numbers. Foster families, especially for felines, look to the expected number of years that the pet will have with their new family. Foster families are a valuable resource. Should an organization choose to not honor the request for indoor only homes, the organization 5 miles down the road will happily accept the efforts and voice of the volunteer foster families.
Does the policy state that families with small children or those who let felines outdoors are bad homes? No. It states that the organization respects the efforts of those who have helped the cats and will be looking for homes for these cats where they have a significantly (4 to 6 times) better opportunity at a long, happy life.
OC Shelter has plenty of felines available and does not include “indoor only” in the contract. Please visit them if you want an outdoor cat, or to see a lot of fine cats and kittens for indoors.
Ann, I am very happy for you that your outdoor cats have been with you for some time. I hope together, you life long healthy lives. However, I have also required organization tags be left on selected cats. It is more than disappointing to receive a call from the neighbor of the adopter that collar tag of your favorite foster kitten was let outside and eaten within 10 days of adoption. The 2-4 years is an average. Some will make it 7, some even 15, yet many more will not survive for two years. Those who answer the phone or voice messages for rescues/shelters quickly come to understand the differences in dangers faced by outdoor and indoor only cats.
Should she make it through this year, the indoor only feline between the keyboard and my chest, will enter her third decade.
I disagree. We have had cats living outdoors that have lived 10 - 15 years and they are in a much more natural environment than those cats that are confined to being indoors with little exercise and that never get any sunlight (animals need sunlight to produce vitamin D). We have a very good fence that protects our pets from coyotes. The problem with animal shelters is that they would rather kill a cat or a dog than give it to someone who can give it a good home in their yard. That is just nonsense and I think we need some change in the way that animal shelters run their operations.
Glad to hear you have an old kitty also. Throughout my life all my cats have lived between 17-22 years and they were all indoor-outdoor. I understand the indoor-only thinking but I do not agree with this limitation when it leaves cats at shelters without homes.
Good post Anam. I agree with what Fifi said above.
Keep up the good work.
SOCdogsandcats I am not sure where you get your numbers that outdoor cats on average only live that long. My mom is allergic to cats but we lived next to a big field and people always dumped off their cats. They were all outdoor cats and all lived well beyond a couple of years. Same where we live now we have take a stray in and he has lived a very long time. In fact a few years agon someone dumped a bunch of kittens and they are all living just fine. I know plenty of people who have outdoor cats who are doing just fine. If someone wants to adopt a cat and make them a outdoor cat the shelter should not stop them. It might mean one more cat they don’t have to put to sleep later.
I agree with the comments saying that shelters are making it too hard to adopt. My brother went to an animal shelter because he wanted a cat, and he was discouraged by the fees and especially by the paperwork involved. If shelters would make it easier to adopt then fewer would have to be put down! Isn’t it better to end up in a home (even if it’s not an “ideal” home) than to be killed? Then please make the process so it’s easier for people to adopt!
I just found a cat outside my company last night. I drove him with him, and during the day my husband has been trying to find a rescue group or shelter to accept him. Our 2 cats won’t accept another cat right now (and we just lost a cat to cancer recently). Our offer to the Irvine Animal shelter was that we would bring him in, include a donation to have him neutered & provide 4 months of care, and they still told us that because we’re not Irving residents that they couldn’t do it because we’re not Irvine residents. I’ve donated a lot of $ to that shelter (and yes, I’m not an Irvine resident, but was glad for the work they did with animals), but will rethink the 2009 donations. I agree that our overall treatment of animals is terrible … the numbers euthanized PLUS the numbers that die outside as strays, hit by cars, attacked by wild animals, siring more animals, are heartbreaking. Meanwhile, by Saturday I’ll have to take this little guy to a shelter that “accepts all” and make my case to an adoption manger … keep him around a little longer, he’s super friendly, and I’ll subsidize his neutering and 4 months of care.
I’m a resident of Irvine, a long time volunteer for the Irvine Animal Care Center. I’m also a rescuer who frequents other very high-kill shelters to rescue dogs and cats who are literally pulled out of the euthanasia line. Had it not been for the Irvine ACC’s Third Chance Program, these dogs and cats would not have the chance they have now - adopted into wonderful, loving homes.
Through the IACC, I have been able to help find homes for nearly 200 animals. These are animals I’ve rescued from the Los Angeles County shelters and brought to the IACC. This number does not even reflect the animals that the staff at the IACC bring in from other the Riverside shelter system as well as the San Diego county shelter system.
The staff and volunteers at the IACC are caring individuals who are there to help the animals find their new homes. I would not be bringing animals from the LA County shelter system where they are truly in filthy, squalid conditions to the IACC if I did not trust that the staff and volunteers at the IACC would ensure that they are loved, well-cared for until they are rehomed. In fact, within the rescue community, the IACC is the shelter that we would like to have as the ideal facility that the LA County shelters should be modeled after.
If anyone reading this article is curious to see how terrible conditions are for the LA County shelter animals - please visit the http://www.lacdacc.blogspot dot com and see for yourself. The animals I rescue are from the shelters in this system. They come to the Irvine Animal Care Center and their world changed for the better and they do truly get a “new leash on life”.
The list of animals sitting in the six LA County shelters waiting for a chance to come to the IACC through the wonderful life-saving Third Chance Program is a growing list. I am speaking on behalf of the animals who are lucky enough to be able to come through the IACC’s door and have found homes - we will always be very grateful to the shelter Administrator Ron Edwards and the rest of the staff and volunteers for giving us the kindness and care we so desperately needed while we waited for our forever homes.
I often tell people that I have no faith left in the human race, and they look at me funny and wonder why I would say such a thing.
THIS is why. This disgusting, ignorant attitude that we have developed that pets are simply throwaway items, or commodities to be bought at a store. Then we have to euthanize them because there is simply no room for them anywhere.
Dogs are the most beautiful, kind, and loyal creatures on earth. They have stood by mankind’s side for thousands of years, and THIS is how we repay them!
You know what really makes me mad? That here in America, we somehow keep finding room for violent criminals in our prisons. Yet, we can’t find enough room for innocent cats and dogs whose only crime was to be born. I wonder if anyone has any idea what that truly says about the people in this country.
I’m done ranting for now. Tommorow i’ll probably see some ignorant fool buying a puppy from a pet shop and the anger will all just build up again.
ADOPT, DON’T SHOP!!! Pet’s are NOT commodoties. Volunteer at your local shelter. If you can’t permanently keep a pet, then volunteer to foster animals until they find a forever home. You wouldn’t believe how much pressure that takes off shelters.
Much ado about nothing! That should be the headline in this blog. If you read down to the fourth paragraph you will see the euthanasia rate…oh I mean KILL RATE…. has gone up from 12.9% to 13.3%. Does an increase of .4% deserve the headline “KILLS DOUBLE ETC?” Slow day at the news desk.
Now please don’t get me wrong, anytime an animal is put to sleep because a home cannot be found is just plain wrong. But you see this isn’t done in Irvine. Animals are put down because they are sick, dangerous or horribly stressed. I know for I have been a volunteer for over 16 yrs. at the Irvine shelter. I also know that the decision is NEVER done quickly or lightly. We are lucky in Irvine for we live in great city that supports our shelter and we are proud of what our shelter accomplishes.
I wonder why 3rd chance program wasn’t mentioned? We have saved over 3,000 animals from other shelters. Gosh you would think this should be mentioned. We also have other programs like “Teachers Pet” that reimburses for training and a senior program.
I will end by saying it is too bad that the reporter choose to blast her sensational headline all over her blog instead of praising an shelter that does so much to help the poor homeless pets. A BIG SHAME ON THE REPORTER!
I hear this all the time — some shelters (not saying any of the ones mentioned) are too strict! I was turned down to adopt a three legged poodle because our entire one acre yard was not fenced. Only part of it was fenced in… Our net worth was in the top 1% in the country, we have OUTSTANDING veterinarian references, I do not work outside the home. We later received all of the clearances to adopt a child from aboard, but were not approved to adopt this poor little dog that was languishing in a shelter. The situation is so sad.
This article angers me!! If these shelters would loosen up on some of their stringent adoption rules that would be a step in less animals being put down. Approximately a year ago I lost a pet due to old age. I have been a cat owner most of my life. I went to this shelter and because I was going to let my kitties go outside, only when I’m home and only during the daylight hours, they refused to let me adopt the two kittens that I knew were meant to be my pets. Their claim was the fear of coyotes, however, I do not live in the Irvine area or any other foothill area where this is a concern. Their other concern, so they claim, was cars. Two of my friends, outraged by this, went the next day to try to get them for me. They too were denied because the WHOLE FAMILY had to come, including other pets in the house, to meet the animal prior to adoption. Absolutley RIDICULOUS!!! I finally got these cats but it took lieing and having someone else get them for me and then making a trade outside the facility. EVERY single cat in the facility, at the time, had upper respiratory infections due to overcrowding. They told me that this would NOT make them more susceptible to resp. infections in the future…LIES!!! According to my vet, they are absoluting more likely to have this be an issue that could pop up over the years. I love my new family members and ultimately the hassle was well worth it!!! However, this shelter seems to feel the risk of letting these animals outside is greater than putting them down. One other point to be made…during this same timeframe, one of the VP’s from my work was also trying to adopt and ran into the same story as mine. Well, because he’s “connected” in the community, he made ONE phone call and next thing you know everyone was tripping over themselves to “make it right” for him. So, my
So, my question is…are these rules really for the benefit of the animals…or politically motivated?? Although wrong, in my opinion, no wonder people go through pet stores…WAY less hassle!!
Purrilicious, you are welcome to dissagree However the facts are clear.
I think you missed the point of my previous posting. Those helping the animals through gifts have say in the policies. If not they move on and the resources are lost from the organization and animals.
A 2-4 year average life span compared to 14 to 16 years is not an insignificant number. It was quite fair for others to ask where the life span numbers originate. The sample size is much larger than a couple peoples’ experience or “My Mom says”.
Two of the longest lived Humane Authorities in the US provide the numbers. Other important research groups agree.
American Society for he Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -
Humane Society of the United States research -
The vast majority of their vitamin D from a feline’s diet, In 2001, Dr J.G. Morris demonstrated the inability of kittens to synthesize vitamin D when exposed to sunlight or UV light.
Work from Geisen, V., K. Weber, et al. (Apr 2009). states “Cats cannot synthesize vitamin D in the skin so sunlight does not contribute to their vitamin D supply.” Thanks to the Winns foundation for their continued funding of research on feline health.
Vitamin D deficiencies in felines are almost always related to heredity, disease or an unbalanced diet.
Unless an indoor cat is kept in a dungeon they have access to plenty of sunlight. One of the dangers for an outdoor cat is excessive sunlight. This brings on squamous cell carcinoma, a fast spreading malignant cancer usually in the ear tips, nose or mouths.
Playtime, floor to ceiling cat trees, jumping on counters, floor to top of refrigerator leaps all provide exercise. Possibly not as much as hopefully making it to the tree while evading the neighbors dog, yet plenty of exercise: A lot less terrifying.
Although a very serious threat, coyotes are only a fraction of the additional deadly hazards outdoors.
The frequently fatal diseases of FeLV, FIV and FIP transfer from cat to cat. The FIP vaccination can actually accelerate bringing on the disease. The FeLV vaccination can cause sarcomas. AAFP does not recommend the costs/risks of these additional vaccinations for indoor cats. Even if your cat stays in their fenced yard, others do not and your cat is likely to get exposed. The vaccines above are only partially effective at presenting the diseases (43% to about 80% depending on the vaccine).
I am glad that some of you have had/seen outdoor cats that have had long lives. Let’s be honest though and recognize that as the rarer exception. Having retrieved two bodies from a So Cal outdoor colony in the last 10 weeks, I agree with the studies. At approximately 2 to 3 years of age, these two were the oldest in the colony.
On top of the monitor is the 2 year I pulled alive from the colony last year with a crushed hip. Although I can’t tell you if it was a coyote, a car or a truck tire, I feel comfortable saying he hasn’t been affected by any of those deadly consequences since he was pulled.
He also hasn’t faced the 5 different internal and external parasites that weakened him and nearly cost him his hearing. These parasites cause illnesses and spread many of the diseases. Indoor only cats have a much lower exposure and incidence of parasites
It’s been difficult to tell what killed the two older cats (2 & 3 years old). However, it appears that it was likely poison. In their territory, I found anti freeze (frequently in garage floors too) and rat poison. Did they eat a poisoned rodent or lick a few drops of antifreeze? Do your neighbors use a pest service? Indoor cats aren’t exposed to either.
Coyotes are just one source of trauma and death. Bobcats, raccoons, even dogs, car fans, garage doors going up or down, snail baits, landscape chemicals, This list can be quite large.
Then…there are the humans.
Take the task of answering the phone at a shelter/rescue for a month and you will understand that the 4 to 6 times difference in lifespan risks is not as trivial as you make it out to be.
Thanks to each of you who provide homes for previously abandoned animals.
So it looks to me like you are including strays in this 2-4 year number? What would that number be if you included only pet cats owned and cared for by someone?
Basically there are different categories of care. Indoor only, owned roaming, unowned (once owned), and feral. All but indoor only can migrate to the feral category over time, if they do not have human contact.
Some of the research I have read supports similar life spans for the last three categories. Part of this is from the different behaviors of the categories. Owned roaming cats are more likely to be run over than ferals. Much of this has to do with their proximity to streets and the higher incidence of daytime vs. nighttime activity.
An owned roaming cat is far more likely to encounter damage at the hands of humans than a feral. They are easy prey to young humans or dog fighting groups. Some people bait neighbor’s cats on their property and turn legally turn them into the shelter. I have been at the “check in” for OC Shelter when a person brought in a cage trapped sweet feline that did not have her recently worn collar. You could see the indentation in the fur. How many people would get to the shelter before it was too late? Not enough. The averages for “cats returned to owner” is normally a dismal 2% to 4%.
Owned outdoor cats are frequently less wary/cautious of coyote/canine attacks than Feral cats.
The proximity to poisons is frequently higher for owned roaming cats than for ferals.
Research has shown that sterilization rates for owned cats range form 82% to 90%. Indoor only cats range from 93% to 97%. That means that the sterilization rate for owned roaming cats is much less than indoor only cats. Cats are America’s most popular pet, Current US estimates count nearly 20 million more owned cats (90M) than owned dogs (70M). Unowned cats add even more to the difference. Estimates range from an optimistic 24 million Clifton Merrill 2003) to a 60M to 100M (Alley Cat Alleys 2005).
Indoor cats do little to increase the unowned populations, however even an owned roaming cat is far more likely to join the ranks of the unowned category than an indoor only cat.
When I adopted my cat from Irvine, they told me my cat had been returned THREE times from families who said he wasn’t getting along with other cats.
I didn’t have ANY other animals so their advice to get him into a solo cat home was a good thing.
Well not really. It took him a while to behave and adapt, and he had some behavioral problems, like peeing on the floor. I introduced another cat within a year and all of his behavioral problems disappeared instantly.
the shelter only knows so much about each animal and I’m sure they do their best but they really should be letting the rules more relaxed in getting adoptions. in this economy, if people are showing up to adopt, then by all means let them!
even if I lost my job, there is no way in hell I’d ever give up my cat or let him starve.
Sensationalism, must be the order of the day for the press. I would
not have thought the Register would be a party to such a negative, untrue headline, such as: “Kills Double @ O.C.’s largest pro-humane shelter. If it was written to get attention, it sure got mine!
The Irvine Animal Care Center is one of the best shelters in the country, having a most dedicated management, staff, and volunteers,
who go to all ends to get animals adopted into loving homes. The phrase: “Kills Double” is totally untrue in reference to the percentage
of intake animals, and euthansia.
Cheap journalism, hopefully you can do better!
To everyone who is arguing with our numbers:
The number of dogs and cats put down in 2006 was 146.
The number of dogs and cats put down in 2008 was 425.
It is really much closer to tripling than doubling.
No one is arguing with your numbers, just the objectivity - the absence of the complete truth, which in essence makes your article deceptive - of the reporting.
Teri, I don’t think anyone is arguing with your numbers. I realize that will all of the complaints about OC Shelter you must have felt compelled (or perhaps someone forced you) to post such bold sensationalized headlines about another shelter.
What your article sadly lacked was that:
1) Irvine must take all animals from Irvine that come in
2)During this time, Irvine had a contract with Costa Mesa. Unfortunately the volume of intakes from Costa Mesa was much large than anticipated. As a result, Costa Mesa had to go back to county (kills will be even higher)
3) Irvine city gives animals a minimum of 45 days stay before they have to dip into public donations. Animals that are fortunate enough to be found in this city get, at minimum, 36 days longer stay than at county. There have been dogs there for many days longer than that before finding their forever home.
4) that every decision to euthanise an animal is a tough one. For everyone down, you’ll find a volunteer or staff member who has shed a few tears. That’s far more than I can say about the owners who have never come looking for their stray pets or those that drop them off at the door with comments like:
-we already have one, we don’t need this one
-he’s a big dog and he’s so clumsy around the baby
-he has cancer, I can’t care for him.
-we’ve had her since a she was a puppy but now at 8, she pees on the carpet.
-the list of excuses go on and on.
Teri I challenge you to spend some time at this shelter, some real time. Get to know the place well. The rewrite your article.
Teri, you are comparing apple and oranges. How many times do you have to be told that in 2008, Irvine was the shelter for TWO cities, Costa Mesa and Irvine. Why didn’t you “investigate reporting” mention that.? Now if you compare apples and apples the percent of animals put down is up LESS THAN 1/2%. Doesn’t really make for a good headline does it.
If you woke up one morning and just had to write a negative article, you could have picked a more appropriate topic…..like puppy mills…….like why people don’t spay and neuter their pets………..like people leaving cats outside for the coyotes……Any one of these topics would make a good read and possibly help the animal community. But you choose to be negative about one of the shinning stars in sheltering, the Irvine Animal Care Center. Smart thinking Teri!
Teri, What are you trying to accomplish with your article? Obviously, you are trying to slam the best animal shelter that Orange County has. I think you need a refresher course on investigative reporting instead of sitting in a room and spinning a story that doesn’t exist. Usually when you live nearby a story, it’s typical to visit the location instead of spending half of your article quoting their website.
Maybe if you had done your research better, you would have discovered that the Irvine Animal Care Center has an extraordinary and impeccable reputation throughout the community for a reason. While the shelter was built over 25 years ago, their facility is very well maintained and by far the most beautiful animal shelter in the county (which is important since many animal lovers cannot bear to visit the county shelters and instead resort to buying a puppy in a pet store).
Maybe if you had actually interviewed the Shelter’s supervisor, staff, or volunteers, you would have heard the true story. The Irvine Animal Care Center has ONLY 21 permanent cat kennels. Last summer, the Shelter peaked with over 300 lost, abandoned, and abused cats and kittens on the shelter premises. UNLIKE, most shelters, the Irvine Animal Care Center did not “de-populate” (meaning euthanize adoptable animals to provide space for the incoming cats) which is what most shelter would be forced to do.
Instead, the Irvine Shelter staff and volunteers HEROICALLY worked together to provide quality care and housing to each animal. NO ADOPTABLE ANIMAL WAS EUTHANIZED DUE TO LACK OF SPACE. Instead, there were many times, daily runs to local pet supply stores to purchase additional humane kenneling. While it was certainly one of the most challenging times that our facility has faced in my many years as a volunteer, we persevered and saved a lot of animals that were fortunate to have found their way to our facility. Every day, volunteers and staff worked side by side: cleaning kennels, providing fresh food and water, scooping litter boxes, washing laundry, socializing animals, socializing cats, bottle feeding orphaned kittens…the work was endless but through our hard work each cat found a home!
The most significant cause for this sudden explosion in the shelter’s population was the shelter’s contract with Costa Mesa. The Shelter unexpectedly received an enormous amount of cats on a daily basis, with medical problems and behavior problems. It was an unfortunate situation that worked to the shelter’s disadvantage however, the Irvine Shelter no longer is contracted with the City of Costa Mesa.
Personally, I am proud of how my shelter handled the challenging position that they were placed in. Any other shelter would NOT have gone to the extent of preventing unnecessary euthanasia of animals if not for the hard work and dedication of the shelter staff members and volunteers and the tireless leadership of the Shelter’s supervisor. It’s sad that a misguided article would damage the hard earned reputation of the Irvine Animal Care Center.
As a longtime shelter staff member at another local pro-humane shelter, I want to address the concern that several people mentioned in their comments. If a pro-humane animal shelter declines your adoption for an animal IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE GOING TO EUTHANIZE THE ANIMAL. (Sorry, I had to get that out.) This is a HUGE misconception!
The purpose of screening prospective adopters is NOT to try to decline the adopter but rather to find an appropriate match for the family looking for a pet. I had to decline an adoption today because a family with a 3 year child who wanted to adopt one of our very scared and under-socialized Min Pin who had food bowl aggression. It was a bad choice for the family and would potentially put the child at risk for a bite. The dog needed an adult quiet home who would be willing to work with a dog trainer to address the dog’s behavior problems.
I want to reassure people out there that most animal shelters would prefer animals to be adopted and NOT stay in their kennels. But if a shelter chooses to decline an adoption, it’s because it’s a bad match or the family would not provide the basic care that the animal needs. Most pro-humane shelters do not adopt to families who want “outside cats” or to de-claw the cat. It does not mean that if you are declined the adoption, that the cat is going to be killed. It means that the shelter is going to wait until another family wants to adopt the cat that will be able to keep the cat inside and do not have plans to declaw.
Why would the shelter send the cat home to be an outside cat and face dangerous situations on a daily basis where if the cat stayed at the shelter a few more days the cat would find a safe home? It does not make sense to send an animal home with their new family if the new family will not be providing the same basic care that the animal receives at the shelter. As a shelter staff and as a cat owner, I have seen TOO many cats that have been hit by cars, poisoned, infected with FIV, attacked by other animals, abused, just because they were living outside. Screening prospective adopters is the ONLY way I can ensure a cat that I have been caring for over a year on a daily basis will be safe in their new home.
Don’t put your cat outside!
I visited the Irvine Shelter today and found the most heart breaking story. The Shelter adopted out a gorgeous orange tabby cat to a family and the cat was returned because the child in the family was playing too rough with the cat and pulling his furr off. Also, the family, instead of bringing the cat back to the Shelter, they started putting Jack outside their house. Finally, that didn’t work either and they brought Jack back to the Shelter.
When the Shelter did another intake exam, they discovered that Jack had been infected with FIV. I guess, the Irvine Shelter tests all their cats for FIV and FeLV and Jack was negative when he went home with the family but now he tests positive for FIV. I checked out the shelter’s website and I included a link to JACK’s webpage below.
Also, I included more information about FIV from the Shelter’s newsletter that’s posted on their website. Please consider giving this GORGEOUS cat a home!
FIV is a viral infection in cats similar to HIV in humans. The disease is NOT contagious to people or other pet species. Cats can live a long time (years) without showing any symptoms. When they do get sick, it is usually due to a secondary infection because their immune systems are weakened by FIV. Usually symptoms start to appear when the cat reaches middle age (6-8 years) but can occur earlier or later depending on the individual cat. Like, HIV there is no cure although treating the secondary infections can effectively prolong the quality of their lives. FIV is contagious but not through casual contact, like sharing litter boxes or food bowls. Fighting and biting are the main means of transmission between cats. Most of the usual household disinfectants will kill the virus and owners can’t spread it from cat to cat by petting. Sharing your home with an FIV positive cat can be one of the most rewarding and totally unselfish acts an adopter can do for the multitude of homeless cats living in animal shelters.
Please copy this link in your browser to see Jack’s Webpage:
http://www.petharbor.com/detail.asp?ID=A051698&LOCATION=IRVN&searchtype=ADOPT&start=4&friends=0&samaritans=0&nosuccess=0&orderby=Name&rows=10&imght=120&imgres=thumb&view=sysadm.v_animal_short&nobreedreq=1&bgcolor=bcc8d8&text=000000&link=3333ff&alink=660066&vlink=990099&fontface=arial&fontsize=10&col_hdr_bg=003366&col_hdr_fg=white&col_bg=ffffff&col_fg=black&SBG=003366,%20FFFFFF&zip=92606&miles=10&shelterlist=‘IRVN’&atype=&where=type_CAT
I’ve been a volunteer at the Irvine Shelter for 14 years. If you’re looking for references on our shelter’s effectiveness, going the extra mile for pets, why not ask some of our animal guests:
Ask the Chihuahua who was found a few years back, abandoned in a bush on the bike trail with a serious leg fracture. Our choices: $800 to have his leg amputated or $1500 to have it repaired intact. We went for the $1500 option. A bargain to have this dog walk out of our shelter to his new home on all four legs.
Ask Dental Floss Dudley, the beautiful tabby cat who swallowed a long piece of the stuff before he came to us. It wound itself and became stuck throughout his digestive system, requiring expensive surgery. Dudley recovered just fine and was quickly adopted.
Ask Lola, a tiny brown lump of a puppy, and the hundreds of other kitten and puppy orphans who were lucky enough to find human foster parents at the Irvine Shelter… people who loved these guys, and went sleep-deprived keeping them fed, clean and comforted.
Ask the many dogs, cats and rabbits who were shelter guests for months, some up to a year, before they found their forever homes. Their time did not run out.
Ask our feline shelter guests how they enjoy living with their cat friends in our new, spacious, toy-filled Kitty Klubhouse.
Ask our canine shelter guests how they like playing in their swimming pools with their doggie playgroup pals. Doesn’t everyone in California want a pool?
Yup, ask the ones that matter. And this is just a smidgen…. Trust me, I could go on…
Telling only part of the story is deceptive by omission, as is this article.
I am currently fostering a cat rescued through the Third Chance Program by Irvine rom another shelter where she was scheduled to be killed while pregnant. Instead of her dying with her unborn babies inside her, she had them in a spare bedroom of my home and recovered from a viral infection and malnutrition. Sadly, four of her kittens, contracting the virus in utero, developed respiratory infections and spent their last days gasping for air, so I brought them into the shelter clinic to say goodbye and let them go. The deaths of those four kittens, Estelle, Evelyn, Edie and Eli, who could not be saved, are among these stated euthanasia rates.
Just wanted to tell a little of the rest of the story.
I suggest the author of this article volunteer at the Irvine Animal Shelter to get first hand knowledge of the treatment of the shelter animals. Better yet, participate in a ride along with the Shelter as they go out and pick up animals at other shelters for part of their third chance program. I found you sensationalism style of journalism distasteful and am disappointed you would not do more research to show the whole picture.
The online article versus the published newspaper article appears to be significantly different, as the edited article in the newspaper had a very slanted angle. My comments are in response to the newspaper article.
As an Irvine Shelter volunteer, one may think that I am not objective, but who better than someone that can speak from first-hand experience as to the shelter practices and efforts to help pets find homes? The article failed to reference all the facts that the public has a right to know and the OC Register had an ethical responsibility to report, such as:
1) The Irvine Shelter does not euthanize due to overpopulation / limited space. The only reason that an animal would be euthanized is for serious medical or behavioral issues.
2) Irvine features the 3rd Chance Program, in which the staff travels major distances (outside of OC area, mind you) to accept animals that other shelters can no longer house for various reasons (i.e. - overpopulation, health, etc). These animals receive the medical attention and care needed in order to give them a chance at finding a home. Moreover, many of these animals would have been put down from the shelter in which they came from had Irvine not intervened.
3) Irvine had a contract with the Costa Mesa Shelter to accept animals during the time in which the OC Humane Society was under construction. Many of the animals were strays / feral and were not in fit condition. These animals played a significant factor in the increased number of euthanizations.
4) Irvine has had long-time pet residents that took months and months to possibly even a year or so to be adopted, yet their lengthy residency at the shelter never worked against the animal. If anything, the shelter would feature them in various publicized outlets to help draw attention to the “senior” resident and emphasize their attributes and need for a loving home.
It is very disappointing that the article was published as it was, considering the uninformed reactions that it has generated that may deter the public from visiting shelters, as they believe they engage in cruel practices, which is not the case with the Irvine Shelter. Bottom line is that there are plenty of pets that need homes. One should not allow a faulty, opionionated article to prevent them from giving a shelter pet a chance at a loving home. It’s the animals that are the ones that suffer and are victims from irresponsible reporting from the media.
One of my dogs died in the middle of June this year. Two weeks later my daughter said that a friend had a cousin with a Rottweiler that she no longer wanted. This cousin was going to go to Wash DC and leave the Rottweiler in the back yard with no food or water. And she wasn’t coming back. I told my daughter that I would take the dog, as she was already old in Rottweiler years, 13 1/2 to 14 1/2 yrs. old and I didn’t want her to die in this womans back yard from heat, (Los Angeles), or lack of water. Middle of September Jasmine quit eating. She died 3 days later in my home. When I went to have her creamated the gentleman there said that she was old for a Rottweiler. So I felt good that I could give this GENTLE GIANT some of the happiest moments of her life. Oh by the way, I later found out this woman had only fed Jasmine 1 baked potato every 2 days. And the dog only got drip irrigation water when she left the water on for the hose, and most days the water was turned off.