BAKERSFIELD, CA - It is no secret Kern County's shelters and rescues are consistently full. But, service operators say many of those animals were once wanted, but then the owners changed their minds.
They call those animals owner surrenders. Shelters started seeing a lot of it during the recession when people could no longer afford animals and they understood that. But, it's still happening now. Dogs and cats, once part of a family become disposable pets.
A pet defined by the Cambridge Dictionary is an animal kept in the home as a companion and is treated affectionately.
While we see many examples of priceless pet/owner bonds, in Kern County, local animal advocates say too often we see dogs dumped, left like rubbish on the road, or surrendered to shelters. Once used to being a part of a family, all of a sudden, they are abandoned.
"These pets get tossed to the side like disposable water bottles, you know," said Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Bakersfield SPCA.
Johnson says, for some reason, locally, pets hold little value in the eyes of many. Owners turn their animals in weekly, filling kennels and cages with a wide range of excuses.
"We have people that have come in and tried to turn in pets simply because their animal didn't match their furniture. They remodeled their house and they want to turn their animal in because it no longer matched," said Johnson. "I've literally had pet owners turn in a pet to us and say they just don't want the animal anymore or anything else and then say can we go look at the other dogs in the kennels. And, it's heartbreaking because do you understand what you are doing to this pet."
It is the same story at Kern County Animal Services, according to Nick Cullen, Shelter Supervisor.
"I come from New York. I moved here in 1999 and I was astounded at the amount of stray animals and the amount of animals we take in at the animal shelter, and just the amount of animals that roam free," said Cullen.
Comparing counties with similar populations, in 2013, Ventura County Shelters took in 9,610 animals. Kern County took in 26,319 animals during the same time. And, nearly 2,100 of those were owner surrenders. That's more than five animals per day.
Those are just the ones they know about. The story of a 9-month old lab left in a plastic bag outside the city shelter will never be known. It was too far gone by the time workers found it dumped outside their door, it had to be euthanized. Nor will they know the stories of countless pets seen everyday roaming the roads. 17 News spent 20 minutes in a Central Bakersfield neighborhood and spotted ten dogs and cats, nearly getting hit on a couple occasions, obviously thirsty and hungry, probably not used to fending for themselves.
"We have people who will literally open their door and let their dog out. End of story and just they shut the door. I mean we have had people turn in dogs that have a micro chip and they will tell us its a stray dog and the micro chip registers back to that person that just turned it in," said Johnson.
Johnson says the SPCA had to post a "No Euthanasia" sign for healthy pets, at their facility, because owners were willing to kill their healthy pets just to get rid of them. So, those owners will sometimes turn to veterinarians.
"I had one couple that were getting married and he didn't like cats so she had to bring her three cats in," said Dr. Rose Rakow.
Veterinarian, Dr. Rose Rakow says, while it's rare, this year, an owner has paid to have their healthy, younger pet put down. Admittedly, it's the hardest part of her job, but in some cases better than the alternative.
"Everyday on the way to work, I go up Mount Vernon and down Kentucky. There's either a dead dog or 3 dogs running loose everyday," said Dr. Rakow. "If it bite or chews or gets out of the yard, and destroys something then oh, we'll just get rid of it and go get another one. Unfortunately, that is the mindset of about 40% of the people in Kern County."
Dr. Rakow and other animal advocates, are trying to educate the public about spaying, neutering, the caring and lifetime commitment all pets deserve and need. They want people to know the pet's eyes
don't see a just a person. They see a family. And, those aren't just licks. They are love meant for someone who feels the same way and who will not dispose of it.
"It's really about the responsibility of these owners to say stop. Think about what you are doing. I'm glad that you want a pet, happy that you want a pet. Make sure you're going to give that pet a whole life of love and not just throw it out like the water bottle." said Johnson.
If you are interested in adopting a pet, please visit one of the many links below for a list of pets in need of a forever home.
Http://psbweb.co.kern.ca.us/AC_Internet/
http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/acc/animal_control.html
http://www.shafter.com/44/Animal-Control
http://www.cityofdelano.org/index.aspx?NID=232
https://www.facebook.com/WascoAnimalShelter
Https://www.facebook.com/ALPHACanineSanctuary
http://marleysmutts.org/
http://www.haltrescue.org/
Other Services:
http://www.critterswithoutlitters.org/
http://bakersfieldpetfoodpantry.org/
They call those animals owner surrenders. Shelters started seeing a lot of it during the recession when people could no longer afford animals and they understood that. But, it's still happening now. Dogs and cats, once part of a family become disposable pets.
A pet defined by the Cambridge Dictionary is an animal kept in the home as a companion and is treated affectionately.
While we see many examples of priceless pet/owner bonds, in Kern County, local animal advocates say too often we see dogs dumped, left like rubbish on the road, or surrendered to shelters. Once used to being a part of a family, all of a sudden, they are abandoned.
"These pets get tossed to the side like disposable water bottles, you know," said Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Bakersfield SPCA.
Johnson says, for some reason, locally, pets hold little value in the eyes of many. Owners turn their animals in weekly, filling kennels and cages with a wide range of excuses.
"We have people that have come in and tried to turn in pets simply because their animal didn't match their furniture. They remodeled their house and they want to turn their animal in because it no longer matched," said Johnson. "I've literally had pet owners turn in a pet to us and say they just don't want the animal anymore or anything else and then say can we go look at the other dogs in the kennels. And, it's heartbreaking because do you understand what you are doing to this pet."
It is the same story at Kern County Animal Services, according to Nick Cullen, Shelter Supervisor.
"I come from New York. I moved here in 1999 and I was astounded at the amount of stray animals and the amount of animals we take in at the animal shelter, and just the amount of animals that roam free," said Cullen.
Comparing counties with similar populations, in 2013, Ventura County Shelters took in 9,610 animals. Kern County took in 26,319 animals during the same time. And, nearly 2,100 of those were owner surrenders. That's more than five animals per day.
Those are just the ones they know about. The story of a 9-month old lab left in a plastic bag outside the city shelter will never be known. It was too far gone by the time workers found it dumped outside their door, it had to be euthanized. Nor will they know the stories of countless pets seen everyday roaming the roads. 17 News spent 20 minutes in a Central Bakersfield neighborhood and spotted ten dogs and cats, nearly getting hit on a couple occasions, obviously thirsty and hungry, probably not used to fending for themselves.
"We have people who will literally open their door and let their dog out. End of story and just they shut the door. I mean we have had people turn in dogs that have a micro chip and they will tell us its a stray dog and the micro chip registers back to that person that just turned it in," said Johnson.
Johnson says the SPCA had to post a "No Euthanasia" sign for healthy pets, at their facility, because owners were willing to kill their healthy pets just to get rid of them. So, those owners will sometimes turn to veterinarians.
"I had one couple that were getting married and he didn't like cats so she had to bring her three cats in," said Dr. Rose Rakow.
Veterinarian, Dr. Rose Rakow says, while it's rare, this year, an owner has paid to have their healthy, younger pet put down. Admittedly, it's the hardest part of her job, but in some cases better than the alternative.
"Everyday on the way to work, I go up Mount Vernon and down Kentucky. There's either a dead dog or 3 dogs running loose everyday," said Dr. Rakow. "If it bite or chews or gets out of the yard, and destroys something then oh, we'll just get rid of it and go get another one. Unfortunately, that is the mindset of about 40% of the people in Kern County."
Dr. Rakow and other animal advocates, are trying to educate the public about spaying, neutering, the caring and lifetime commitment all pets deserve and need. They want people to know the pet's eyes
don't see a just a person. They see a family. And, those aren't just licks. They are love meant for someone who feels the same way and who will not dispose of it.
"It's really about the responsibility of these owners to say stop. Think about what you are doing. I'm glad that you want a pet, happy that you want a pet. Make sure you're going to give that pet a whole life of love and not just throw it out like the water bottle." said Johnson.
If you are interested in adopting a pet, please visit one of the many links below for a list of pets in need of a forever home.
Http://psbweb.co.kern.ca.us/AC_Internet/
http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/acc/animal_control.html
http://www.shafter.com/44/Animal-Control
http://www.cityofdelano.org/index.aspx?NID=232
https://www.facebook.com/WascoAnimalShelter
Https://www.facebook.com/ALPHACanineSanctuary
http://marleysmutts.org/
http://www.haltrescue.org/
Other Services:
http://www.critterswithoutlitters.org/
http://bakersfieldpetfoodpantry.org/