As I sit here writing, my furry companion Marigold—a charming, long-haired orange tabby—purringly occupies the space next to me. Marigold became part of our family through a local shelter’s Five Dollar Fridays deal, where vaccinated and spayed adult cats were offered for a mere pittance. My acquisition of Marigold (and Fluffy) during my wife’s absence led to a ban on solo shelter visits.
I understand my wife’s reasoning behind the rule. I have a soft spot for animals in need, and put me in front of a group of them, and I’m likely to bring one home. It’s disheartening to realize that some of California’s supposedly compassionate government-funded shelters are more akin to places where healthy, adoptable pets face grim outcomes.
Take Orange County, for example. In 2018, they invested $35 million in a swanky new Animal Care shelter, expecting it to alleviate the problem. It’s got all the bells and whistles—dog parks, you name it. Yet, recent data reveals a troubling trend: euthanasia rates are up, and animals are spending even more time confined.
During the pandemic, limiting shelter visits made sense, but even after things returned to normal, the appointment-only policy persisted. How can people bond with a potential pet if they can’t meet them face-to-face? They tried to remedy it with more walk-ins, but it’s still a hassle, especially with lengthy phone waits.
And the excuses they give! They claim it’s about reducing stress for the animals and safeguarding the public from bites, but it’s really just bureaucracy prioritizing convenience over compassion.
A recent report highlighted the myriad issues plaguing these shelters: excessive euthanasia, poor management, staffing shortages—the list goes on. And it’s not isolated to Orange County; neighboring areas are grappling with similar struggles.
Remember when Governor Newsom pledged to make California a “no-kill state”? That hasn’t materialized. He allocated $50 million towards the endeavor, but as The Sacramento Bee reported in October, “Three years and tens of millions of taxpayer dollars later, California animal shelters are euthanizing more healthy, adoptable dogs and cats than ever.” The newspaper noted most of the money ended up going to the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, “to be spent on developing ways to reduce animal euthanasia.
Meanwhile, lovable critters like Marigold pay the price.
It’s time to cut through the red tape and focus on what matters: connecting pets with loving homes. Let people interact with animals without unnecessary barriers. Prioritize adoptions over bureaucracy. Because, ultimately, it’s about saving lives and giving these furry companions the chance they deserve.
Statistics show the scale of the issue. For instance, in Orange County, euthanasia rates for adult dogs nearly doubled since 2018, with animals spending significantly more time in confinement.
Additionally, a recent investigation found that dog kill rates in two Los Angeles County shelters nearly doubled in recent years—from about 15 percent in 2018 to 28 percent.
Despite Governor Newsom’s $50 million allocation towards making California a “no-kill state,” shelters continue to euthanize more healthy, adoptable dogs and cats than ever.
Summary of the Original Article from 12/12/2023 By Steven Greenhut:
But bureaucracy rarely results in creativity and compassion. That usually means wasted tax dollars and inefficient public services. It’s so sad when it means more lovable cats like Marigold will simply be euthanized.