At Mendocino Animal Care Services, every day is a challenge in caring for the growing number of abandoned animals that have been brought to the shelter. Laura Mares, a volunteer with the shelter and the dog coordinator for Animal Rescue of Anderson Valley, said that Canelo, a dog that was brought in last June, was one of the lucky ones to find a new home. Canelo was abandoned by his owner after they realized they couldn’t provide for his needs.
“We gave the family food and toys for Canelo, and then we stayed in contact. It turned out they weren’t able to provide for his needs. I brought Canelo into my home. He needed heartworm tests, vaccines and neutering. We posted his information online, and finally his forever home happened.”
Every day, community members post messages about abandoned dogs on Facebook and NextDoor, highlighting the need for responsible pet ownership. According to Amy Campbell, Shelter Director, the county and the entire country are in the midst of an abandoned animal crisis.
- Vets are harder to come to by
- Food is more expensive
- Many people are realizing they can no longer care for a pet they adopted during Covid
Campbell explained that the shelter is seeing a surge of abandoned animals due to dogs that weren’t spayed or neutered. Today, dogs are sharing kennels due to overcrowding at the shelter, which is housing 61 dogs and some additional dogs in foster homes.
| Dogs in the Shelter | Foster Homes |
|---|---|
| 61 dogs | Additional dogs |
When the shelter was less crowded, dog owners could count on the shelter if they needed to surrender a pet. Now, “owner surrenders” are at the bottom of the Shelter’s priority list.
“Dog owners must begin to realize that rehoming their dogs is their responsibility.”
Mares gives a pat to her foster dog Brookes, a 2 and ½ year-old Dogo Argentino. Brookes was lucky to find Mares, who was able and willing to foster him. Like 99 percent of the dogs that end up at the shelter, Brookes arrived looking and acting like someone’s pet, but with no collar, tags or microchip.
- Brookes came in last January
- Mares started fostering him in July
- Brookes is a big boy
Mares emphasizes the importance of responsible pet ownership. “Owning an animal is about problem-solving. If a dog is jumping over the fence, put a lock on the gate. Close doors. Help a neighbor if they need assistance keeping their dog inside.”
“People get angry if we don’t accept a surrendered dog, but if we do take it in, we may have to euthanize an animal to create more space. No one wants a dog to be euthanized. Our staff and volunteers know and love these dogs, and it hits them hardest,” says Campbell.
“These are ‘community dogs’ and this is a community issue,” says Campbell. “Someone needs to pick up this dog, and that someone needs to be us,” says Mares. I’ve taken in 6 or 7 dogs and spent my own money to get their shots, spaying and neutering.”
- Follow the leash law
- Be proactive in making sure your dog can’t escape your home
- Have a collar with a phone number on the name tag
- Microchip your dog or cat
- Post photos on lost/found pets sites on Facebook and NextDoor
- Pick up lost dogs
- Donate to support community members taking in abandoned animals
Mares is working on collecting resources to help the community take care of abandoned dogs. If you can, donate kibble or canned food to the shelter, so that if someone picks up a dog, you can help with food donations. Donated funds can cover the cost of vaccines, chipping, spaying and neutering.
“If you’re ready to adopt a dog, get a dog from the shelter,” says Campbell. “You pay an adoption fee, but when they leave the shelter, they’re ready to go- licensed, neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. Adopting from us makes room for the next animal to come in.”
Meet the Dogs
The first Saturday of every month is a “Meet the Dogs” adoption event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. This is an opportunity to view available dogs for adoption without an appointment.
- Volunteer orientations take place on the second Saturdays of the month at 9:00 AM
- Dog walking orientation
- Close-toed shoes are required
- Pack Walks take place on the third Saturday of the month at 9 a.m.
- Kitten Season is coming, and the Shelter is looking for volunteers who are willing to be trained to care for newborn kittens and moms until they are old enough to be returned to the shelter and be adopted.
For those wishing to help with donations to support community members taking in abandoned animals, checks may be sent to AVAR, 8501 East Side Potter Valley Rd., Potter Valley, CA 95469. Please put “dumped pets’ medical needs” on the check.
The Shelter is open 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, closing for lunch from 1-1:30 p.m. Saturday business hours are 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., closing for lunch from 1-1:30 p.m.
