'You keep Fluffy. We don't want Fluffy.' L.A. County animal shelters try a new approach

[Demovictory9]

‘You keep Fluffy. We don’t want Fluffy.’ L.A. County animal shelters try a new approach



Ulysses Sandoval was desperate to save his dog.

Chia needed surgery to remove a large stone in her bladder, but Sandoval had lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had asked family members for help and was ready to take out a loan and sell his car to come up with the $2,200.

Frantically calling rescue groups, he dialed the L.A. County animal care center in Downey. A staff member said he might be eligible for a $500 voucher.

--'-

The voucher, which Sandoval obtained this past spring, is part of an approach called “managed intake” now being used at the seven animal shelters run by Los Angeles County.


People who want to relinquish their dogs or cats must have an appointment, rather than just stopping by during business hours. Shelter workers then assess whether they can help the pet stay with its owner by providing assistance with veterinary bills, food, supplies, boarding or training for behavioral issues.

If those options won’t work, owners are advised to look for another home, though the shelters will still accept the animals as a last resort.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-09-07/la-county-animal-shelters-try-new-appointment-approach

[StarryNite]

1. Great that they are trying to help in the various ways...

to keep the owners and animals together. Often just some assistance like they are offering can make all the difference.

[LeftInTX]

2. It's great that the shelter will help owners with their pets, but

the downside is: I won't touch a stray

We have the same issue in Texas where I live.
If you feed a stray, you own it.
Then if you can't take care of it, then you can be charged with animal neglect or abandonment.

Way back in 1989, we found a dog and fed it. Suddenly we were the legal owners. I was pregnant and stuck in bed. Dog was fairly large and it turned out the dog was also pregnant. It was a disaster when the puppies were born. I had a three year old and I was stuck in bed. Three year old managed to get to the puppies and started juggling them. Hubby had to "take care" of one of the fatally injured puppies.."take care" as in Old Yellar style...

We then had to quick find a home for mom and rest of the pups. Humane Society would not take mom, but would take pups. We left off three week old puppies without their mom. Meanwhile, we could not find a home for the mom. She went bezerk and tore up our yard. We finally found a home, only the new owners abandoned the dog at a an apartment complex. The dog was a menace at the apartment complex. The apartment complex owner had our phone number and called us. Dog was now at a facility and we had to pay $50 to get her out. So we finally, finally found a home for that dog on farm. But, gosh this was three months of my life and I was pregnant.

It was a disaster.
I will never feed a stray.

[Demovictory9]

3. wow. Not sure what rhe laws are in calif. I have been part of group

Feeding feral cays..never did so as private person

[LeftInTX]

4. It certainly was an eye-opening experience

Recently on social media, one woman was living in an apartment. He daughter had been taking care of two rottweilers. (Rottweilers had recently been found) Daughter moved and daughter's new apt would not allow the dogs, so dogs were with the mother. Mother was disabled and could not take care of two rottweilers in her apartment. So, she took to social media.

Rescues were responding to the thread: "All rescues are full, we can't help you" etc. Humane Society is also full. Animal Care Services (Aka Animal Control--city gov) is saying if you find a stray, "Rehome it in your home".

I'm thinking..the poor woman does not know what she got herself into....

People try to be nice and want to help

[Jilly_in_VA]

6. Our shelter is giving vouchers

to people who feed ferals and strays, as well as to owners who bring in "accidental" kittens and puppies. If you have a local shelter, you should appeal to them to start such a program. Get on the board of the shelter if you have to. It's worth it. Our "community cat" program has gotten off to a very good start this way with the kitties getting fixed and chipped and ear-tipped. The only person we've had a problem with (and it's long-standing) is a guy who has Siamese-type cats who breed unfettered. When he gets tired of them, he puts them out. Or so it seems. There is a colony of Siamese/color-point cats in the general area of his house and they keep getting caught by animal control and ending up with us. Some are pretty docile and some are crazy wild. The last one we had was a wild guy who went to barn cats but some woman adopted him and managed to turn him into a house cat who now does not go outside. Anyway, we have given several vouchers to this guy and he's ignored them. He ought to be turned in as a community menace!

[LeftInTX]

7. Cats are different than dogs

Dogs need homes.
They can't exist in a feral state. They become a nuisance at the least and dangerous at the worse.

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. Did you note

that we are ALSO giving vouchers to people with "accidental" puppies? It controls the population that way, at least. If you don't want to feed a stray, that's you.

[spinbaby]

5. It's been a difficult year

I’m in the Pittsburgh area. I don’t know if it’s a late-pandemic phenomenon or what, but cats are very hard to place this year. I volunteer for a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. We’re not a rescue organization, but always seem to have cats and kittens that need homes. Last year we were successful in placing most directly and sent the rest to Animal Friends, who were glad to accept fully vetted and socialized cats. This year, we can’t seem to place them at all. My foster kittens may become my cats, which would bring me up to ten cats.