City shelter holds no-kill week in memoriam of dedicated rescuer

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The dog crisis never seems to slow down in Kern County, but there’s hope thanks to dedicated individuals who live for these animals.

One of them was Matt Nelson, who passed away last week at age 33, due to complications of COVID.

“He’s always been that positive spirit that would come around, because this place can be pretty dreadful,” said Joshua Proctor, Animal Behaviorist at the Bakersfield Animal Care Center, “and he always came in with jokes and laughter, and just kind of very buddy buddy with everybody, he just lifts everyone up.”

Alongside his wife Tara who is the foster coordinator for the city shelter, Matt founded OceanRay Rescue .

The Nelsons became a dream team in the crusade to save abandoned canines. Now, the dog rescue community wants to honor Nelson in a special way.

“We are going to dedicate one whole entire week to him and from September 1st to September 7th we’re going to do a whole no-kill week,” said Joshua Proctor.

However, a successful outcome depends on community support.

“For a whole entire week we’ll probably have to save 150 to 200 dogs that week,” said Joshua Proctor.

A mission that would make Matt Nelson proud.

“It’s laughter. Man, when he’d come in, like, you couldn’t help but laugh, it was contagious.” said Joshua Proctor, “He came in with that positive energy, and that’s going to be missed, and we’re already missing. We can still hear the laughter in the lobby.”

This is the first no-kill week the shelter has organized in around two years.

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