'We haven't been this full in a very long time:' County animal shelter hits crisis levels

Ventura County animal shelters are waiving adoption fees and asking owners of lost pets to claim them after admission levels reached crisis levels.

As of last week, Ventura County Animal Services had 205 dogs occupying 146 of its indoor and outdoor kennels. By Sunday, about 50 dogs had been adopted and capacity had moved from 140% to 130%, the agency posted on social media.

"We haven't been this full in a very long time," animal services spokesperson Randy Friedman said Thursday.

He said the uptick in admissions started around the Fourth of July. Then, fewer owners came to retrieve their pets and a lower number of adoptions pushed numbers even higher. Also, in the warmer months, many cats are having kittens, Friedman said.

The animal services agency has not decided how long it will waive the adoption fee.

"Right now, we are taking it day by day," he said.

Friedman said most owners reclaim their lost pets but about 40% of the animals are never taken home. He said pet owners, who may owe fees, should never let money get in the way of claiming a pet. The agency will work with them to ensure they can get their pet back.

Shelters are not an ideal place for pets long term, and with the numbers so high, the animals struggle, Friedman said. The overcrowding has led to an outbreak of upper respiratory infection among shelter dogs.

"Over time, it's stressful," he said.

In addition to raising awareness of the animal services' overcapacity, the agency plans to participate in the national Clear the Shelters event Sept. 7, which has helped to adopt out more than 100 animals in the past.

"We are hoping beyond all hope that will bring us relief," he said.

He encouraged people seeking animals to steer clear of online postings and consider a shelter where pets are neutered or spayed and have had health checks.

"We always encourage people to adopt from reputable sources: shelters and humane societies," Friedman said.

The public can help in other ways, staring with fostering animals especially larger dogs that are tougher to pair with a new owner, Friedman said.

Donors can also bring pet food to the agency's pantry, which is the largest in the county. Residents who are struggling to feed their pets can come by and pick up a bag of food.

Businesses like Fence Factory have also stepped up to help, Friedman noted. The company donated fencing to create more temporary outdoor kennel space, he said.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 'We haven't been this full in a very long time:' County animal shelter hits crisis levels