SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Animal Services has announced the dog population within its three shelters is at its maximum capacity limit.
The number of dogs currently being housed by Animal Services is 185, a number the department is calling “unsustainable” and requiring “immediate action.”
“Santa Barbara County Animal Services currently is at maximum capacity right now, said Ernesto Poblano, Santa Barbara County Animal Services Operations Manager. “Normally, we can house up to 165 dogs, but currently we’re at 185, so it’s really critical situation. We want to help maintain the health and well-being of the dogs, and when we get to this certain point where we’re at now, all that starts to decline.”
In an effort to encourage pet adoptions and lower the dog population at the shelters as quickly as possible, Animal Services is waiving adoption fees this weekend, February 16-18.
“Waiving adoption fees is a pretty great deal because all of the pets that are adopted are spayed or neutered, microchipped, fully vaccinated and current on their flea and tick preventative, which would cost up to a couple hundred dollars if one were to buy a pet and get that done at a regular vet clinic,” said Anastacia Funes, Santa Barbara County Animal Services Marketing and Events Coordinator.