Holding Period for Abandoned Pets in California Shelters Shortened
Holding Period for Abandoned Pets in California Shelters Shortened
Stray animals that include abandoned pets are in danger of being put to sleep after three days in the shelter unless they are claimed or adopted.
Previously, they were given six days in the shelter but in order to reduce the budget deficit amounting to $26 billion, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as the rest of the legislative leaders agreed to shorten it.
With the sluggish economy, animal shelters have been rescuing and giving care to more and more animals, most of which were abandoned by their owners due to foreclosure. In some cases, these pets were just left at the properties while the others were taken to the shelters usually because they are not allowed to live in apartments or condominium units that their owners are now renting.
Although the new policy regarding holding period might mean savings for the state government, the Marin Humane Society is not in agreement. For them, the shortened holding period could mean the difference between life and death for some of these animals who can actually be adopted. Most animal shelters keep strays as long as they do not have any behavioral problems or serious health issues.
Similarly, a lot of owners are worried that their beloved dog or cat might be mistaken for abandoned pets and put to sleep even before they are able to start putting up flyers.
On the other hand, smaller animal shelters welcome the new policy considering their lack of resources. Animal welfare societies even believe that most of them already practices euthanasia.
The shortened holding period actually weakened the Hayden Bill of 1997 (Animal Adoption Mandate). The said bill allowed owners enough time to claim their pets and the shelter to send the unclaimed pets to other shelters or rescue organizations.
Last year, over 400,000 cats and dogs were euthanized in California, a rise of 15 percent from 2004 as recorded by the California Department of Public Health. Also, the American Humane Association believes that nationally, 9.6 million abandoned pets and strays are put to sleep every year.
If you intend to help an abandoned pet to get a new home, visit our page about Abandoned foreclosure pets and find resources and information that will lead you about how to help those poor animals.