Animal Shelters are in a State of Emergency

San Diego County’s leading animal welfare organizations join to urge the community to act now

For the first time, San Diego’s leading animal welfare organizations have come together to raise awareness about the critical state of animal shelters in San Diego County. In a press conference on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, eleven organizations asked the community to join them in saving lives by adopting, fostering and spaying and neutering their pets, before the situation becomes even more urgent during the busier summer months. You can see what the press conference looked like here:

For the first time, San Diego’s leading animal welfare organizations have come together to raise awareness about the critical state of animal shelters in San Diego County. Eleven organizations are asking the community to join them in saving lives by adopting, fostering and spaying and neutering their pets, before the situation becomes even more urgent during the busier summer months.

City of Chula Vista Animal Services, East County Animal Rescue, Feral Cat Coalition, Friends of Cats, Frosted Faces Foundation, PAWS of Coronado, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, San Diego County Department of Animal Services, San Diego House Rabbit Society, San Diego Humane Society and Spay Neuter Action Project are all committed to staying at zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter pets. However, sustaining this achievement is becoming increasingly difficult as local shelters and rescues are over capacity with animals.

Here’s how the community can help:

• Adopt: Adopting saves lives, and there are thousands of pets available at shelters and local rescues right now. From puppies and kittens to senior companions and small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs —shelters are overflowing with deserving animals in need of adoption. View pets available for adoption:

          City of Chula Vista Animal Services
          East County Animal Rescue
          Friends of Cats
          Frosted Faces Foundation
          PAWS of Coronado
          Rancho Coastal Humane Society
          San Diego County Department of Animal Services
          San Diego House Rabbit Society
          San Diego Humane Society

• Foster: This is a critical – and temporary – way you can help save lives. By opening your home to foster a pet, you give them relief from the stress of the shelter and create space for other animals in need. Become a foster volunteer today by visiting any of our partner websites above or projectdogfoster.org.
  
• Spay and neuter: Increasing the number of spayed/neutered animals is the only way to stop the crisis of pet overpopulation at its root. Reduced access to spay/neuter services during the pandemic exacerbated the challenges facing our shelters. We urge our community to prevent unintended litters by having their pets spayed or neutered, and supporting local programs that provide spay/neuter resources for owned animals and community cats. For a list of organizations providing affordable spay/neuter services, please visit our Reduced Fee Spay and Neuter Services page.

We are committed to “Staying at Zero” euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter pets, but we need our community to act now to ensure San Diego County remains a safe and compassionate haven for animals. Please adopt, foster and spay/neuter before this state of emergency becomes a devastating crisis for animals and the people who love them.