The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. 

− Andy Rooney

 

 

Conventional wisdom says you can’t buy love, but a visit to the local animal shelter demonstrates that conventional wisdom isn’t always that wise.

Though countywide shelter workers cannot put their finger on exact reasons, they say that the number of cats, dogs and other animals in county shelters has increased over the last few years. 

The long list of available animals for adoption includes, “pocket pets,” such as hamsters and rats, as well as larger animals, such as horses.

Roosters, parakeets, iguanas and one snake are also at various county shelters. The list totals 751 creatures that await adoption at the Santa Maria, Lompoc and Goleta shelter, according to Jan Glick, county Animal Services Director. 

Pete Miller, the superintendent of the shelter in Lompoc, last week guided visitors through the facility to check out the adoptable animals.

Among the prospective pet owners were Kim Beyer and her daughter, Taylor, 5, of Vandenberg Village.

Taylor said shyly that she was looking for “a girl puppy.”

Miller said he and other Animal Services officials are anxious to let the public know about the pet treasures awaiting them at their local shelters. 

Among his adoptable dogs, cats and rabbits, he singled out three good-looking creatures to be photographed.

Sammy, a female in spite of her name, is a mature Labrador mix, Mystery is a gray cat with white paws, and Mimi is a brown lop-eared bunny with what may be the softest fur in the shelter.

“Sammy is an older dog, with the best nature,” Miller said.

“She will be a nice companion for someone for years to come.” Sammy obligingly sat still for the photo, then wagged her tail.

Miller said the number of incoming dogs has gone up. “You would have to attribute some of that to the struggling economy,” he said.

The ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have contributed to the shelter population, he added.

“People are bringing dogs in because they’re shipping out and can’t care for their dogs,” he said.

The Lompoc shelter is closest to Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Aubree Gonzales, a uniformed county animal control officer at the shelter, added that potential adopters need a little preparation before making a decision on a pet.

“People definitely should read up on the breed before adopting a dog,” she said.

Animal Services is a part of county Public Health, and operates the shelters in Lompoc; Santa Maria, where the shelter is new, with space for administrative offices and also a nascent spay-and-neuter clinic, and Goleta, where the cages have recently been renovated.

Adoption fees are $90 for a dog, $65 for a cat, and $25 for a rabbit. Each pet is spayed (female) or neutered (male), and has up-to-date vaccinations and health clearance.

No dog, cat or rabbit is released unless it is spayed or neutered, part of an effort throughout the nation’s animal shelters to stop pet over-population.

Santa Barbara County shelters have too many animals, but some shelters in California need more, Miller said.

“We just sent eight dogs to Sacramento,” he said.

“We’ve sent about 40 so far. They’ve helped us in particular with little dogs. They’ve had adoption success with them.”

DAWG has helped find homes for some surplus dogs, he said, and Marin County has taken some.

In addition to the paid staff, the Lompoc shelter has help from volunteers, who come through Companion Animal Placement Assistance. 

“We’re trying to develop programs like Canine Pals and ASAP at the Goleta Shelter,” Miller said. Volunteers help with fundraising, including a car wash that was held on H Street and raised $500.

“Adoptable animals were brought to the car wash,” Miller said, “and we also had a bake sale.”

The next off-site shelter event will take place at Santa Ynez Feed and Milling Co. on the second Saturday of the month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on April 11.

Shelter staff and volunteers will bring dogs, cats and rabbits and they will display them in front of the store.

The outreach is aimed both at promoting adoptions and recruiting volunteers, Miller said.

“We’re reaching out to people in the Santa Ynez Valley,” he said.

 

 

Reach Margo Kline at mkline@syvjournal.com.