Here's what I wrote to the Animal Shelter:
I'm writing regarding the Jan 19 story by KGO's Seven on Your Side about animal shelter refusal to give Libby Duarte back her dog because it's been adopted.
First off, I'm appalled by the behavior of the Contra Costa Animal Control. For a department that's trying to be sympathetic to pet owners and promoting responsible pet ownership, you seemed very apathetic to reuniting a woman and her lost dog.
Secondly, if your policy is to hold the dog for three days only before it's up for adoption, then Libby should have been informed of that when she called the shelter. I'm sure if she knew her dog would not be returned to her if she waited until Tuesday, she would have fought the traffic neccessary to get to the shelter and her dog asap.
Lastly your 3 day hold policy a violation of the California law popularly known as the Hayden Bill (California SB 1785) which became effective on July 1, 1999, was suspended for the 2003-2004 fiscal year and was reinstated by Governor Schwarzenegger for 2004-2005. It includes the stipulation that all strays, i.e., lost or abandoned animals, brought into public shelters, whether by members of the public or animal control officers, must be held for four days, plus the day they are impounded, for a total of five days (longer for part-time shelters), to include at least one weekday evening until 7 p.m. or one weekend day.
Contra Costa Animal Shelter's policy of 3 days for unlicensed strays clearly does not meet Hayden Bill, a state law, which I would think supercedes a municipal policy. I am very curious to understand what's your reasoning for believing your shelter's policy should violate State Law. The "binding legal contract" you have with those who adopted Libby's dog should be null and void because it was signed while violating state statute. Libby Duarte deserves to have her dog back.
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