My Disgusting County
 

Kern's euthanization rates rising again - Today's Paper > Local News | Bakersfield.com - Kern County news, events, shopping & search

I donate to the local SPCA, but I want to do more. I am so disgusted with the state of things in our County. What is the best way I can try to help? It seems like an impossible mission. Many people don't seem to care here. We euthanize more animals than LA County. We have 3 million less people.

that is so sad...i don't know what to say...

So sad, and most of those euthanized pets get mulched up and put into the pet foods.. so sad.. :cry:

Spay and Neuter your pets.

I have never owned a dog or cat that has had a litter. I don't know what is wrong with people. Why would you let your dog have puppies knowing what is going on here? It is horrible. I guess spreading the word about spay and neuter is a good start. I feel like I am pouring a drop in the ocean.

I know, but it's the only way.. So many shelters and pounds neuter and spay before adoption and most towns have spay and neuter coupons available, but you see and hear about litters everyday. Adding to the amount of homeless animals already, It's so sad.

Just a couple of ideas: 1) do they place animals on petfinder? 2) can any of the vets be encouraged to sponsor monthly spay/neuter programs?

These are the only things I can think of right now. It's terribly sad.:(

Ouch - I shouldn't have looked at the pictures, the last one of the dog with the needle you can see the scared look in the doggies eyes......

Oh, nothing like the sadness around animals for me.........I don't know. I don't even feel as sad for people as I do animals alot of the time....I don't know what it is with me.

Anyway, I guess if we can do the best we can do, we can make a small difference. I know I used to have a dog (mixed) having puppies, 3 litters, and I know today it was wrong. I had Jeanie spayed, to do it differently this time. And my cat was spayed right away as well. But i can't even come close to bringing myself to go to shelters to see all the sadness. I guess the only saving grace here is I would rather a dog be put down than suffer.....but still.......my heart hurts right now.

Support good breeders, and recommend others support them too. The Humane Society says that they never get a dog from a responsible breeder. A responsible breeder always takes the dog back, and personally finds it a good home. Joey's breeder told us that at any time in Joey's life for whatever reason we could not care for Joey she would take him back.

It sounds like people in your county know what the problem is....they're just having trouble finding solutions. Waiting on government to do something probably isn't the answer. In our area, the shelter has been able to reduce its kill numbers and is looking forward to the day when they are a no-kill shelter. I don't know all the details but they have been able to partner with the local newspaper and post a 'pet of the day' picture every day. They also do a 'pet of the week' segment on the local news and set up at the local PetSmart on some weekends for pet adoptions. Also, there has been a budget increase from the county and they've built a very nice new shelter. The dogs are housed in rooms rather than cages for prospective owners to come and visit. Some of the rooms have plaques on them that says the cost of it was donated by 'so and so'. Volunteers come by daily to walk the dogs in an area outside. Education is the ultimate answer but there are things that can be done to reduce the numbers. Donations do help and I believe that any breeder, vet, trainer or any person that derives income from animals has a particular responsibility to donate to their shelter in whatever way they can. Here, thanks to donations, you can have a dog spayed or neutered for $15. I don't think any one thing will turn things around, but lots of little efforts can make a huge difference. :aimeeyork :animal-pa :animal-pa :animal-pa :animal-pa :)

My BF's family is from Bakersfield and his mom tells me how bad it is. It makes me so SAD!!!! I wish people were more responsible. I wish people cared about animals as much as we do!

we haVE A MAN THAT BRING IN CATS AND KITTENS WILD WEEKLY TO BE EUTHANIZED JUST TOO MANY UNWANTED PETS sorry caps stuck

OMG! I am in tears here. I should have never clicked on the video. I am in Ridgecrest which is part of Kern county. This is a much much smaller town than in the Bakersfield area so the problem isn't as bad. In fact, there have been shelters opening here to help. Mandatory sterilazation is NOT the answer! I don't know what IS the answer, but this saddened me to see this.