Groups protest animal shelter kill policy

The Animal Services Department’s strategic plan states their goal as “Striving to decrease our shelter intake, increase our live release rates and to reserve euthanasia only for animals that have serious medical conditions with great suffering, or behavior issues that pose a threat to the public’s health and safety and the animal’s well-being.”

Sapir said in an email, “I live in Contra Costa county and currently NO animal rescue groups are able or willing to work with the facility. Not able because money has dried up…They aren't interested in saving the 'bigger' dogs.” She added, “volunteer rescue workers I am affiliated with, request, (we'd like to demand), an immediate stay on all animals put on kill lists and needlessly exterminated. CCAS has 2-3 dogs on a list now, surely they have space until things are worked out including there is a hired professional experienced Behaviorist team in place who can make informed decisions.”

Another activist, Alex Clark of CalPaws K9, has also expressed online her frustration with CCAS. “We have good relationships with shelters and today we closed the door on the Martinez shelter,” the retired sheriff deputy said recently. “We refuse to work or help with bullies, difficult county employees and refuse to have to deal with animal control services not doing their jobs or at least attempting to work with us. The saddest part is these dogs in this shelter are at the mercy of an employee that does not even know their name or their gender. It is easy to euthanize a dog you have no connection to.”

Beth Ward, director of CCAS, said in an email late Wednesday, “We prioritize providing compassionate care, working with our community to reduce the number of animals that enter our shelter, and enforcing state and local laws. We continuously seek ways to improve our services and have implemented much of the community feedback to improve outcomes. This includes hiring a foster coordinator and a dog behavior and enrichment coordinator to assist with caring for our most vulnerable population, and working in partnership with many local rescue groups to find placements for animals that may not be ready for general adoption. However, there is still more work to do…Contra Costa Animal Services uses humane euthanasia as a last resort in instances where an animal is too ill or dangerous and when quality of life for the animals in the shelter are at risk or community safety may be a key concern.”

Sapir noted Wednesday that she expected protesters to gather at the Martinez shelter to demonstrate against the planned 11 dog euthanizations scheduled at the facility.

Sapir had gathered support from Board of Supervisors Chairman John Gioia, who has agreed to meet with the group and has arranged a tour of the shelter with Director Beth Ward on May 22. Orinda Mayor Inga Miller has also expressed support for shelter reforms.

For more information: www.contracosta.ca.gov/7282/Animal-Services