CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Shelters throughout San Diego County are facing an unprecedented overcrowding crisis with the need for fosters and adoptions reaching critical levels.
As shelters struggle to make space for the influx of animals, the community is being urged to step up.
Animal shelters and rescues throughout the county have implemented a unique solution to help alleviate overcrowding.
“I’ve never seen it like this before out of the 20 years that I’ve been at the shelter," said Eileen Howard, Senior Animal Care Specialist, Foster Coordinator, with the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility.
“It feels worse than ever," said Lauren Botticelli, with The Animal Pad, dog rescue.
In the South Bay, the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility has run out of space. Staff have been forced to fit up to two small dogs in one pen to make room for others.
“We are very over capacity; we are in urgent need of a lot of help. We have minimum 140 dogs and that’s with about 110 kennels at the most. We’re really struggling and overpopulated; we’ve been this way but we’re seeing the highest number that we are right now," said Viviana Castellanos, with the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility.
At The Animal Pad, the need for support is also greater than ever.
“Rescue groups like us are just drowning every day and the shelters, same exact thing. There’s such a need for so much more than what we currently have in San Diego County to be able to help people and their pets," added Botticelli.
To shed light on the severity of the issue, shelters and rescues have partnered up with businesses and nonprofits throughout the county to host adoption events.
In Chula Vista, the Animal Care Facility hosts “Storytime with Animal Services” at the South Chula Vista Branch Library – where families can see and interact with adoptable animals in a comfortable, non-traditional setting.
The event has proven to be successful, with a 100% adoption rate.
“It has helped us a lot. We do story time here at the library every fourth Wednesday of the month and all of the animals that we bring have gotten adopted," said Castellanos.
The Animal Pad also takes their rescues to gyms, breweries, and other businesses throughout San Diego in an effort to find people willing to open up their homes.
“It’s awesome and we’ve been partnering with a lot of local small businesses to do adoption events," said Botticelli.
Although these programs have shown success in finding pets their forever homes, the community is still being urged to step up and make lasting changes.
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