‘Step up and help’: Bakersfield animal shelter urges adoption of big dogs amid surge | News

“We have far too many animals here in our shelter and in the community, all over the place,” said Nicole Gitzke, communications coordinator for the Animal Care Center. “We just need people to step in and help. If they have the space in their hearts and homes to help, that makes space in our refuge that really needs it.

Large dogs, such as huskies, pit bulls, and German shepherds, are popular, but families are sometimes hesitant to adopt them because they fear they will need a large home with a large backyard to accommodate these animals. . But Gitzke said that was just a misconception.

“We have dogs that all they want to do is sit on the couch and lay down,” she said. “You don’t have to have a big house to have a big dog. You can take them for a walk. There are lots of things you can do to stimulate them rather than sitting inside all day.

Still, public hesitation caused a buildup of large dogs at the animal shelter. Gitzke estimated that about 150 of the roughly 200 dogs housed at the shelter weigh more than 40 pounds.

Lack of space, in addition to an outbreak of distemper first reported last week, has forced the shelter to close its doors to new intakes. To try to make room for animals that managers know need shelter, the Bakersfield Animal Care Center and Kern County Animal Services are participating in the “Live Large – Adopt a Big Dog” campaign with approximately 20 other Southern California shelters.

From Saturday through Jan. 31, the Animal Care Center will waive adoption fees for all dogs, including those under 40 pounds, to encourage adoptions and foster homes.

Kern County Animal Services, which is also participating in the campaign, is reducing its adoption fee to $22 and providing a short-term supply of dog food to new dog owners. In addition, the county will hold two free pet vaccination clinics from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and January 25 to administer the canine distemper vaccine at its location at 3951 Fruitvale Ave.

All participating agencies have committed to waiving or reducing fees at least for dogs 40 pounds and over.

Best Friends hopes to bring 500 dogs into homes in two weeks. The organization named the campaign after California residents’ propensity to “live big.”

“We thought, ‘Hey, if you want to live big, adopt a big dog and you’ll have lots of fun and love in your life,'” Best Friends public relations manager Michelle Sathe said.

She added that those who cannot adopt should consider becoming foster parents.

“It’s a great opportunity because everything is paid for, the food, the supplies, the medical care, and you’re basically the front door to help this dog find that great forever home,” she said. added. “Because foster families help us get information about what a dog is like in a family environment.”

For the Bakersfield Animal Care Center, the campaign comes at a difficult time. A distemper outbreak has already caused the shelter to euthanize more than 100 dogs in the past few months, and the facility has contacted a distemper expert to develop a response plan.

The contagious disease is incurable and often fatal, and is transmitted by direct contact with an infected animal. The city has urged Bakersfield residents not to pick up stray dogs due to the risk of an infected dog spreading the disease to animals at home.

Still, the Bakersfield Animal Care Center is moving forward with the campaign to adopt and foster with caution.

“There is always a risk that a dog will be exposed to a disease whether it is our shelter, another shelter or even a breeder. That’s why we’re working to make sure people keep their pets up to date on vaccines to help prevent the spread of disease,” Gitzke said in an email to The Californian. “We test the dogs daily to see who is sick/not sick and move them away in quarantine, if they are sick. We take as many proactive measures as possible. »