County shelters experiencing overcrowding due to increased owner surrenders, department developing intervention program to support families in keeping animals in their homes

Effective Wednesday, February 3rd, Contra Costa County Animals Services Department (CCCASD) will be temporarily ceasing the acceptance of owner surrendered animals at their shelters in Martinez and Pinole due to the volume of animals at both facilities. Certain exceptions to this temporary freeze will be made for animals that are injured, unhealthy, under twelve weeks of age, or as otherwise required by law. The agency has also indefinitely closed its night deposit boxes for animals that are surrendered during hours that the department is closed to the public.

“Surrendering an animal to the shelter should be a last resort,” says Beth Ward, Contra Costa County Animal Services’ Director.  “High owner surrender rates leads to overpopulation in our shelters, which increases the possibilities that animals will get disease and/or experience behavior problems. Properly managing shelter inventory and the health of the pets in our care improves the chances of finding homes for the animals in our care.”

CCCASD expects this temporary freeze on accepting owner surrendered animals to be in effect for roughly a month, during which time the department will be developing an intervention program to help support families in keeping their animals in their homes. During this period, CCCASD will continue to receive and impound animals that are sick, injured or abandoned, as well as strays and animals that are confiscated as a result of active investigations or impounded by other law enforcement agencies in Contra Costa County.

Families in need can email asdweb@asd.cccounty.us or call (925) 335-8300 to determine if CCCASD can accept their pet. There is a fee of $50.00 for unlicensed animals surrendered by their owners. The fee for surrendering a licensed animal is $30.00.

County residents can visit www.ccasd.org to view a list of online resources to support them in keeping their pets.

To adopt a pet, call them at (925) 335-8300 or visit the shelter at 4800 Imhoff Place in Martinez.

Contra Costa Animal Services is the largest animal welfare organization in Contra Costa County. The department operates two shelters, in Martinez and Pinole, where they provide high-quality animal care services, shelter homeless, abandoned and lost animals, place animals in safe, caring homes, and provide education and services to enhance the lives of people and their animal companions. Additionally, the department’s Field Services Division plays a crucial role in protecting the health and safety of all people and animals in our community through enforcement of state and laws, protecting the public from animal injury and working to prevent animal cruelty, abuse and neglect.

A few of the many roosters in the neighborhood can be seen roaming at the corner of Viera Avenue and Bown Lane at 6:45 am on Saturday, November 22, 2015.

By Allen Payton

For the past three years, Kurt Loomis and his neighbors have been living with a growing flock of noisy, messy roosters in their neighborhood.

Caught between the county and the city, while the two agencies were in the midst of annexing the area into the city limits, Loomis tried everything to get rid of the birds and get some help from those who represent him.

More roosters at the end of Vine Lane.

He met with city staff, gathered  signatures on a petition from 19 of his neighbors as instructed, called the mayor and three of the four council members, spoke at a council meeting, but still nothing happened.

But, in phone conversations with Mayor Wade Harper, Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock and Council Members Mary Rocha and Tony Tiscareno, this past week, they all committed to doing something to help solve the problem.

The city received $1 million for the annexation, and it has been suggested the Council use part of those funds to pay to trap the birds. Harper said the city received a quote of $7,000.

“Definitely those issues are things the council can deal with providing some assistance and funding to address that,” Harper said. “If someone wants to bring it to council and agendize it we can deal with it.”

Honoring families of all shapes and sizes, bring your pets for a worship service and blessing, Saturday, October 3, 9:30 a.m., at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1360 E. Tregallas Rd., Antioch. For more information visit www.stjohnsantioch.org.

FROM THE DESK OF PEACHES OF ANTIOCH…

Hey Everybody!

I hope you are all as excited about my 7th Birthday Bash as I am! If you haven’t already heard about it, on Saturday, May 2, 2015, from 11am to 3pm, the Staff and Volunteers will be hosting my 7th Birthday Paw-ty at Antioch Animal Services! There will be a Piñata (for kids 10 and under only), a Coloring Contest, a Pin the Pretty Pink Bow on the Peaches Poster Game, Face Painting, Twisty Balloons, a Raffle for some AwesomePrizes, and lots and lots and lots of Birthday Cake!

My 7th Birthday Bash is Free to the public and that means you are all invited! You don’t have to bring a birthday present to attend, but if you’d like to bring one, what I want most of all is cleaning supplies for the Animal Shelter and Sponsorships for our Adoptable Cats and Dogs.

The greatest part about this event is that all Pit Bulls, Pit Bull mixes and Bully Breeds will have an adoption fee of only $7 in honor of my 7th Birthday! So if you’re looking to adopt a dog like me, Saturday, May 2, 2015 is the day!

Also, be sure to wear your Peaches t-shirt so we can get one giant group selfie with me and all of you!

Did I mention that there was going to be birthday cake?!

My 7th Birthday Bash is going to be quite the Paw-ty! So come on down and join the fun at Antioch Animal Services!

See you all on Saturday!

XOXOXO,

Peaches, Resident Shelter Dog

Antioch Animal Services

The large, ceremonial gift check from the Jones estate.

By Allen Payton

Long-time Antioch residents and supporters of The Antioch Friends of the Animals, the late Joseph “Smoky” and Jody Jones, left a nice gift for programs at the Antioch Animal Shelter.

The display at the Antioch Animal Shelter, included a proclamation by the City Council.

A presentation of the gift was made on February 26 and included a display about Smoky and Jody Jones at the Antioch Animal Shelter.

Elizabeth Rimbault, the Trustee for the Jones estate, sent a letter to the City of Antioch explaining the bequest:

“I am happy to announce the Jones home has sold and I am now in a position to close the estate and trust. You were notified by prior mail that the Animal Shelter would be receiving 15% of the remainder of the estate/Trust. Now having calculated that percentage, it is with great pleasure I tell you the shelter will be receiving $53,447.12.

The intent of this gift from Smoky and Jody, was to support the programs sponsored by the Antioch Friends of the Animals. The reason for giving the actual funds to the shelter instead of the Friends, is the belief that the shelter would out live the founders or life of the non-profit Friends. Due to the wish to support the programs of the Friends it is our hope a minor advisory committee will be established to include members of the Friends in an advisory capacity for the spending of the money.

Programs that are automatically supported are Spay & Neuter, pet food for pets of the homeless or indigent, vaccines and other health programs for shelter animals and moving towards a ‘No Kill‘ shelter. Restrictions on these funds include employee salaries, management, and the supporting or organizing other fund raising efforts. The funds are to be spent on Shelter programs endorsed by and supported by the Antioch Friends of the Animals. This bequest is NOT intended to be used to reduce any funding the shelter is currently receiving as part of the City of Antioch budget and is intended to only enhance programs and funding currently in place.

We know the shelter appreciates this wonderful bequest from Smoky and Jody. I wish you all great success and enjoyment in promoting healthy shelter programs, old and new.”