One, a juvenile, seen on north side of Hwy 4

By Antioch Animal Services

Antioch Animal Services posted the following announcement on their Facebook page Thursday morning:

10/2/24 @ 2040hrs Antioch Police Department responded to the 200 block of William Reed Drive for reports of a prowler heard in the back yard of a residence.

APD officers put their aerial drone up and were able to determine that a juvenile mountain lion (approximately the same size as the neighbor’s adult Rottweiler) was the cause of the noise coming from behind the home.

We have been getting an increased number of reports over the last month and it appears there may be at least two mountain lions being seen more frequently in the following residential areas;

9/8/24 ~ midnight & early am. Two reports on Bluecurl Ct / Bluebell Circle, in open space. (Hillcrest Park area).

9/18/24 ~ early am. One report on Tabora Dr / James Donlon Blvd in resident’s backyard drinking from pond. (James Donlon / Contra Loma area).

9/28/24 ~ early am. Bluecurl Ct / Bluebell Circle, in open space (Hillcrest Park area)

10/2/24 ~ early am. Eagleridge Dr / Eagleridge Park lurking near turkeys. (Near Mokelumne Trail)

10/2/24 ~ evening. William Reed Dr / G St in resident’s backyard.

Mountain lion attacks are uncommon and close encounters are usually rare in our area, but it is not unheard of to have mountain lion sightings in the vicinity of trails, easements or the open spaces throughout our City.

Chickens, cats and other pets will attract a big cat to your yard. Water sources that attract wildlife also attract the big kitties.

Please be vigilant.

Bring your pets in at night. Remove food that attracts community cats and wildlife, ensure trash and fallen fruits, etc. are picked up and not attracting critters.

If you experience an attack by a mountain lion, please call 911.

Sightings can be reported to us at antiochanimalservices@gmail.com and/or CA Fish & Wildlife askbdr@wildlife.ca.gov.

Joybound People & Pets will be setting up their rig outside of Antioch Animal Services on Tuesday, August 20th at 8am. This is first-come, first-served, spay/neuter services at affordable cost.

Please read all details as there are limitations on size / numbers of animals per household.

We advise getting here early!

Thank you to Joybound for this valuable service.

Antioch Animal Services is located next to the Antioch Police Facility at the corner of W. 2nd and L Streets in Rivertown.

In a post on the Antioch Animal Services Facebook page on July 20, 2024, Acting Animal Services Manager / Animal Services Supervisor Cat Cottle offered a tribute to volunteer Stephanie Pitman who passed away in February. A celebration of life was held for her on Saturday, July 20th.

She wrote, “We will not be having our PetCo Mobile adoptions today as some of our staff and volunteers will be celebrating the life of one of our volunteers, one of our team, one of our friends, who passed away in February of this year.

Stephanie was one of the greatest souls and more than a pleasure & blessing to have in our midst.

Words cannot ever describe the enormity of Stephanie’s heart, for her family, for her volunteering, for her spiritual beliefs, for her work, for all people, for all creatures & for life.

I would often be stuck wondering at the beginning or end of her volunteer shift if her tears today were those of joy or sadness……sometimes it was both, always it was from a place of love.

Stephanie dedicated so much of her life to others and then she jumped on the volunteer train at Antioch Animal Services – we were so fortunate to have her, equally fortunate to have her late Mom, Rhea and to still have her amazing son Gregory here – a triple blessing for us & a testament to wonderful family values.

Stephanie would commit herself to many of our long term dogs and refer to them as her ‘shelter hubbies’, but the one who stole her heart in the end, and that she attributed to discovering her illness, was Lucy.

I could write many stories about Stephanie, but nothing sticks more with me than how she made me feel. I know everyone felt it. She lifted the room. She radiated positivity. Her attitude was contagious. Even when Lucy was giving her some ‘trouble’ with reactivity, she powered through and worked so hard to ensure Lucy got the tools she needed to stay by her side….often telling me ‘but she’s such a good girl, Cat’.

Everything in the world was bettered by Stephanie’s presence and to know her was to love her. We are honored to celebrate her memory today and we know she will want us to return to doing our best for the animals she loved so much…..and we will.

~ Cat”

By Antioch Community Library

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 1:30 pm for an exciting presentation by Wildmind Science Learning as we are transported to the tropical world of the rainforest. Featuring live animals such as the armadillo, coendou, macaw, skink, and spectacled owl, audience members will be introduced to the wide variety of animals and plants that call the rainforest home.

The Antioch Library is located at 501 W. 18th Street. For more information about the library visit Antioch | Contra Costa County Library.

“We hope that this free adoption fee event will help…find new homes for the plethora of wonderful pets in our care.” – Acting Animal Services Manager Cat Cottle

Antioch Animal Services is excited to announce that we are participating in BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Summer National Empty the Shelters™ reduced-fee adoption event, taking place from July 8th to July 31st. This event aims to find loving homes for deserving pets by offering reduced adoption fees and promoting pet adoptions. As the nation’s largest funded adoption event, Empty the Shelters has helped more than 253,000 pets find loving homes. During each nationwide event, BISSELL Pet Foundation sponsors reduced adoption fees of $50 or less to make adoption affordable for prospective pet owners.

• Antioch Animal Services will participate July 8-31 offering $0 adoption fees for all dogs and cats.
• Our business hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10am to 5pm
• All pets are listed at 24petconnect.com, and are spayed/neutered, microchipped & vaccinated
• Walk ins are welcome, appointments will get priority, phone lines open at 830am, (925) 779-6989

“Shelters are struggling with a variety of challenges right now – some are evacuating pets because of wildfires, tornadoes, or even loss of air conditioning in extreme heat, and others are overcrowded and having to euthanize highly adoptable pets to make space, a tragic situation,” said Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “BISSELL Pet Foundation’s upcoming Summer National Empty the Shelters event is a crucial opportunity for people to make a real difference in their community through adoption. Every single adoption saves a life and creates space to save another. Please adopt and give a pet a chance it might otherwise not have. If you can’t adopt, fostering saves lives when shelters are full. Deserving pets across the country are counting on all of us.”

Following are key points and additional facts about BISSELL Pet Foundation and Antioch Animal Services:

• Empty the Shelters is the nation’s largest funded adoption event and has helped more than 233,000 pets find homes
• across the country and in Canada since its inception in 2016.
• Empty the Shelters provides reduced adoption fees at shelters, typically ranging from $0 to $50 per animal adoption.
• Each participating organization has their own adoption process and requirements.
• Our nation’s shelters need your support. Please consider fostering or donating if you unable to add a pet to your family.
• Antioch Animal Services has been a party of the Bissell Empty the Shelters™ event since 2016.
• All of our adoptable pets are listed at 24petconnect.com, filter by zip code 94509.

“Our little shelter by the Delta is not escaping the effects of the rising cost of living, the increased cost of veterinary care and the restrictions placed on rentals / leases that require hefty deposits or don’t allow any pets to live in them and so, we have many owners requesting surrender of their pets or not coming to get them if they have come in as stray,” said Acting Animal Services Manager Cat Cottle. “With 4th of July fast approaching we know we will be seeing a spike in the number of stray animals that get loose after being spooked by the fireworks and so we will be waiving redemption fees for anyone’s pet that arrives at Antioch Animal Services between July 2nd and July 7th.”  

“We hope that this free adoption fee event will help alleviate the overcrowding we have been experiencing and find new homes for the plethora of wonderful pets in our care,” she added.

Antioch Animal Services is located at 300 L Street next to the Antioch Police Facility in historic, downtown Antioch. For more information visit www.antiochca.gov/police/animal-services.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

As visitation to East Bay Regional Parks increases in warmer months, encounters with coyotes become more common. Coyotes are native to California and are found in various wildland habitats, as well as in rural and urban areas. They hold cultural and ecological importance throughout the state.

Coyote parents are active and protective of den sites from spring through fall, when new pups are born. It is a normal reaction for them to run away when spotted, although some have become used to human presence and will continue their activities while being watched. Visitors are encouraged to keep coyote safety precautions in mind when visiting Regional Parks throughout the year.

Coyote Safety Tips

Avoid hiking alone so you have help in case of emergency.

Keep children and pets nearby; keep your dog(s) on a leash.

Be aware of your surroundings as you walk, jog, or ride.

Stay on trails.

Never attempt to feed a coyote.

What To Do If You See a Coyote

Keep an eye on the coyote and observe from afar. Do not approach or engage with the coyote; walk away calmly and leave the area quickly. Do not run. If you have small children, keep them close by. If you have a small dog, keep them on a leash.

What To Do If Approached By A Coyote

Rarely, a coyote may approach you. If a coyote moves within 50 feet and does not go away on its own, encourage the coyote to move away to help it retain a natural fear of humans.

Be as big and loud as possible; shout in a deep, loud, and aggressive voice.

Wave your arms.

Keep dogs and children nearby.

Maintain eye contact, which can make coyotes uncomfortable and timid.

If the coyote continues to approach, do not run or turn your back on the coyote but continue to exaggerate the above gestures while backing away slowly.

Help protect all wildlife and their environment. Never feed, approach, or pet wild animals. For emergencies, contact 911 or the East Bay Regional Park District Public Safety line (510) 881-1833, 24 hours a day.

For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/safety.

The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Free vaccinations, preventative care, microchips, harness fittings, cat & dog food; Resources for veterinary services, including affordable spay/neuter and Amnesty for late dog license renewals

Pet vaccinations are an extremely important part of their health and wellbeing. By teaching your pet’s immune system how to recognize and fight off diseases, they can prevent or lessen the severity of illnesses. That’s why Joybound offers free, monthly pet vaccination clinics, held at various locations in Contra Costa County!

At these clinics, dogs and cats can both receive rabies vaccines, dogs can receive a DHPP vaccine (which protects against Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parainfluenza, and Canine Parvovirus), and cats can receive a FVRCP vaccine (which protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia).

Plus, both dogs and cats can be administered with free pet microchips.

• All patients will be seen first-come, first-served.
• Pet guardians must be Contra Costa County residents.
• Pet guardians must be at least 18 years of age.
• Animals are not given full health or wellness exams at these clinic, only vaccinations and preventative care.
• Please bring prior vaccine records.
• Dogs must be on a leash and cats must be in carriers.
• All pets must be at least 6 weeks old.
• Feral cats or community cats will not be served.
• Joybound People & Pets reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

For more information visit Free Pet Vaccines & Microchips – Joybound (formerly ARF) or contact the Joybound Community Solutions team.

The Contra Costa County Fair will be held at the Contra Costa Event Park, 1201 W. 10th Street in Antioch. For more information visit Contra Costa County Fair 2024 (contracostafair.com).