Spring Break
Animal shelter opens in downtown San Jose
Ruth C. Wamuyu
Daily Staff Writer
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"About 50,000 animals in the Bay Area are killed through euthanasia every year," said Laura Fulda, director of marketing and communications for the Humane Society Silicon Valley.
In a press release dated Sept. 20, Humane Society Silicon Valley President Christine Benninger said the animals were euthanized because of lack of room at shelters or because they were sick or needed prolonged therapy or a behavioral problem made them hard to adopt.
"The opening is good news," Fulda said. "We can socialize the animals with problems and maybe give them a second chance. It will also allow the Humane Society to concentrate on its mission of finding loving homes for pets."
Until the new center opened, the City of San Jose contracted animal care services to the Humane Society, Fulda said.
"We had about 29,000 animals a year," she said. "Now we will only have about 10,000." A procession extended from the reception area through the front door as people streamed to the new center in the late afternoon. "We are hoping to adopt," said Sandi Martinez, a San Jose resident. "We are looking for a dog or cat."
The Chavez family stood right behind Martinez and her mother, the children peering and glancing at the empty cages in the adoption area.
"We wanted to see if there are any dogs," Sonia Chavez said. "The kids really want Chihuahuas."
The adoption cages were empty because this was the first day of operation and, according to state law, the animals have to be held for a certain period of time, and it would be several weeks before the animals were ready, said Julie St. Gregory, a public relations representative from the department of parks, recreation and neighborhood services animal care and services division.
Beyond the viewing cages, however, the 64 animals that were brought to the center since it opened its doors earlier that day gazed out of their cages with saucer-wide eyes.
"Animal control officers brought in 23 animals and the public brought 41," said Martha Pignone, a senior analyst at the Animal Care Services.
The center will now be the only place accepting strays and surrendered animals in San Jose, St. Gregory said.
"I have four stray cats," said Susan Antuna, a San Jose resident. "I am dropping two off today and the other two later. The mother just left them at my doorstep."
St. Gregory said state law mandates cities to take strays off the streets.
"The problem is exacerbated by people not spaying or neutering their pets," she said.
In six years, one female dog and its offspring can be the source of 67,000 puppies and in seven years, one female cat and its young can produce 420,000 kittens, according to a hand out from the City of San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services department.
"Feral cats (cats born on the street) are a particular problem," St. Gregory said. "We have to euthanize them because we cannot socialize them."
The feral cats are held in the "Wildcats Cross" section, while stray dogs are held in the "Hobo Junction," St. Gregory said.
She said dogs held in the "Orphan Pup Lane" had been surrended by their owners, while dogs in the "Behave Yourself Row" had bitten someone and were on a 10- day quarantine to monitor them for rabies.
Then there were the dogs in "Pawcatraz," held long-term because their owners had pending " cruelty to animals" charges or other legal cases, and the dogs have to be held until the case is adjudicated, she said.
She said "Sniffel Kitty" is reserved for cats with upper-respiratory infections and they stay there until they recover.
"People wanting to adopt or find a lost pet can go online to our chameleon pet kiosk and search by various characteristics," she said.
The new center will also process licenses, processing 54 licenses on the fi rst day of operation, said Pignone, the senior analyst.
"Licensing of pets is required by law because cities are supposed to have proof of rabies vaccination," St. Gregory said. "Out of about one million people living in San Jose, 46 percent have pets, yet only 19,000 have licenses."
The city has given pet owners a special amnesty that expires on Nov. 30 to get their pets rabies shots and licenses, according to the City of San Jose Animal Care Services Web site.
After Nov. 30, there will be citations, penalties and an increase in licensing fees, according to the Web site.
"Those adopting from the center will get pets that already have their shots and licenses," St. Gregory said. "They can take the pet home on the same day as long as they are not in the database for cruelty to animals."
Officer Jim Reinhardt of Animal Control Services said he was hopeful the new center would maximize the effectiveness of animal care services.
"Hopefully we will be able to
save a lot more animals and improve
their quality of life," he said.
