Free adoption event Thursday at closing San Bernardino animal shelter

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (FOX 11) - More than 100 dogs and cats in need of forever homes will be free for adoption on Thursday due to the closing of a city animal shelter in San Bernardino.

The adoption event will take place at the shelter located at 333 Chandler Place. It runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Thursday and each adoption free spay and neutering, rabies vaccination and microchip, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.

Rumors circulating on social media claimed that if the shelter closed its doors on May 7, the animals would be euthanized. However, the City of San Bernardino said simply not true.

Earlier this week, a proposal for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services to take over patrol and impoundment duties in San Bernardino sank without the Board of Supervisors' support.

The city of San Bernardino sought the one-year, $2.1 million contract with Riverside County because the municipality is struggling to fund its own animal control operations, and its city shelter is in a state of decay, according to officials.

San Bernardino had been working to climb out of bankruptcy for the last decade.

Supervisor Karen Spiegel initially backed the city's request for a contract with Animal Services, introducing the proposal on the board agenda, though in expedited fashion, posting it Friday afternoon, instead of the customary Wednesday filing.

The Department of Animal Services already provides contract services in Colton, Fontana and Rialto, and Spiegel believed San Bernardino could be accommodated, as well.

DAS Director Allan Drusys favored the move, underscoring the department's $1.3 million budget deficit as a problem in need of a near-term solution.

CNS contributed to this report.