Riverside shelter seeing an increase of abandoned animals

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - At the start of the pandemic, shelters saw their animals adoptions soar. But now they're seeing a high rate of abandonment.

“We’re seeing an increase in animal control calls, meaning stray dogs just running in the street. We’re seeing an increase in people calling and saying due to their circumstances, we can’t keep those animals. We’re seeing an increase of abandoned animals out there and that’s everything from dogs, cats, rabbits, horses. We’re seeing a little bit of an increase in animal cruelty situations,” said Riverside Co. Animal Services Director Julie Bank.

A few months ago, this Riverside County Animal Shelter video went viral after every single animal got adopted.

But it was short-lived…the very next day, the shelter had 50 animals.

Now it’s up to 250; most people surrendering or abandoning their pets because of financial or work heartache during the COVID-19 crisis.

Riverside’s shelter has an abandoned rabbit, rooster, and pea hen.

Max, a 10-year-old miniature horse with one blue and brown eye, was an owner surrender and was much neglected. He was living out of a dog crate with extremely overgrown hooves. The vets gelded or neutered him and used an electric saw to shave his hooves and someone is adopting him and picking him up Saturday.

Compared to 800 animals at the shelter last year, the numbers are way down but shelter workers fear it’s going to get much worse before it gets better.

“We had three geese that came in that had swallowed a fishing line and had a hook in face. We had people waiting to reclaim their dogs. We had a raccoon that was on the fence of a prison that got stuck on the barbed wire that we had to rescue and release,” Bank said.

Shelter workers simply ask before abandoning your best friend during this crisis, consider support, like free pet food, vaccines, even temporary boarding like they’re providing for this kitty, whose owner is homeless and checked into a rehab facility.

“A lot of times we are able to provide help verses them surrendering the pet. So this is another good example and reminder to folks that if you need help ask,” stated Jackie Schart, Riverside Co. Animal Services Chief.

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