Sacramento animal shelters shut down public visits. Staff scrambles to find foster homes
The Sacramento area’s two main animal shelters announced Thursday they’re suspending most operations to stem the coronavirus pandemic.
The Front Street shelter in the city and the Bradshaw Road shelter, operated by the county, announced they were shutting down their public counters until further notice.
At Front Street, the decision meant staff members were scrambling to find emergency foster owners for 83 dogs and 10 cats, said shelter manager Phillip Zimmerman. Fortunately, the shelter maintains a regular network of foster owners and Zimmerman said he thinks the animals will find new homes by Friday.
“The cats are already spoken for,” he said.
He said the closure order means the shelter won’t be accepting animals surrendered by owners, or stray animals brought in by others. Residents can still text the shelter at 916-385-8794 to arrange to pick up lost pets or to drop off an injured or aggressive stray.
The shelter will remain open with a small crew to care for animals that are sick, aggressive or can’t be moved for some other reason, Zimmerman said.
The county said people wishing to adopt a pet from the Bradshaw Road shelter must call 916-875-2287 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to make an appointment. Residents are advised to call 311 to retrieve a lost pet or to foster a pet in the shelter.
Bradshaw Road officials pleaded with residents not to bring in strays.
“Although it’s not ideal or popular, at this time we’re asking the public to leave found animals in place, as they may already be close to home and found by owners,” the shelter said on its website. “However, we are taking sick, injured and pregnant animals, and kittens. However, please leave neonate kittens in place, as mama kitty is probably not far away, and their chances of survival are much greater if they stay with her.”
Dave Dickinson, director of the Bradshaw facility, said there will be enough staff on hand to tend to take care of the animals. “Staff will be here to feed and clean on a daily basis,” he said. “We’re going to take good care of them.”