The only no-kill shelter in the High Desert is forced to throw in the towel

Founded less than a year ago, Route 66 Animal Shelter in Barstow will throw in the towel later this year due to a lack of funding.

The only non-kill shelter in the High Desert area can no longer sustain its humanitarian mission and will be handing over the keys and with it, all control of operations to the city of Barstow.

"We don't euthanize our animals unless they're very sick and on the verge of dying," said Natasha Kennedy, current manager of the shelter. "Euthanizing saves money and we don't have the heart to do it, so that's why the city will be taking over."

There are so many animals everywhere, nonstop, every day, she continued.

The non-profit shelter is simply too small to continue doing its work and cannot afford a bigger space. The small, metal warehouse-style building is unruly and animals are too close together, Kennedy said.

"We just don't have the space to put them anywhere," she said.

Unfortunately, community donations aren't enough to save the no-kill shelter at this time. It's already a done deal with the city of Barstow and according to Kennedy, "it sucks."

Lucerne Valley resident Marianne Alexander is "deeply saddened that Route 66 is closing." She says the shelter took in a stray animal that she consistently saw around town for three weeks. The shelter accepted the stray even though they were full and financially strapped and for that, Alexander told the Daily Press, she is forever grateful.

According to Kennedy, city government employees have confirmed their objective to euthanize animals after two weeks. Kennedy and other Route 66 employees persuaded them to wait at least 30 days.

It's a small win, Kennedy said, but it's the only thing they can do in their power at the moment.

Creation of Barstow Animal Services Department

The city of Barstow is currently creating an Animal Services Department, and the Route 66 Animal Shelter will be the first animal shelter under the city’s guidance, according to interim City Manager Andrew Espinoza Jr.

The merger was approved on June 17 and the city has 90 days to present the city council with plans for maintaining the shelter.

The shelter is limited in size, Espinoza told the Daily Press, and can hold approximately 150 animals. As of July 23, the animal count was 143, and in prior months, the count was as low as the 80s.

"Our goal is to not euthanize animals unless it’s a last resort, we have exhausted all leads, and if the shelter is over-capacity," Espinoza explained.

"While some other cities have opted for 14 days prior to euthanizing animals, our plan would be a 30-day policy. Within the 30 days, the goal will be to assess each animal’s needs and to do everything possible to save the animals and have them adopted."

Further plans for the new city shelter include full-time staffing with six kennel technicians and two animal control agents, and adopting out certain breeds to breed-specific rescues or foster programs.

The Barstow Animal Shelter and Barstow Humane Society are independent of the city.

How to help save the pets at the shelter:

• Foster

Applications are available in person at Route 66 Animal Shelter for fostering both dogs and cats. Fill out the form and talk to one of the shelter managers to move forward with the foster process. Fostering older animals is a great way to prolong the life of pets in line for euthanization once the city takes over.

• Volunteer for C.A.R.E.

C.A.R.E. is an organization that rescues at-risk animals from kill shelters. Many times, they save animals who are at the "11th hour before euthanasia." The organization operates a no-kill, cage-free shelter in Sherman Oaks, California with over 300 orphaned animals.

If volunteering isn't possible, alerting the organization about at-risk animals at the Barstow shelter is another great way to get involved in the High Desert rescue community and it may just save lives.

• Write the city of Barstow

The merger is quoted as a done deal, but community activism never hurts. Write the city in an effort to save the shelter. Starting a petition is a good way to show the city how much support the Route 66 Animal Shelter has as the only no-kill shelter in the area.

McKenna is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: The only no kill shelter in the High Desert shutting down