Stockton Animal Shelter surges with abandoned cats, dogs after adoption slowdown

The number of abandoned and stray animals at the Stockton Animal Shelter has surged in the last year after an adoption slowdown.

More than 200 animals — 118 dogs and 91 cats — are at the shelter at 1575 S. Lincoln St., according to Ashley Kluza, service manager for the Stockton Animal Shelter. An additional 131 dogs and 242 cats are in foster homes.

Despite years of increases in pets heading to homes, the shelter has been facing critical capacity issues as more families are opting not to adopt pets due to inflation and rising rents, she said.

"They just don't have the means right now to add another member to the family that they have to provide for," Kluza said. "There's also a substantial rise in vet care costs, so that plays a big factor into their decision."

The rise in vet care costs come as staff shortages and the boom in pets make it harder for veterinarians to keep up with demand.

The American Veterinary Medical Association reported that the number of pet dogs in the U.S. increased by nearly 16% between 2016 and 2020, while pet cats climbed as much as 6%.

Veterinary clinics in Stockton and across the nation have raised salaries to attract more workers, but the wage hikes coupled with inflation mean higher costs are passed on to pet owners. The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the cost of veterinary services is up 10% since last summer.

"A lot of the issues boil down to the rise in the cost of living," Kluza said.

Adoption rates down, euthanasia rates up

Despite the pandemic, Stockton bucked the pet trend.

Cat and dog adoption rates at the Stockton Animal Shelter have been on the decline since 2019, when it stood at 33%. The rate fell to 29% in 2020 and then dropped to 25% in 2021. It's stood at 25% since then, according to data provided by the shelter.

Euthanasia rates have increased from 4% in 2021 to 8% in 2022. A total of 585 animals — 379 cats and 206 dogs — were put down last year. Still, progress has been made.

The Stockton Animal Shelter came under fire in 2014 when three Stockton residents and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, a national advocacy organization, filed a lawsuit against the shelter for illegally killing hundreds of animals each year before they had a chance at adoption.

In a 27-page complaint, the organization alleged an "ongoing pattern and practice of abuse" that resulted in "the unnecessary and wrongful killing of numerous impounded animals in direct contravention of Stockton's municipal code and the laws of the state of California."

The shelter was also charged with violating the California Public Records Act, which requires full disclosure of public records from public entities.

After the lawsuit, senior management was replaced and overall adoptions in the first three quarters of 2014 increased 93% over the previous year’s figures. Spay and neuter procedures increased by 61% and there were 2,487 fewer animals euthanized at the shelter during that period — a decrease of 56% in just one year. With these improvements, the plaintiffs agreed to settle the lawsuit in 2015.

"We're not the same Stockton animal shelter that there used to be many years ago," Kluza said. "We have a very moral and ethical stance of only euthanizing pets that are irremediably suffering. We try our hardest to get all of the animals that are healthy and adoptable out to families, to homes, and to rescues."

Adopt a pet for less?

The Stockton Animal Shelter will be waiving adoption fees on all cats and dogs in recognition of Clear the Shelter — a nationwide campaign geared to drive pet adoptions. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, those who are looking for a furry friend can head to the shelter and find their perfect match.

Carter's Pet Mart will be donating pet supplies like food and toys to everyone who adopts a pet during Clear the Shelter. To adopt a pet, bring a valid form of identification and fill out a pre-adoption questionnaire to determine eligibility. Only people 18 and older can adopt an animal, shelter officials said.

For those who miss the Saturday event, regular adoption fees for a dog are about $125, while the regular adoption fee for a cat is about $120. Every adopted dog and cat includes a spay or neuter surgery, flea and deworming preventative, microchip, and rabies vaccinations.

Those who are unsure about adopting a pet can consider fostering a cat or dog temporarily.

"A big part of why fostering is so important is it gives us a look at the animal outside of the shelter environment. Animals, especially our large breed dogs, can act completely different in a shelter than they do in a home," Kluza said.

"Even when we have short-term fosters, it gives us the opportunity to see how they will behave in a home environment. Do they get along with cats? Do they get along with your dog at home versus the dogs here in the shelter?"

Foster caregivers must meet several requirements, including the ability to bring animals to the shelter for vaccine and medical appointments, the ability to provide a healthy and safe environment for animals, and support from the entire family.

For more information on fostering, contact foster animal care assistants Nickolas Shields at (209) 420-0242 or Laura Zapien at (209) 420-2482.

The Doggie Day Trip program is another option for those looking to make a difference in a shelter dog's life, without long-term commitment. The program allows volunteers to take a dog out for the day, whether it be on a fun nature adventure, a trip to a local coffee shop, or for some snuggle time at home.

"It really helps alleviate some of the kennel stress that the animals go through so that's a great way to get involved as well," Kluza said.

To get started, fill out a volunteer application and then send it to info@apl209.org.

Low-cost spay and neuter program in the works

Kluza said shelter officials are working to bring a low-cost spay and neuter program to the community, with the hopes that it will decrease the amount of stray animals coming into the shelter and on Stockton's streets.

"It's not something that's going to happen right away necessarily, but it's something we're trying to put together with different organizations," she said. "Once we announce that, we're going to be really excited to put that into play."

There isn't an estimated date for when the program may launch.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Animal Shelter looks for solutions as adoption rates decline