People have sent their children out to get rid of unwanted babies for years.  We used to see them every weekend with a box of kittens or puppies in front of the local groceries and stores.  I'm glad that's now illegal in this county and businesses here are abiding by the law.  (The pit fighting trainers loved to get the free bait.)  The law does pose a quandary for the folks who consider animals as disposable.  These are people who will not be affected by the proposed mandatory spay/neuter laws because they don't acknowledge responsibility for the animals which come and go in their yards.  Contacting a rescue or placement organization means they would be taking responsibility for the life, and they simply don't.  I agree that the organizations do wonderful work up here against the odds of public ignorance and apathy. 

Yes, I have been accosted by children as I leave Albertson's that were left there to dispose of pets.  I wanted to take home not only the dogs/cats but the children too.  The last time I encouraged the 8 year old boy to call the Humane Society for  Spay/neuter help but the boy replied, " We don't need to worry about her anymore as she done got ran over by a car."

I still can't figure out why people don't spay/neuter their pets.  Kern County needs to take a firm stance on this issue.

Cats Rule!

Cause they want to have offspring of  beloved pets?  Because they have friends who do?  Because they think pets should come from friends instead of from mercenary breeders?  These are just three reasons I can think of.

Awsmom, people use the stupidest reasons not to spay/neuter. Most of the reasons are simply extensions of their own insecurities and low self-esteem. And many animals suffer or die because of this...

Cats do rule - but geez, don't ever tell my three dogs I said that!!!!

Progresso there will be a day when I can enjoy something I have never had--a batch of kittens and mom running around.  But until I can afford to spay/neuter all the kittens and mom, it is not an option. If someone wants their cat to have kittens--sure no problem--just put up a deposit of $600 as this might be enough to pay for the kittens to be fixed. I would love to but I have never aloud a cat to have kittens. 

Go down to the Mojave Shelter and hold those little kittens in your arms and cuddle them as they euthanize them.  Then you will learn about the circles of life and how important it is have offspring of beloved pets.  And even if Kern County took a firm stance on spay/neutered pets, there still would not be a shortage of pups/kittens.   Some morons would still allow their animals to breed so there would be no need for mercenary breeders, just less animals to euthanize.

I'm sure you know best.  Other people are stupid and unable to consider these things for themselves.  One size fits all, after all.

Judging by the number of animals abandoned in Tehachapi, children sent out to dipose of pets and then numbers that turn up at the Mojave shelter they "are stupid and unable to consider these things for themselves."  You are so right!

This is animal abuse and child abuse, all taking place in one scenario:  The child, who thought that the puppy/dog or kitten/cat was his/her pet, and now has been told by his/her parents to give it away; sad, no matter how you look at it.  I wonder how the "parents" justify this mental cruelty towards the innocent child and furry friend; it is shameful, deplorable, and unconscienable.

One more case in point:  Today, the Tehachapi Pet Lodge was celebrating their anniversary, and it was also pet adoption day for three separate rescue groups.  Well, it didn't take long:  A large family showed up, and said they could no longer afford to keep their cute puppy, so, in this case, the parents did the dirty work themselves and dropped the puppy off at The Pet Lodge, in hopes of a better life, all the while every single child in that family was crying his/her eyes out. 

Yes, it is a sign of the times.

That is so sad, DonMar.  On the flip side, I heard the adoptions went well today at the Pet Lodge.  I know of at least one cutie that found a home... a nice couple just stopped in to wash their new puppy.

Hey Susie:

Adoption day did go well, at least for me!  Two of my younger dogs got adopted, I found a foster home for the mama dog and the puppies, and several people were intesretd and plan to come back and see three more dogs this coming week!  It was a very long day, for us and mostly for the dogs, who were there from 8 am til after 4 when we packed up shop. I was next to the STOP booth and had to smell hot dogs all dya!  Mmmmmm good!

And the nice couple that came in adopted my little 5 month old yellow lab pup, originally found wandering in a busy intersection in Bakersfield (you got it-dumped)!  It was a good day for little Charlie!

Leslie at Canine Canyon Ranch

Yep, that was the one.  Very sweet dog.  He seemed like an excellent match for the family, and you could tell they were already getting attached to him.  Great job, Leslie!!

I'm so happy to hear that adoption day went well at the Lodge.  My Sadie (lab mix) was adopted there a couple years ago, and we've never regretted the decision. She's a wonderful dog and a part of our family.

I think we're all distressed over the "disposable pet" problem. This is an attitude change that is so needed in our society, not just here, but all over this nation.

For our county, one of the things that would help is getting the Spay and Neuter truck out of the garage and actually used for free or low cost spay and neutering.  These programs have been shown to help in other areas, Together with increased education, and perhaps more work in the area of getting more landlords to consider allowing families with a reasonable pet or two (most of the numbers are driven up not as much by puppies and kittens as..."I have to move and they don't allow pets"...or, "I've lost my home and can't take my dog/cat with me"), things could be helped considerably.

Redhart, I agree with you 100%   As for the Spay and Neutering problem we have here in Tehachapi it's to my understanding that the Kern County S&N truck used to drive down here once a month and no one showed up.  This cost them money so now they want money up front before they come.  I suppose we could charge people who say they will show up in advance....   I not sure how to work this out.. any ideas?

When did this spay/neuter truck come around?  Was it run out of the Mojave shelter?  I had no idea such a thing existed.  Perhaps if there were prescheduled appointments with people making deposits in advance it would be worth the trip for them.  There are so many homeless animals in private foster care that I'm sure we could book a full day of S/N at least once a month.

I was under the impression that the van drove to a place in Bakersfield where anyone could meet them (I think it was once a month), drop off their pets who were then driven to that place in Fresno (the name escapes me) that does low-cost spay/neuter. The van then returned the "fixed" pets the next day to Bakersfield where owners picked them up. It was discontinued because of people failing to utilize the service - maybe they needed to advertise a little more. I certainly would have used them.