Marva Moss didn’t expect to adopt a dog, but as someone who has cared for 10 dogs over the years, her love for them runs deep.
She saw on the news that the Castaic Animal Care Center was holding a pet adoption event on Saturday and immediately began to get ready before she walked out the door and commuted to the Santa Clarita Valley from her Los Angeles home.
Dak, a 9-month-old German shepherd, was patiently waiting in his kennel with his big old floppy ears and large paws. He came into the shelter with his sister Bella as surrenders.
With the help of a volunteer, Moss and Dak walked over to one of the play areas in the shelter to see if their personalities would mesh well together.
Not long after, she was getting ready to take home the large pup to his new life filled with daily walks, endless chew toys, and many adventures waiting ahead.
But before she finalized the adoption paperwork, she went back and forth on possibly taking Bella, too.
“If I had a ranch, I’d adopt them all. There are so many dogs here that need rescuing,” Moss said. But taking home two large dogs just wasn’t realistic for her life.
Bella remained with volunteer Judi Bruner, who was working to ease her fear of the loud noises around her while hoping to help find her a forever home.
To help reduce euthanasia rates and raise awareness about emergency preparedness for large pets, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control hosted an “Emergency Preparedness” adoption event Saturday at the Castaic Animal Care Center.
People could pay a visit and look through the dogs and cats available for adoption and also witness a live demonstration on how firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department perform rescue missions for large animals such as horses, cows, and goats, said Lt. Armando Ferrufino, emergency operations coordinator of L.A. County Animal Care and Control.
Information on how to create an emergency plan for large farm animals during wildfire season and other emergencies was also available for those interested, he added.
Two hours into the event, about 10 dogs were adopted including one horse that came in as a surrender, Ferrufino added. He also said if there are people who can no longer care for a large farm animal, they may be surrendered at the Castaic Center.
The adoption event also had food trucks, the city of Santa Clarita’s Library Express, and other fun activities to bring in more foot traffic and clear the shelter as much as possible.
Organizers said that not only was it a way for the community to come together, but also to really get the help from local and non-local residents to increase adoption numbers.
Volunteer Karen Broussard was keeping an eye on the kennels as passersby took a peek into the kennels that were filled with dogs of all breeds.
She expressed concern over two litters of puppies that came in as surrenders. The owner’s reason was they were too much to handle, she said.
Puppies are usually the first ones to find homes very quickly, she added, but lack of interest has made her worry.
“We’re desperate for adopters,” Broussard said. But before community members run into the shelter to adopt a dog or cat, she wants them to communicate with their families before they decide on a huge commitment.
In the past, dogs and cats have been returned to the shelter following an adoption because the entire family isn’t on board, and it’s heartbreaking for everyone involved including the animal, she said, adding that in most cases, the animals are never the problem.
A few dogs found their forever home during the adoption event, but many more waited in their kennels for their turn at a second chance.
Some of the dogs howled, others sat still just observing the passersby, and a few others seemed defeated, laying their heads low and avoiding interaction.
But volunteers like Bruner and Broussard, and staff members like Ferrufino continue to hope that with more community support, every life will be saved, and all kennels will one day be empty.
