FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno Humane Animal Services is overflowing with dogs, and now they need the community’s help.
Each day this past week, staff say they’ve taken in anywhere from 10 to 20 dogs and cats – that’s a big jump for Fresno County’s animal shelter, which usually takes around five to seven dogs each day.
“From puppies, litters, moms that are going into labor because of the weather, found out there, abandonment. So it’s been very hectic, especially during the holidays,” shared Fresno Humane Animal Services Outcomes Programs Supervisor Yanerid Barragan.
She explains that they’re over capacity and now they’re looking to home or at least foster out six big dogs to make room for more. “We want to always have several of our kennels, at least open for the unscheduled, for the injured,” Barragan added.
While adoption turnout was successful during the holidays, Barragan says some of those furry friends, through no fault of their own, are already getting returned. “It’s definitely something to think about if you’re not so committed or if you’re still on the fence. We always recommend foster because foster means that you’re giving them a temporary loving home,” she said.
With more rain in our forecast, the shelter count will likely continue to climb. As for the county’s emergency services, they’ve been keeping a close eye on areas at risk. “Potential sliding of mud or some of the ground, you know, with the saturation, especially at the Basin burn scar up in the mountains, you know, there’s nothing holding it to the ground anymore,” said Fresno County Emergency Services Manager Dan Lynn.
Lynn says they will also be watching the west side of the county due to the potential of high winds. “If you go to FresnoCountyEmergency.org, it’ll list a lot of information there,” he suggested, including road closures and sandbag locations across the county. “For free, just, you know, go there and fill up and use what you need.”
Lynch adds that the county’s irrigation system has plenty of room to store the rain headed our way.
