Orange Cove Sbanadoned Animals To Be Euthanized Under new City Plan

A stray animal problem in Orange Cove has city leaders and some citizens at odds.
Volunteers say the city has ousted them and taken full control of the animal shelter.  They say the city’s new solution to the problem involves killing healthy animals.

Friends of Orange Cove Animal Shelter Kerry O’Keefe says, "It just actually makes no sense."

Like so many people, Kerry O’Keefe has a passion for animals, she’s a volunteer with the Friends of Orange Cove Animal Shelter Organization dedicating her time and hard work to save stray pets.

But come Monday, the city is cutting off shelter access to O’Keefe and the rest of the organizations volunteers.

"There is so much work being done that we just don’t understand why they wouldn’t want to continue that relationship with us," says O’Keefe.

Orange Cove mayor Victor Lopez says it has to do with liability and lack of finances and space.

"We have animals that have been there for over a year," says Lopez.

O’Keefe says the shelter has one of the highest rates of animals adoptions and rescues, but she agrees the stray animal problem is a very serious one in Orange Cove.

As soon as we drove into the city, we ran into a pack of small dogs in the street.  One of them was so injured, he had to be taken by animal control.

Lopez says so many dogs are roaming loose that residents are afraid to get out of their cars or leave their homes. Some have even been attacked.

"they’re chasing people and chasing children," says Lopez.

A new ordinance was recently adopted by the city, requiring pet owners to be responsible.  If their pet is found running loose, it will be taken to the shelter, and beginning Monday, if it’s not claimed within seven days, it will be euthanized.

"I’m not excited about killing dogs.  There’s no way in the world," says Lopez.

The fight has become so intense, Orange Cove Police were forced to get involved after anonymous threatening phone calls and profanities were posted on Facebook.

Orange Cove Police Chief Marty Rivera says, "they’re going to have to talk and eventually hopefully we’ll work something out."

City leaders say they encourage the volunteer group to become a non-profit organization so they can create their own shelter.  Volunteers say they have applied for non-profit status and could wait six months before being approved.