A California animal shelter celebrates after it saved 1,000 dogs in the span of only three months. The Bakersfield Animal Care Center says the impressive feat was accomplished due to the hard work and diligence of the staff. This is the quickest the shelter has ever achieved this goal.
Shelter Saved 1,000 Dogs in 3 Months
“(There are) lots of rescues, vet clinics, and shelters that don’t save 1,000 dogs a year,” Joshua Proctor, an animal behaviorist for the Bakersfield shelter, told KGET.
Proctor explained that the shelter has never rescued 1,000 dogs this early in the year. Typically, the shelter reaches this mark around April or May. To great joy and some surprise, the Bakersfield Animal Care Center is at least a month ahead of schedule.
The shelter’s yearly goal is impressive. It aims to save upwards of 5,000 dogs by the end of December.
“Even though this is the hardest time of the year to send dogs up to rescue, we’ve overcome these obstacles and reached a thousand dogs and I think we’re going to bust our 5,000 goal this year,” Matthew Buck, the shelter’s director, stated.
Shelter Hopes to Save at Least 5,000 Dogs
Like other shelters, the Bakersfield Animal Care Center has noticed an uptick in animal intake. Even with the increase, the shelter remains on track to meet its goal. Now, the organization’s staff is taking a moment to celebrate this feat.
“We took a moment to celebrate because we don’t get that chance to breathe,” Proctor said. “This basically made us shut down stop and appreciate what we are doing.”
Although staff at the Bakersfield Animal Care Center rejoiced at this accomplishment, they emphasized that people should continue adopting. Thousands of dogs still need homes and fosters. If the shelter is to meet its goal before the end of the year, it cannot slow its pace.
Many rescues and shelters across the country are experiencing an increase in animal intake. Often, shelters that require space must euthanize animals that cannot find homes.
You can help by adopting a dog. Check out all the adoptable dogs at the Bakersfield Animal Care Center on its website.
