There’s breathtaking confusion (as always) coming out of the LA County shelter system… 30 minutes ago we called on 2 dogs: A pittie that was impounded at the Downey shelter that I’d photographed on 2/23/12; and then Tilly, the dog belonging to the homeless woman that is noted in the prior post before this one. Regarding the Downey dog, the phone operator said that he came in on 2/5/12 and was killed on 2/8/12. As I noted, that’s impossible, because I took his picture on 2/23/12 and his kennel card (at that time, and shown above) stated that he was impounded on 2/17/12. WHAT IN THE EFF IS GOING ON WITH THIS HORRENDOUS COUNTY SYSTEM???
Secondly… Tilly apparently already has a CTA on her file and is set to be picked up by a private adopter tomorrow! This flies in the face of everything that Shannon/we were told yesterday, as the Carson shelter staff stated that Tilly was “rescue only” and gave Shannon the opportunity to place an IP on Tilly’s file. They also printed out her kennel card, as well as a lengthy bill detailing what it would take to regain possession of her. At no time did anyone sitting behind that front desk say anything about any of what I just learned over the phone. And it has been done and locked in for numerous days, because that explains why Tilly was spayed, which never made sense to me until now.
So I’m left with 2 conclusions… That front desk attendant is either a blatant asshole, or they are so incredibly incompetent at their job that they can’t even do the minimum amount of work that it takes to be a front desk person. This type of unreliable bullshit happens SO MUCH at the Carson shelter. The miscommunication is rampant and in my opinion is a reflection of the horrendous management. The careless work-style undoubtedly attributes to a continued cycle of death for an endless number of animals that may have had a different outcome otherwise… We called on 2 flippin’ dogs! Imagine the tales that I’d actually have to tell if I consistently called on every dog that I’ve photographed.
I feel ya, It is no better here in northern cali, I was watching this 4 month old “stray” with a leg injury for 2 weeks they finally made her available to rescue thursday at 5pm (at closing time) & were about to euthanize Saturday at 9am, (before they even open) I worked all friday on finding a foster, but was only given 20 mintutes to pick her up. It is always a struggle to work within the system, it;s almost like they would rather just euthanize and be done with it cause it is easier on their paperwork.
This all happened following another “pitbull attack” and the local TV newsman interviewing an animal control officer who stated “no pitbulls were not the number one breed of dogs that were involved in biting,… but pitbulls are unpredictable…”
It is hard enough to find homes without their uneducated, bias, personal comments, but now it is even harder and equates to a death senctence for may loving dogs that they are supposed to be trying to find homes for.