Our shelters are full and on Monday, July 3, 2017, we will be launching a pilot program in the hopes of making kennel space and euthanizing fewer pets. Project SafeKeep is designed to offer alternatives to families who feel they must surrender their owned pets to our shelters. Project SafeKeep will allow us to ensure there is space available for stray animals at all times, while assisting the citizens of our County with reasonably minor problems that would allow them to keep their pets.
Thanks to partnerships with several other organizations, we will direct pet owners to various resources for their owned pet. This could include spay/neuter assistance, training, medical care and pet food. If owners are interested in keeping their pet, we will ask them to wait 2-3 weeks to help us improve outcomes for all the animals in our care. During the wait period, we will assist the owner so that their pet will be "adoption ready" when he/she returns to the shelter. In exchange for their participation, the $51 owner surrender fee will be waived.
Owned animals will NOT be turned away. Those who do not wish to participate in Project SafeKeep will be able to surrender their pet for our regular owner surrender fee. This is an opt-in program for those who would like assistance and those who are able to assist us in managing our population for best outcomes for all. Animals coming to MCAC for Bite Quarantine are not eligible to participate in Project SafeKeep.