“Dog overpopulation in shelters right now is something we’ve never seen before,” says Dr. Gary Weitzman, CEO of San Diego Humane Society (SDHS).

According to Stephanie Filer, executive director of the national organization Shelter Animals Count, the usual flow of animals in and out of shelters has fallen out of balance since the pandemic. “We have had more pets entering shelters than have left,” she says. “The number of days that large dogs are waiting to get adopted has doubled.”

Experts are unsure why adoptions have flatlined, but the reasons for increased pet surrenders are clear.

“When owners are surrendering [animals], it’s because they literally cannot afford to care for them or cannot find a place to live with them,” Filer says.

Landlords frequently bar pets over 50 pounds or restrict certain breeds. Amid a housing crisis, renters may not have the luxury of choosing affordable residences that also accommodate large dogs. In a 2021 report, Michelson Found Animals claims 8.2 million pets could find homes if these restrictions were lifted. The organization also found that housing led 14 percent of surveyed renters to surrender animals.

“As a society, we really want people to be able to have animals and enjoy that companionship and not have those resource issues be a factor, but they are certainly what’s driving the overcrowding,” says Jill Tucker, CEO of California Animal Welfare Association (CalAnimals).

Of course, housing isn’t the only economic concern contributing to shelter overcrowding. The New York Times reported last month that the cost of veterinary care has shot up more than 60 percent in the past 10 years. Meanwhile, the number of vets has dropped—the staggering debt, relatively paltry salary, and high stress of the profession has led to veterinarian shortages across the US. 

Shelters are affected by the vet shortage, too. According to a recent survey of California animal welfare organizations by the Program for Pet Health Equity at the University of Tennessee, 64 percent of organizations cannot provide certain kinds of veterinary care, such as spaying and neutering, to animals at their facilities because they are unable to fill vacant veterinarian positions or afford or even find appointments at nearby vets.

At the beginning of the pandemic, many vet surgeons ceased spay and neuter procedures amid a PPE shortage in which safety equipment was saved for human medical care. Large-scale spay and neuter programs that often fixed upwards of 50 animals in a single day were paused due to the health risk of congregating in groups.

Previously, SDHS, one of the largest shelters in the nation, received puppies transferred from Arizona and parts of the American south each year, taking pressure off shelters in those regions and allowing San Diegans to adopt young dogs. For the first time, SDHS has not been able to accept transferred animals because there are puppies entering the shelter system locally. As of May 30, “we’ve got about 140 puppies right now and they’re all from San Diego,” Weitzman says.

“For [SDHS] to not be able to help organizations who previously depended on them, because, rightfully, they need to help the animals in their community first, it does create this ripple effect across the country,” Filer adds.

Currently, SDHS is building a new veterinary facility for mass spay and neuter care, but in the interim, the organization, which performs 80 to 100 sterilization procedures per day already, has had to cut back on providing that service for pet owners in the community because they have so many animals in their own care. This only leads to more unaltered pets in the community in the future. “It’s just this exponential math problem,” Tucker says.

Amid this national crisis, overpopulated shelters face thorny decisions: Will they limit their intake of abandoned animals; house more animals in subpar conditions, like hallways lined with cages; or euthanize pets so the remaining animals have enough space? SDHS has a no-euthanasia policy, but reps have stated that overcrowding causes behavior problems, risks the spread of contagious diseases, and leads to immense stress on staff and animals.

“Shelters get stuck in a position where there’s not a good outcome,” Tucker says. She helped spearhead the first ever California Adopt-A-Pet Day on June 1, when 3,609 animals across the state found homes.

Tucker and Weitzman are also part of a coalition of animal welfare agencies lobbying for the state legislature to pass bills to address the problem. Potential solutions include requiring vet schools teach students how to perform mass spay and neuter procedures and restricting landlords’ ability to enact pet bans. 

The best way for the average person to help? Adopt a shelter pet.

The post San Diego Animal Shelters Are Severely Overcrowded appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Luna (@watchdogluna)

Influencer with 30.1K followers

Even if you aren’t one of Luna’s 30,000 Instagram fans, you may have spotted hanging out the window of her human companion Angel Gomez’s van, rocking a pink pedicure, a tricked-out timepiece, and a sleek pair of Blenders sunglasses.

While Luna’s hilariously human pose comes naturally, her ensemble is the result of a few chance meetings. “One day, a little old man was yelling at us to put a watch on her wrist, and I did,” Gomez recalls. “Then, a guy in Ocean Beach suggested putting sunglasses on her because his dog got cataracts from too much sun. I reached into the glove box and told her, ‘You need to wear sunglasses, mama, to protect your eyes.’ The rest is history.”

Gomez and Luna’s history stretches back to 2010, when a friend brought the pitbull, then a puppy, to Gomez’s house.

“She was hiding inside his jacket. He came [to my] yard with this weird look on his face, and I asked him ‘Why do you look like that?’ He smiled and opened up his jacket […] and pulled out little Luna,” Gomez remembers. “When I picked her up, I looked at her eyes and she looked at me. That’s when I said, ‘You’re the one.’”

Gomez and Luna, now 14-years-old, have their cruising routine down—they start off by ordering a hot dog at Barrio Dogg, then they drive through downtown and end up in Old Town to grab a hot flour tortilla with butter. They finish the route at Sunset Cliffs to watch the sun go down.

Now, Gomez is dealing with Luna’s health issues—she has an enlarged heart and takes medication. A GoFundMe supporting her care has raised more than $2,000.

Diego (@firstdogdiego)

First Dog to the Mayor  

It’s no coincidence that Diego shares his name with America’s Finest City: As Mayor Todd Gloria’s canine companion, he’s San Diego’s “first dog.” 

With his DNA test showing that he’s 34.6 percent Chihuahua and 14.5 percent poodle, plus some distant pekingese, miniature schnauzer, miniature pinscher, pomeranian, and cocker spaniel relatives, Diego has a bit of the best of almost any small breed imaginable. The rescue pup is likely about 5 or 6 years old, though his exact age is unknown.

Gloria never thought he had enough time for a dog until Covid hit, says Todd Gloria spokesperson Kinsee Morlan.

“With both him and his partner spending a lot more time at home, they finally decided to foster a dog,” she recalls. “They reached out to the nonprofit dog rescue organization The Barking Lot, and volunteers there chose Diego for the mayor. It didn’t take long for them to decide to adopt Diego and give him his forever home.”

Though Diego spends most of his day chilling and napping, he does have a very important role as Gloria’s wingman during morning and evening walks. He waits patiently when residents recognize the mayor and stop him for a chat about potholes, parks, homelessness, housing, and other issues they care about. 

“He’s a calm and quiet dog who only ever really barks in his sleep,” she says.

Diego will chow down on almost anything, but his favorite treats are bacon-wrapped Oinkies and Starbucks “pup cups” filled with whipped cream. He has a fascination with astroturf and can pass several happy hours pawing at the fake grass. 

Hondo

SDPD K9

Hondo is a 4.5-year-old Belgian malinois who works with the San Diego Police Department as an intervention and apprehension dog—he helps officers arrest people who are resisting. 

“Hondo is also a special response canine, meaning he has received many hours of SWAT training to go out on those missions,” says Ashley Nicholes, a spokesperson for the police department. “He currently is training in firearms detection to assist in recovering firearms that a suspect discards when fleeing from police.”

If you’re lucky, you may spot Hondo hanging out at public events such as hiring expos or helping with K-9 demonstrations at local schools. But in his off time, he enjoys the simpler things in life: a good nap and tug-of-war with his handler, officer Mitchel Tani. 

“Hondo showed a high drive for police work early on, coupled with a very social temperament,” Nicholes says. “He is able to ride in an armored vehicle sitting on the laps of SWAT officers, but then knows he needs to go do his job to apprehend the suspect.”

A survivor of two stabbing incidents at work, he has since recovered with lots of support from the San Diego community and has returned to work with his partner.

Mochi (@mochifloof)

Influencer with 74.9K followers

Instagram celebrity Mochi is a 2-year-old Maltese. His human, Winnie, got him after moving to San Diego with her family during Covid.  

Winnie started Mochi’s Instagram as a fun way to chronicle his days. “I still think it’s funny when people refer to him as famous, because to us he’s just our crazy puppy,” she says. “His fame is a product of hard work and having a little bit of luck on his side. Plus he’s adorable, but of course I’m biased.”

Mochi loves the outdoors, just like his family. He rides along in a backpack carrier on hikes and hops on cars and planes to travel. So far, he’s been to four states and several national and state parks. But he’s also content to simply sunbathe in the yard, right here at home.

“He’ll ask to go outside, and I know if it’s a sunny day, I’ll have a hard time getting him to come back inside,” Winnie says. 

Numa

Kumeyaay Lake Campground Ambassador

Twelve-and-a-half-year-old Alaskan Malamute Numa is the constant companion to Iiro Yrjola, the campground host at Mission Trails’ Kumeyaay Campground. Numa accompanies Yrjola as he checks on campsites. 

But that’s not his only job. Numa has been trained to offer mobility, balance, and load assistance and provide medical alerts. A lifelong learner, he’s now practicing “nose work—tracking and finding things or people using his excellent ability to detect smells,” Yrjola says. “He loves … intellectual and mental challenges. Pretty much every day, [we play] hide-and-go seek either indoors or outdoors. He is a master of opening doors.”

When he’s clocked out, Numa enjoys meeting other dogs, hiking, and trotting next to bikes. Bred as a sled dog, he loves playing in snow and pulling Yrjola on an “urban mushing scooter.”

Maddie

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

English labrador Maddie Shadoan has been helping others all her life. The 3-year-old canine was raised in the Puppies Behind Bars program, which pairs dogs with incarcerated individuals who socialize, care for, and train the animals for around 24 months. Afterward, she attended the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ accelerant detection program, learning to sniff out ignitable liquids that may have been intentionally used at an arson fire scene. 

She’s now employed by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. “Maddie is a fantastic working dog,” says fire department spokesperson Monica Munoz. “She takes her work very seriously, but she also loves to play.”

Maddie will gladly chase and retrieve her ball for hours. Luckily, her colleagues dig the same game. “She absolutely adores going to the firehouse, where several firefighters are happy to play ball with her all day,” Munoz adds.

Ali the Rasta Pup

Therapy Dog

If you’ve spent any time on the Embarcadero, you’ve probably spotted Ali the Rasta Pup, strolling along with his human pal Donald. Ali’s hard to miss—parts of his curly white fur are always dyed in black, yellow, red, and green. Donald often wears a striped hat to match.

Donald is homeless, and he connected with a psychiatrist about six years ago through local nonprofit PATH (People Assisting The Homeless). This therapist encouraged him to get a therapy dog, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in 2017.

The Maltese-poodle mix has been his constant companion ever since, drawing donations from passerby charmed by Ali’s paint job and bringing Donald comfort and joy. 

Mr. Bo, Sadie, & Nash (@misterboandco)

Influencers with 25.7K followers

Mr. Bo and Co. are a triple threat: Three San Diego pups who share their daily adventures with nearly 26,000 followers. 

Grey-muzzled Mr. Bo is 10-years-old and loves to hike. He has completed 52 hikes over the past five years, including the 15-hour, 23-mile-long jaunt up San Gorgonio Mountain.  

Though he can still tromp the trails with the best of them, Bo does show his age sometimes. “He shoots a mean side-eye, grumbles and groans when he is bothered by something, and can fall asleep anywhere including standing up,” says his human companion Kaela. 

He’s also a hunting dog—when it comes to lizards, anyway. “He will point at a spot he has seen a lizard before for hours, despite the lizard being long gone from that area,” Kaela adds.

His sister, Sadie, is the typical middle child. Aged seven, she has her fair share of sass. “While she isn’t the nicest to most other dogs, she can be the absolute sweetest to the humans. If she loves you, she will shower you with attention, greet you at the door with one of her favorite toys, and allow you to pet and snuggle her,” Kaela explains. “If she doesn’t like you, she will make sure you know it by barking at you no matter how many times you reintroduce yourself … and refusing to allow your peasant hand to touch her soft and fluffy coat.”

Her favorite activity is paddleboarding, but don’t expect her to lift a paw. She prefers relaxing up front in her hot-pink life jacket, hat, and sunnies.

Baby-of-the-family Nash arrived as a foster four years ago and weaseled her way into everyone’s hearts before staying for good.  “Nash can be intimidating-looking, especially when she stares deep into your soul, but [she] is a people-pleaser and social butterfly,” Kaela says. 

While Kaela launched the account to share funny photos of Bo snoozing standing up, it’s become a way to spread awareness about local rescue groups. “I’ve successfully placed 21 foster dogs into loving homes, many through my Instagram page,” she says.

Lyle

Child Advocate Canine

Lyle is a 5-year-old yellow lab who serves on the San Diego Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit with his partner, detective Natalie Hone. He offers therapeutic services such as support and comfort to victims of child abuse while officers conduct investigations. Lyle sits with the children during interviews, medical exams, and their testimonies at court. He has already assisted on nine cases since he joined the department last April.

Lyle was chosen for the job because of his calm nature, maturity, and ability to think for himself, Nicholes says. The department needed a pup capable of settling in for long periods and being confident and calm in emotional situations. 

When he’s not working, Lyle loves spending time with Hone and her family, playing fetch and tug-of-war. 

Sumo (@sumotheberner)

Influencer with 18K followers

At just two years old, Sumo the Bernese Mountain Dog has already built up an Instagram following of almost 20,000.  He’s the fourth Bernese Mountain Dog to join human companion Michelle Young’s family.

Young says she started Sumo’s account to share photos and videos of him with family and friends.

“I had no idea his account would become so popular,” she explains. “But it just goes to show how loveable the breed is. I’ve made great friends through his Instagram account, and many of us get together and have Berner meetups. There’s nothing quite like seeing 20-plus Berners together in Southern California.”

Sumo stands out on the ’gram for his swimming reels, because Bernese Mountain Dogs aren’t typically known to love the water. “But Sumo literally jumps right in, makes a huge splash, and has willingly and voluntarily gone down a waterslide,” Young says. 

When he’s not cannonballing into the pool, Sumo enjoys playing in the snow, hiking Mt. Laguna during cool weather, and snacking on dehydrated beef liver and bully sticks.

“I hope his Instagram account continues to bring smiles and giggles to those that follow him,” Young says. “If you see us around town in San Diego, please say hi.”

The post  10 of San Diego’s Most Famous Dogs With Jobs appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

2022 Fur Ball_Event_359.jpg

Photos Courtesy of the San Diego Humane Society

Dolled-up dogs and a turtle in a top hat were among guests at San Diego Humane Society’s 36th annual Fur Ball on October 1. The 640 guests (and 200 dogs) were treated to a vegetarian meal prepared by Chef Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grill, an elegant cocktail reception, and an after-party with music by Haute Chile.

This year’s event brought in $1,150,000 to help San Diego Humane give animals a second chance.

The post Party Pics: San Diego Humane Society’s Fur Ball appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Carla’s artwork is tangible and easy to gaze at for long periods of time. Each time you look, you’ll see a new element or detail you missed the last 100 times. She uses paint, fabric, ink, letraset, collage, etc. to create these amazing pieces. What’s the best part? They so beautifully and so accurately capture each animal’s soul.

The Art of Saving Animals

“I like art because I get to be messy, dirty, and creative. There are no rules,” says Carla. She also applies that same logic to her animal rescue work, thinking outside the box and doing whatever it takes to help an animal in need.

It all started with a dog named Nugget. “I was taking a tour of a shelter with another rescue organization, and there was this little, old, skinny dog—he looked like an opossum—barely moving in the back kennel. The shelter said he had one more day and that was it. I decided then and there that I would take him to spend the remainder of his old life with my animal family and me.”

Nugget was given two weeks to live, but with the help of local veterinarian, Dra Rebeca Serrano, he lived for another seven months.

In 2013, she started Animal Synergy to work with shelters to save the geriatric, the broken, and those with missing limbs or eyes. “This is the sector of the animals in shelters that everyone tends to ignore, as they are not considered ‘adoptable.’ Initially, the shelters told me it was too hard, or would cost too much. I knew I had to open people’s eyes and hearts and homes to these beautiful animals that have so much to teach us.

“We overcame the odds and accomplished exactly what everyone had told me was impossible! Thirty animals have been saved to date!

“Elvis was one of them. He was rescued from animal control. Elvis could not use his back legs or control his bowels, but there was a flicker of light in his eyes and we knew he wanted to live. We provided him with love, medical care, and support. With the help of Tsavo’s Canine Rehabilitation & Fitness Center, Inc. (who graciously donated rehabilitation services to Synergy), along with many hours of hugs and snuggles, Elvis is not only walking, but he even goes on hikes with his new family!

“Tinkerbell was rescued from animal control a few months ago, scared and broken. Tink was loved, rehabilitated, and recently road tripped to her new forever home in Oregon!”

If you want to help:  “We now have an opportunity in San Diego to go into the shelter system as volunteers and practice the art of kennel enrichment. This means not just walking the dogs, but enriching their lives, changing the whole shelter experience to be one of love and kindness—sitting with them, reading to them, misting them with lavender. This means making the animals happier so when people come to look for a dog, they see a happier dog, one that perhaps knows how to sit, one with love and hope in its eyes; not sadness. At the end of the day it’s all about the animals—let’s make it a good day.”

For more information on art or volunteering contact [email protected] .

The Art of Saving Animals

The Art of Saving Animals

The Art of Saving Animals

The post The Art of Saving Animals appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Carla’s artwork is tangible and easy to gaze at for long periods of time. Each time you look, you’ll see a new element or detail you missed the last 100 times. She uses paint, fabric, ink, letraset, collage, etc. to create these amazing pieces. What’s the best part? They so beautifully and so accurately capture each animal’s soul.

The Art of Saving Animals

“I like art because I get to be messy, dirty, and creative. There are no rules,” says Carla. She also applies that same logic to her animal rescue work, thinking outside the box and doing whatever it takes to help an animal in need.

It all started with a dog named Nugget. “I was taking a tour of a shelter with another rescue organization, and there was this little, old, skinny dog—he looked like an opossum—barely moving in the back kennel. The shelter said he had one more day and that was it. I decided then and there that I would take him to spend the remainder of his old life with my animal family and me.”

Nugget was given two weeks to live, but with the help of local veterinarian, Dra Rebeca Serrano, he lived for another seven months.

In 2013, she started Animal Synergy to work with shelters to save the geriatric, the broken, and those with missing limbs or eyes. “This is the sector of the animals in shelters that everyone tends to ignore, as they are not considered ‘adoptable.’ Initially, the shelters told me it was too hard, or would cost too much. I knew I had to open people’s eyes and hearts and homes to these beautiful animals that have so much to teach us.

“We overcame the odds and accomplished exactly what everyone had told me was impossible! Thirty animals have been saved to date!

“Elvis was one of them. He was rescued from animal control. Elvis could not use his back legs or control his bowels, but there was a flicker of light in his eyes and we knew he wanted to live. We provided him with love, medical care, and support. With the help of Tsavo’s Canine Rehabilitation & Fitness Center, Inc. (who graciously donated rehabilitation services to Synergy), along with many hours of hugs and snuggles, Elvis is not only walking, but he even goes on hikes with his new family!

“Tinkerbell was rescued from animal control a few months ago, scared and broken. Tink was loved, rehabilitated, and recently road tripped to her new forever home in Oregon!”

If you want to help:  “We now have an opportunity in San Diego to go into the shelter system as volunteers and practice the art of kennel enrichment. This means not just walking the dogs, but enriching their lives, changing the whole shelter experience to be one of love and kindness—sitting with them, reading to them, misting them with lavender. This means making the animals happier so when people come to look for a dog, they see a happier dog, one that perhaps knows how to sit, one with love and hope in its eyes; not sadness. At the end of the day it’s all about the animals—let’s make it a good day.”

For more information on art or volunteering contact [email protected] .

The Art of Saving Animals

The Art of Saving Animals

The Art of Saving Animals

The post The Art of Saving Animals appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Cinnamon Roll Bar at Sea & Smoke

Taryn Kent

Forever Fit

Taryn Kent

Alga Norte Community Park

Taryn Kent

LinkSoul co-owner Geoffrey Cunningham

Taryn Kent

The post The Best of North County Right Now appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Cinnamon Roll Bar at Sea & Smoke

Taryn Kent

Forever Fit

Taryn Kent

Alga Norte Community Park

Taryn Kent

LinkSoul co-owner Geoffrey Cunningham

Taryn Kent

The post The Best of North County Right Now appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Alga Norte Community Park

Alga Norte Community Park

Lappert’s Ice Cream

Lappert’s Ice Cream

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

The post Kids & Pets appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Alga Norte Community Park

Alga Norte Community Park

Lappert’s Ice Cream

Lappert’s Ice Cream

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

The post Kids & Pets appeared first on San Diego Magazine.