Dogs Euthanasia Rates Spiked to 12% in San Diego County
- Susan Heavilin
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
Eleven volunteers and former County Shelter employees, speaking anonymously, report that the system is broken and that County Shelters euthanize more pets than they say they do.
The rate has risen to 12% there whereas the Humane Society euthanizes between 5-7% of their guests. Bowser has a better chance of finding a new home if he has been dropped off at the Humane Society.
Scott Rodd and Elaine Alfaro, reporters from KPBS, recently wrote:
"A months long KPBS investigation found euthanasia rates for dogs in the county’s shelters more than doubled from before the pandemic. Last fiscal year, the shelters made the decision to euthanize 426 dogs. That meant canines entering the shelter system had a more than 1-in-10 chance of being put down.
To justify these euthanasias, shelter staff and supervisors increasingly cite behavioral issues that are 'untreatable.' In fact, the county claims it hasn’t euthanized a single dog with a 'treatable' condition in the last decade.
But former employees and shelter volunteers claim dogs with mild behavioral problems are routinely and unnecessarily euthanized at the county’s two shelters. One former shelter employee laughed in disbelief at the shelter’s claim that it hasn’t euthanized a treatable dog 10 years."
The two studied the data and created the following chart:
You have probably seen this sign as you drive on Sweetwater Road toward Spring Valley. It marks the location of the County Animal Services - South Shelter.
There are two San Diego County Animal Services facilities, one in Bonita and one in Carlsbad. The Bonita shelter is being replaced by a new, larger $37 million facility in Santee, designed to offer "improved conditions for animals and staff."
The Santee shelter is presently under construction and is expected to open next summer. Once it is ready, the Bonita shelter will close and the land will be sold.
Many residents are concerned what will be built there . . . most likely some type of new housing. I wish that the County would have temporarily moved the animals and built the new $37 million shelter in Bonita.
I'm concerned about the animals. Will Bonita-Sunnyside residents drive an extra eleven miles (15-20 minutes each way) to drop off a lost pet? Or will we be seeing more stray dogs roaming the streets or being hit by cars?
But I digress. Back to the topic at hand.
Most of us believe that our Bonita shelter on Sweetwater Road is a cut above the rest. That it is a "no kill" facility.
That may not be entirely true.
KPBS reporters Scott Rodd and Elaine Alfaro tell a different story in their investigative article "As dog euthanasias spike in San Diego County shelters, former employees say the system is broken."
It is an eye-opening report on what may really be going on.
Last week, a good friend of mine drove twice to San Bernardino (2.5 hours each way) to save an adorable pup from being euthanized. The first trip was to claim the dog and the second trip to pick up the animal after she had been spayed. No, they were not allowed to bring the dog back to San Diego the first trip and have her spayed here.
While there, she saw a friendly pit bull mama with ten puppies, eyes not open yet. They were all to be euthanized within days. My friend made countless calls to rescue organizations to try to save them to no avail.
As pet lovers, we worry about these animals and try to find them good homes when we can. But could euthanizing just be a big business (money-maker) in disguise? Who knows.
Bless the Beasts and the Children . . . neglecting or harming the most fragile members of society weakens and degrades us all.
Comments