Some animal advocates feared {that a} canine featured in a Occasions story concerning the pets of individuals being deported could be euthanized, after he was taken to an undisclosed L.A. County shelter.
However 3-year-old pit bull Chuco has been situated on the county’s Baldwin Park animal shelter, preserving the prospect that he might nonetheless be adopted.
Chuco was along with his proprietor when immigration brokers raided a Dwelling Depot in Barstow a bit of over two weeks in the past, animal advocates mentioned. His proprietor was arrested, however a good friend on the scene managed to seize the canine and take him residence. Not lengthy after, his landlord seized the pet and took him to a shelter. She didn’t pay attention to the shelter’s identify, however snapped a photograph of the place. Chuco’s proprietor was deported.
Chuco is “able to go residence,” based on L.A. County’s animal management division.
(The SPAY(CE) Venture)
Esther Ruurda, who co-founded the SPAY(CE) Venture, which supplies spay and neuter companies — and sought to assist Chuco discover a residence — texted the photograph to a shelter volunteer, Rita Earl Blackwell, asking if she might determine the placement.
Blackwell investigated with the assistance of a shelter worker they usually discovered Chuco.
He will be seen on the county’s public database of accessible animals.
However “it’s powerful for a pit bull in L.A. in our present shelter disaster,” mentioned Blackwell, a veteran volunteer. County shelters are extra crowded than she has seen them in 15 years, she mentioned. Advocates level to folks having deserted animals they acquired throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the rising price of veterinary care — together with spay and neuter procedures — and now the elevated immigration arrests as causes for the excessive numbers.
Canine — massive ones specifically — will be exhausting to search out properties for, based on some advocates.
Greater than twice as many canines have been relinquished by their homeowners at L.A. County’s Palmdale shelter in June than in the identical month final 12 months, based on information obtained by The Occasions. On the county’s Downey shelter, the rely jumped by practically 50%.
However Chuco has an interesting again story and Blackwell is hopeful that, although he’s “in a sea of undesirable canines,” that may give him an edge that results in his adoption.
