What About the Animals that are Still at the Shelter?

Since your Rancho Coastal Humane Society temporarily closed to the public due to COVID-19 on March 20th, the question we get most often is, “What did you do with the animals?”

First, thank you for caring. Next, thank you for asking.

The number varies from day to day because of pets coming and going through our Animal Safehouse Program and the fact that we’re once again visiting our rescue partners to transfer pets from their overcrowded facilities.

Right now, we have 35 cats, dogs and rabbits here at the shelter. There are 25 animals in the RCHS Foster Program staying in the homes of volunteers and staff members.

Pets in foster care are getting “basic training” for the homes they will live in once they’re adopted into forever homes. In the morning, they all get fed and their kennels are cleaned. The dogs go to the play yards for exercise. The cats and rabbits get plenty of attention when staff cleans their living quarters, feeds them, brushes them and plays with them.

After everyone is fed and the medical team makes its rounds, it’s nap time. Some fall into a deep sleep. Others take “cat naps.” Some raise their sleepy heads to take a look around. We’ve noticed one cat doesn’t like to be bothered with any commotion. She opens an eye to see what’s happening, then closes it and gets back to some serious napping.

There are much fewer red and blue volunteer aprons, and there is much less kennel cuddling, but we are using this time to continue staff training, and the dogs are getting a chance to participate in play groups.

During this temporary closure, not much else has changed. We won’t allow it. We want our shelter pets to all be happy, social, and ready for their “fur-ever” homes the first day we reopen.

Thank you. Thank you for caring. Thank you for asking.

Thank you for your continued support of your Rancho Coastal Humane Society where, especially during this temporary closure, Every Animal Deserves a Tomorrow®.