Salinas Animal Services packed with pets

Kennels are full and crates are packed at Salinas Animal Services, and shelter staff think they know why.

“Two days after the Airshow we got in over 40 animals, which is huge. That doesn’t usually happen – The Airshow is like a mini 4th of July event. It scares a lot of animals,” said Cindy Burnham, Animal Services Manager.

Burnham said on average the shelter gets 75 animals a week, so 40 in two days was a shock. Since the California International Airshow Salinas, they’ve taken in over 120 stray cats and dogs. So far only 13 have been reclaimed by their owners.

“Not enough people have come looking for those lost pets, or they wait too long. The animals might not be here any longer,” said Burnham.

Shelter policy says animals without microchips or tags are held for three business days, but after that your pet could be anywhere.

“They can be adopted, they can be transferred to a rescue agency, or they do risk being euthanized,” said Burnham.

And that’s something this shelter never wants to do. So they’re waiting and hoping owners will come forward.

For pet owners in south Santa Cruz County, be advised that this weekend is the Watsonville Airshow and Fly-in. Make sure your pets are safe and secure.

The Salinas shelter isn’t the only Central Coast shelter seeing an overload of animals right now. The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter says its having a sale this month on adoptions in hopes of reducing crowding at the county’s two facilities. Adoptions for puppies and dogs are $75 this month, cats and kittens are $50 and rabbits are $25. For more information and to view adoptable animals,go to www.SCAnimalShelter.org .