Crowd at Animal Shelter Looks for Pets to Fill Christmas Wishes

While some holiday revelers filled malls this week eager to exchange unwanted sweaters or woolly socks, others made their way to Ventura County’s Animal Control Shelter in Camarillo.

Animal control workers say their busiest days for pet adoptions come just after Dec. 25, when parents line up to fulfill promises of a new puppy or kitten. Most families say they prefer it this way because figuring out what to do with the cuddly creature before Christmas can be a problem.

“We knew we wanted to get the family a new dog for Christmas,” said Tanya Witten of Newbury Park, who with her husband tried to pick the best of the bunch with their 14- and 11-year-old daughters. “But we thought, ‘What are we gonna do? If we put him in a box, he’ll just get out and poop on the floor.’ This way, the whole family gets to be involved.”

The shelter estimated that about 30 pets would be adopted Wednesday, double the usual number, said Supervising Animal Control Officer Jean Miller. Workers scrambled to help customers, who formed a line that at times spilled out of the shelter’s tiny office.

Miller, a control officer for 14 years, said business seems brisker in the days after Christmas. It is the result, she hopes, of a successful marketing campaign that advises people not to give animals as presents on Christmas Day.

Instead, the shelter recommends making up a mock gift certificate or putting together a box of pet items, such as a leash and bowl. Then the family can pick out the animal together the next day.

“Because, you know, Aunt Ellen may have said out loud, ‘I wish I had a dog like I used to,’ ” Miller said. “But she might not really mean it. And now you’ve given a dog to someone who doesn’t even want one.”

For that reason, another kind of rush will overtake the animal shelter next week--people returning their four-legged gifts. It usually takes about that long for the novelty to wear off and the responsibility of being a pet owner to set in, Miller said, referring to the playtime, walks, feedings, veterinary appointments and obedience training.

“A pet is not an accessory for a home,” Miller said. “Just because they have an empty backyard, people sometimes think they have to put something in it. But pets aren’t patio furniture.”

Family Weighs Pros and Cons

The Witten family carefully considered the pros and cons of each dog they passed, struggling to pick the ideal addition to their family. Crystal Witten, 11, peered through the fence at a small white dog with brown spots. The dog turned this way, then that, seeming to pose for his audience.

“He seems very good,” Crystal said. “He’s calm; I like that.”

Whichever lucky dog was chosen would have a big leash to fill. The family lost its dog a few months ago when a coyote roaming near their home attacked him.

“We want to get a dog that’s a little bigger this time so that can’t happen again,” Crystal said.

The Wittens decided on a mixed-breed puppy destined to grow at least knee-high. But the stray, which had wandered in a few days ago, would not be available for a few days. To give owners a chance to reclaim a lost pet, state law mandates that a pound hold a stray at least five days prior to adoption, 14 days if it’s tagged.

And a lot of reclaiming was taking place Wednesday. Two little girls were excited to discover their pet Rottweiler in one kennel, while a woman threw her arms around her German shepherd after control workers released him.

Many wandering dogs are picked up around Christmas.

“People go away for the holiday, and their dogs jump the fence or get out,” Miller said. Reclaiming a pet costs about $100 in impound fees, meant as a monetary penalty for the owner.

“Well, we have to do something and we can’t punish the animal,” Miller said.

New owners pay $75 to adopt a cat and $85 for a dog, because it requires a license.

Despite the busy day, Miller said most workers were happy to see the onslaught of customers, because it meant new homes for the animals. Many customers become attached to the strays, which at peak times can add up to nearly 200 dogs, cats, birds and rabbits.

Animals in for a longer stay are named by control officers, who walk the facility grounds with treats in their pockets.

“This is good,” Miller said as she surveyed the throng of people walking in and out of the office. “Believe me, we’d all love to go out and find new jobs, because we just have no animals left.”