This Bay Area animal shelter has over 900 pets in urgent need for adoptions or fosters

PETS IN THE SOUTH BAY. THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS APPEARING AT THE SAN JOSE ANIMAL CENTER IS FORCING THEM TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES. LAUREN MARTINEZ SHOWS THE URGENT NEED TO ADOPT OR FOSTER. REPORTER: SAN JOSE ANIMAL CARE IS FULL. THEY NO LONGER HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE IN HEALTHY DOGS OR CATS. >> I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE SHELTER OPENED IN 2004. I DON'T RECALL THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS AT ANY GIVEN TIME AT THE SHELTER THIS HIGH. REPORTER: THE ANIMAL SHELTER HAS MORE THAN 900 ANIMALS. 745 OF THEM ARE KITTENS ALONE. DURING APRIL AND MAY, THE SHELTER RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF 300 ANIMALS PER WEEK. >> I WAS HOPING WE WEREN'T GOING TO GET HERE BUT WE HAVE USED OUR CLASSROOM FOR CAT CAGES. WE HAVE ROOMS HERE TO MY RIGHT AND LEFT WITH SMALL DOGS THAT ARE ALL IN THE SAME ROOM, SEPARATED BY A LITTLE GATE OF SOME SORT. REPORTER: THE SHELTER IS ONLY ACCEPTING SICK, INJURED, OR AGGRESSIVE ANIMALS. THE HIGH NUMBERS THEY ARE SEEING ARE A MIXTURE OF STRAYS AND ANIMALS SURROUNDED BY THEIR OWNERS. >> YOU HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE FRONT OF YOUR BUILDING BEGGING YOU TO TAKE THE ANIMAL BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THAT THEY ARE IN. THAT MIX IT HARD FOR THE STAFF TO SAY NO TO THOSE FOLKS. >> WE WERE FOSTERING THESE KITTENS FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS. NOW WE'VE DECIDED THAT WE LOVE THEM AND WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THEM HOME TO ADOPT THEM. REPORTER: THE SHELTER HOPES YOU DO WHAT THIS SAN JOSE RESIDENT DID. FOSTER OR ADOPT. >> THERE ARE ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME THAT ARE STILL ADOPTABLE PETS. REPORTER: GRETA HAS BEEN AT THE SHELTER SINCE AUGUST. RONNIE WAS TURNED IN LAST JULY. >> THAT'S OUR ULTIMATE GOAL. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO SAVE ANIMALS. REPORTER: THE SHELTER IS WAIVING ADOPTION FEES THROUGH JUNE. FOR ADDITIONAL HELP, SHELTER OFFICIALS HAVE REQUESTED OVERNIGHT STAFF IN THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 37,730

Keywords: news, abc, abc7news, san jose animal shelter, San Jose Animal Care and Services, sj animal shelter full, dog adoptions, cat adoptions, pet adoptions, animal shelters full, adopt pets

Id: U055UmZXJtY

Length: 2min 18sec (138 seconds)

Published: Wed May 31 2023