Nonprofit Is Using Documentary to Obtain State Funding for Countywide Animal Cruelty Task Force
Bakersfield, CA –The Companion Animal Protection Society, a national nonprofit based in Thousand Oaks, CA, has just released a short documentary entitled Animal Cruelty in Kern County, California, which exposes the horrible animal cruelty epidemic in California’s third largest county (by land area).
Kern County, California has a horrible animal cruelty epidemic, with shocking crimes against animals not being investigated or prosecuted. CAPS’ emails and calls to the district attorney and the deputy DA in charge of the Rural Crimes Investigation Unit have gone unanswered.
CAPS President Deborah Howard met last week with legislative directors, a chief of staff and a senate fellow for four of the five state legislators whose districts include Kern County. CAPS’ goal is to get special state funding for a desperately-needed countywide animal cruelty task force. The nonprofit will be developing a plan for this task force.
Former television reporter Paul Mueller featured the first trailer on his Facebook and Instagram pages, which are dedicated to exposing animal cruelty and encouraging animal advocates to get involved in their communities. Howard did a two hour interview with Mueller on a TikTok Live about the documentary and other CAPS work.
CAPS has been partnering with Kern County Animal Services in Bakersfield, California for more than three years to help save the lives of at-risk abandoned dogs who end up in the shelter. The nonprofit’s efforts, which include a Petfinder page, have saved the lives of 315 dogs and six cats (cats are not at risk for euthanasia unless very ill or badly injured). Dogs have gone to adopters and rescues in Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Alaska, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and throughout California.
CAPS is now using its social media outlets to promote the county’s low-cost and free spay/neuter services, with the Instagram and Facebook posts being advertised to reach more residents of Kern County. The nonprofit’s PSA about the important of spaying and neutering (Loving Our Animals Means Spaying and Neutering and Amar a Nuestros Animales Significa Esterilizar y Castrarlos) is airing on hundreds of English and Spanish language TV and radio stations around the country, with Bakersfield placements including Telemundo, Univision, Unimas, HC2, LATV and 23ABC
Animal Cruelty in Kern County, California documentary
Animal Cruelty in Kern County, California documentary trailer 1
Animal Cruelty in Kern County, California documentary trailer 2
About CAPS
Founded in 1992, the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy/kitten mills. CAPS addresses animal suffering through investigations, outreach, legislation, legal advocacy, consumer assistance, rescue, and shelter reform.
###
