Nonprofit Is Using Documentary to Obtain State Funding for Countywide Animal Cruelty Task Force
CAPS 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 California 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 346 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
