When Onyx was spotted, he was walking down the street, barely able to move. This sweet, 8-year-old Pit Bull had been beaten and was starving, his face covered in dog bites. Weeks before, he had been adopted out for free by Kern County Animal Services (KCAS) in Bakersfield, CA. He was taken home by a man described by a long-time volunteer as a “shady character.” In violation of state law, the shelter did not neuter Onyx before releasing him to this man, whom we believe used him for fighting. Now, Onyx found himself back in the shelter, awaiting probable euthanasia.
But with the help of CAPS, Onyx’s life was about to change.
Little did we know when we relocated to California in the fall of 2020 that CAPS would soon be developing a plan to help save the animals at KCAS. The shelter has as many as 400 stray dogs and puppies (and a small number of cats) housed in two overcrowded metal warehouses, which have small kennels with no outdoor runs. Onyx was now back in those kennels with time running out.
Luckily, when CAPS posted its first Instagram video featuring at-risk dogs at KCAS, Onyx was part of it. Very quickly, we heard from an animal lover named Caitlyn. She already had a female Pit Bull named Libby at home, whom she had previously adopted from KCAS, and now she wanted Onyx, too.
The shelter had been insisting that Onyx did not like other dogs because he’d joined in dog fights in the tiny play yard. But Caitlyn took a chance. Onyx immediately hit it off with her other dog and started playing like a puppy. Later, Caitlyn would also save the life of another KCAS Pit Bull that had been featured by CAPS by fostering her and then finding her a forever home.
CAPS has saved more than 275 dogs and one black cat from Kern County Animal Services since mid-February 2022 by using social media, including regular advertising of Instagram posts, a Petfinder page, Nextdoor posts, shelter to shelter transfers, and shelter to rescue transfers. Your generous donation today will help to save even more lives.
Twice in the summer of 2024, CAPS provided 10-pound blocks of ice for 150 of the kennels when inside temperatures were over 90 degrees. Please support us so that we may provide many more days of ice next summer.
Saving and helping dogs from KCAS is just part of the equation. CAPS has developed an integrated program to address California’s homeless animal crisis, as well as the problems at the state’s numerous municipal shelters, most of which have been underfunded for years.
The Crisis at California’s Municipal Shelters is currently in production. This compelling documentary will expose conditions of many of the state’s municipal shelters, many of which are underfunded and/or mismanaged. We will use the finished documentary to reach out to California legislators to sponsor a bill to establish a shelter licensing and inspection program that will also provide funding and low cost spay/neuter services.
CAPS is also currently producing a short documentary about the overwhelming incidents of animal cruelty not being investigated or prosecuted in Kern County. The cruelty is not just limited to residents; law enforcement and other officials are also responsible. We plan to use this documentary to seek special state funding for a county animal cruelty task force.