Euthanasia - Overcrowding in Dog Kennels

In the coming days, weeks & months, the Animal Shelter will most likely be put in a position to euthanize healthy dogs to free up dog kennel space in order to take in more stray dogs from the community. 

A large amount of the population in Mendocino County is facing economic hardships due to many variables.  The average cost of keeping a dog is estimated to be approximately $1,400.00 a year.  The decision to not adopt a dog comes down to dollars & cents for families.  Mendocino County Animal Care Services understands why residents are not choosing to adopt a dog, surrender a dog or not reclaim an impounded dog. 

When the time comes to euthanize healthy dogs please understand that is not for lack of effort on behalf of the Animal Shelter and that the Animal Shelter exhausted all the available resources prior to euthanizing a dogs to free up dog kennel space. 

We ask that the community not criticize the decision to euthanize and understand the very difficult decision that had to be made in order to assist other stray dogs that need to come into the Animal Shelter.  

The problem of the Animal Shelter being overcrowded with dogs is not going away anytime soon. 

In the future the dogs facing euthanasia will be posted on this page with unfortunately a date.  A date that will reflect the euthanasia date if not fostered, adopted or transferred to a rescue organization. 

A crowded Animal Shelter shelter creates a more stressful environment for pets and people which can impact shelter safety and increase the likelihood for the spread of infectious disease.  In addition, the inability to sufficiently isolate sick dogs puts dogs at high risk of contracting illnesses.

The dogs that will be listed on this page have been identified as dogs that require more resources to be able to place in an appropriate home.  While typically Animal Care Services would have the resources to find homes for these dogs, given the current capacity crisis, these dogs are now at risk.  While the dogs on the this page will not be immediately euthanized, these will be the dogs that are euthanized if the shelter’s high population is critical and not sharply reduced.

The community needs to be made aware of the current & future overcrowding and potential euthanasia of dogs due to lack of available dog kennels.  This is why this euthanasia page was created. 

Mendocino County Animal Care Services Euthanasia Totals

Please click on the below links to find out Animal Care Services statistical data and information on what Animal Shelters throughout the country are experiencing.

The time frame for the euthanasia totals is from 11-20-2016 through 6-30-2023. 

Euthanasia Totals

8 Concerning Animal Shelter Euthanasia Statistics