NUMBER OF ANIMALS IMPOUNDED IN A.V. ON THE RISE.Byline: Romy Jacobson Daily News Staff Writer The number of lost and abandoned animals brought to the Lancaster animal shelter continues to escalate. From July 1996 through June, the shelter at 5210 W. Ave. I impounded 18,796 dogs and cats, up from 17,539 the year before, according to Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control statistics for the Antelope Valley. ``They are dumping them off by the boxfuls,'' said Gail Miley, shelter manager. ``The owners are not coming to get their pets. There's no excuse for people not to come in and pick up their pets.'' In 1996-97, 15,063 animals were destroyed, compared to 13,573 in the previous year. Owners picked up 1,099 animals, down from 1,256 the previous year. Other animals were adopted out. Miley said nearly half of the animal cruelty investigations done by Los Angeles County animal control officers are in the Antelope Valley. ``The numbers are horrible,'' said Miley. ``We don't want to resolve the overpopulation overpopulation Situation in which the number of individuals of a given species exceeds the number that its environment can sustain. Possible consequences are environmental deterioration, impaired quality of life, and a population crash (sudden reduction in numbers caused by by putting the animals to sleep. It's very frustrating to the people that work at the shelter.'' Miley says it is important to spay spay v. To surgically remove the ovaries of an animal. spay, spey to remove the ovaries. See also ovariohysterectomy. spay hook see spay hook. or neuter neu·ter adj. 1. Having undeveloped or imperfectly developed sexual organs. 2. Sexually undeveloped. n. A castrated animal. v. To castrate or spay. neuter 1. dogs and cats, to decrease the number of unwanted animals. ``If there's not a reason to breed your animal, the animals should be spayed or neutered neu·ter adj. 1. Grammar a. Neither masculine nor feminine in gender. b. Neither active nor passive; intransitive. Used of verbs. 2. a. ,'' said Miley. ``Spay and neutering neu·ter adj. 1. Grammar a. Neither masculine nor feminine in gender. b. Neither active nor passive; intransitive. Used of verbs. 2. a. helps, but responsible pet ownership is the key.'' Miley also urged pet owners to vaccinate vac·ci·nate v. To inoculate with a vaccine in order to produce immunity to an infectious disease such as diphtheria or typhus. vac their pets, and to check at the shelter immediately if a pet is lost. |
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