PLETHORA OF PUPS A HOLIDAY WINDFALL; BUT UNUSUALLY LARGE NUMBER DOGS CASTAIC SHELTER WORKERS.Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer Maybe it's the season or perhaps it's El Nino, but the Castaic Animal Shelter "Dog Pound" redirects here. For the rap group, see Tha Dogg Pound. An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. has been inundated in·un·date tr.v. in·un·dat·ed, in·un·dat·ing, in·un·dates 1. To cover with water, especially floodwaters. 2. with unexpected litters of puppies and kittens, making animal lovers the biggest winners as officials slash fees for the holidays. Lt. George Enriquez of the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Department of Animal Care and Control said puppies began arriving at the Castaic shelter in early December, an unusual time of year for such an increase in the canine canine or canid Any domestic or wild dog or doglike mammal (e.g., wolf, jackal, fox) in the family Canidae, found throughout the world except in Antarctica and on most ocean islands. population. ``Usually, we only have a few that come in,'' Enriquez said. ``People normally stop bringing them in around the end of October.'' Shelter officials also have decided to cut fees in an effort to find homes for the pets before Christmas. ``We're taking $10 off of the cats and kittens Cats and Kittens is a monthly magazine dedicated to cats, owners of cats, and breeders of cats. Its main rival is Cat Fancy. External links
With up to three litters being brought in daily, Enriquez said extra volunteers have aided the shelter's staff as they prepare for a pre-Christmas week rush. ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how many volunteers we have so far and we'll get more. ``We have to be ready, the extra help will help ease the rush that I know we will get this week,'' he said. Enriquez said he doesn't know why the sudden influx of litters, but he is very happy to oblige all those seeking the pups for the holidays. ``Maybe it's El Nino, you know, with the weather they're predicting, people tend to feel sorry for everything and they don't want these cute cute adj. cut·er, cut·est 1. Delightfully pretty or dainty. 2. Obviously contrived to charm; precious: "[He] little animals on the streets,'' Enriquez said. Animal shelter officials said cats and kittens normally sell for $48 while puppies usually fetch $59. With the large quantity of new animals at the Castaic facility, workers hope the price cuts will entice animal lovers to make a purchase. ``They will,'' Enriquez predicted. ``I think that's why we've gotten them because it's the time of year where you want to give something special and you might as well say El Nino is the reason, too, because everything is blamed on El Nino anyway.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1 -- color) Showing his excitement, a puppy puppy the young of the canine species; usually used up to the age of 12 months. fading puppy syndrome see fading kitten/puppy syndrome. puppy pyoderma see impetigo. yaps as prospective owners stroll past his cage at the Castaic Animal Shelter on Wednesday. (2 -- color) Randy and Donna Relles of Canyon Country look at a dog on Wednesday at the Castaic Animal Shelter. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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