The city Council of Lancaster and Palmdale have the option to opt into a contract through the city that allows Lancaster and Palmdale Animal Care and Control to offer low cost spay and neuter to the residents. Each year the city determines through a service agreement which resources they will allow animal care and control to offer to their residents and each year they choose to not offer this to service.

By decreasing the pet population in the Antelope Valley through a low-cost spay and neuter program, the county can better help residents to utilize resources for the pets they currently have and therefore reduce the need to accept animals into the care centers. LA County Animal Care and Control has acknowledged on their website just how much they are overwhelmed by the number of stray pets and list numerous public safety issues that the stray pets can contribute to. Still, the City of Lancaster and Palmdale  have chosen not to take part in the county’s spay/neuter voucher program each year. Marcia’s blog also states that, “it is (the county’s responsibility) to identify any possible alternatives to impoundment, provide more robust resources and increase positive outcomes for the animals that do have to be admitted into the care centers”—all of which can be partially addressed by decreasing the pet population through a low-cost spay/neuter program. Of course the ultimate goal is to reduce the number of animals euthanized in the Palmdale and Lancaster animal shelters each year, reduce the number of animal deceased on the side of our roads each year and reduce the number of animals that perish from dehydration and starvation in our deserts every year.

Everyone is aware of this problem, In March of 2020 the shelter implemented a managed care intake where they are requesting more than ever the community’s help in regards to feral cats, stray/found animals and responsible rehoming.  The ideas and goals behind managed intake are noble but with little to no resources offered to the community it’s proving difficult for residents to find resolutions on their own. We hope that offering a consistent low cost spay and neuter to the community will make the difference that is much needed in the Antelope Valley. At the end of the day, Managed Intake just means that the animals are not in our shelters it doesn’t mean they still don’t exist with in the community and they still desperately require resources.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.