With shelter full, Clearlake officials seek new homes for adoptable dogs
- Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The city of Clearlake’s animal shelter is filled with dogs ready for adoption, and officials are asking community members for help in fostering and adopting the pets.
At Thursday’s Clearlake City Council meeting, shelter staff presented some of the adoptable dogs as is common at the meetings.
During the presentation, Charmaine Weldon, an animal control technician and adoption and rescue coordinator for Clearlake Animal Control, said there are 30 adoptable dogs available and a total of 70 dogs now being held at the shelter.
When council members asked about the high number of dogs at the shelter, Weldon said it’s part of a nationwide crisis. Rescues also are challenged with adopting out the high number of animals they’re caring for now.
“We have a lot more dogs than we would like to have,” said Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White, whose department oversees animal control.
White said the situation is such that some shelters in other areas have stopped taking in animals.
North Bay Animal Services, the city’s animal control contractor, is trying to make it work, White said.
However, he said people need to step up and adopt where they can, as the city can’t sustain having the shelter as full as it is. White said they didn’t build it for 70 dogs.
White himself has been fostering a young male Rottweiler named Parker, who White announced during the meeting is being adopted by City Clerk/Administrative Services Director Melissa Swanson.
Adopters, foster homes and those willing to help exercise the dogs are welcome.
Visit Clearlake Animal Control on Facebook or on the city’s website to find pictures and information about the dogs.
Those looking for lost animals should check here.
For more information, call the Clearlake Animal Control shelter at 707-273-9440, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to inquire about adoptions and schedule a visit to the shelter.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.