SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Animal shelters in Tijuana say they have run out of space to keep dogs warm and dry as inclement weather hits the region.
Last year, the city of Tijuana said stray dogs “were overrunning the city,” unable to keep up with calls to pick up animals on the streets.
Activists like Evangelina Hernández Pérez are turning to the public for help.
She’s hoping residents will open their homes and adopt a dog, and is also asking dog owners to make sure their dogs are kept inside and not be allowed to roam the streets.
“We need more space available to serve as temporary shelters for dogs, there’s no other place to put them,” she said. “This is happening especially during the rainy season where more and more dogs are suffering on the streets being cold and wet.”
In addition to bein unable to keep up with calls, Hernández Pérez said the city has virtually stopped supporting independent shelters and is not picking up as many animals as in the past.
“We have no idea what we’re going to do with so many dogs, we have nowhere to put them, nothing to feed them, and we can’t provide them with veterinary care.”
Patricia Sandoval, who is an animal rescuer, says she has resorted to driving around and picking up stray dogs, putting them in her van as a way to keep them off the streets.
“Not only do we need space, we need food, blankets, towels, even old sweaters to keep the dogs warm.”
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