It’s early Sunday morning in January. Cars pull into the lot in an industrial section of South Sacramento. What would possess people to get up this early on a cold, dark winter’s day? It’s not a swap meet, big sale, concert tickets, or church. These people have come to the Sacramento SPCA feral cat clinic to get the cats they’ve trapped spayed or neutered and vaccinated as part of a program called TNR: trap neuter return. Why do they do this? It’s a problem that has to be dealt with. “When feral overpopulation causes a problem, people get annoyed with all cats – ferals and pets. They don’t discriminate,” trapper Mary said, summarizing a common sentiment. “Cats get run over, poisoned, ab

There’s a war being waged in Sacramento. The dead are strewn in street gutters like dirty rags, or wind up in dumpsters and garbage cans. Even though the casualties are all on the other side, the humans are losing. The battle is to control our stray and feral cat population, currently estimated to be 350,000 cats in the Sacramento region. The cats are losing, too. There are no winners in this war. Recent news stories about a pet cat shot with a crossbow, teens killing cats for "fun" and a cat mauled by neighborhood dogs underscore the tragic results of a lack of respect for free-roaming cats. An out-of-control feral cat population contributes to the perception of cats as a nuisance and a

As part of National Animal Control Week, the Sacramento County Animal Shelter is recognizing their 11 Animal Control Officers who are on the front lines of cases of animal cruelty and neglect, and work around the clock to fulfill the Animal Shelter’s ongoing mission to save lives and protect the animals and people in Sacramento County. “Our officers are as dedicated as ever to providing critical public services for Sacramento County. Daily, our officers face difficult situations involving cruelty and abuse, accidents and dangerous animals, and with every step, they are making a difference,” said Dave Dickinson, Interim Animal Shelter Director. The Sacramento County Animal Control Officer

The wide range of professions represented by U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller’s friends show the depth of her long involvement in Sacramento’s legal and political worlds. A mix of well-wishers that included state Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, black-robed judges and a retired animal control manager all gathered earlier this month to honor Mueller in her new position as a federal judge. U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Mueller for the position and the U.S. Senate approved her candidacy in December. Mueller’s official ceremony or “investiture” for the position was held March 11 at the federal courthouse on I Street in Sacramento. Mueller, 53, sat down with The Sa

Posted by crawdad5150 Officer Michelle, we have several pit bull dogs running astray in the parking lots at St Paul Baptist Church on 14th Ave. As these dogs are unpredictable, will mace or pepper spray have an affect on these dogs? What can we do to keep the the public safe, on and around the church campus? Thanks. crawdad5150 Dear crawdad5150, No dog, let alone a pit bull, should be running astray in a public place. I will forward this email to the City of Sacramento Animal Control Division. Meanwhile, if you need to protect yourself against a dog, mace will not work because dogs don’t have tear ducts. Pepper spray, which includes an oleo based resin, will work on dogs. It makes their

Gina Knepp has worked in high-stress city government jobs for more than two decades. But even though she spent nearly 20 years at the city’s 911 call center and now heads the 311 call center, her sense of humor remains intact. Knepp, 48, is the division manager of 311. She reflects her humor in certain activities – designating a day to wear tin foil hats – and in her office décor, which includes a sign that reads: “Dumb should hurt.” The 311 center, which handles a wide variety of queries about city services, has lost about 65 percent of its budget to cuts in the last couple years, she said. Though her division is understaffed and 311’s budget is tight, Knepp conveyed great enthusiasm a

Posted by davem I have a neighbor who continually allows her dog to do its business in my front yard and never picks up after it. I have witnessed this on several occasions and the neighbor in question has ignored requests to stop or clean up after her dog. What recourse do I have to make this stop and whom should I contact about it? Dear davem, I can only imagine the morning view of you looking out your window to see a dog brutalizing your lawn! Since your neighbor has chosen to disregard your requests to be responsible for her dog, get your camera out and snap a photo of the dog leaving its deposit on your lawn. Call Animal Control at either 311 or 264-5011, and make a complaint. Yo

 With megaphone in hand, Jennifer Fearing of the Humane Society of the United States led a crowd of over 50 animal lovers in chanting “No more cuts, save our pets!” Fearing facilitated the rally Monday for the Sacramento County animal shelter, who positioned themselves on the steps of the Sacramento County Administration building to raise awareness about the cuts the shelter faces. Participants dressed in red with the message of “stop the bleeding.” Amy McMullan encouraged members of her group of pit bull owners, called Sacramento Responsible Pit Bull Lovers, to come to support the shelter. The group has about 400 members, with about 15 in attendance at the rally. “Pit bulls aren’t just

Visiting the Sacramento County animal shelter used to be so depressing. Dogs were in small, dirty kennels with a chain-link fence on every side, and concrete above and below. The cats fared no better, in crates that resembled cat carriers. It was hard to find a happy feline among the bunch. Horses were in small holding stables and had to be covered with blankets in the winter to protect them from the cold. With the opening of the shelter’s new facility in October 2009, things improved greatly for furry guests. The main building takes up five acres, so the facility has a lot more to offer. “It has habitat rooms in the front area; you can see cats in what we call their natural habitat, lou

Pit bulls go on the attack terrorizing a Carmichael community in the area of Libby Court. Several neighbors bitten. Whitney Elementry School locked down. Dogs so aggressive the order is given "take the shot if you get it" to on scene officers. Carmichael, Sacamento, CA Ed Fogle, MaverickPhotography.us SacMav Rapid Media November 9, 2009   Friday, November 6, 2009, multiple agencies were dispatched to a neighborhood in Carmichael. At least two pit bulls were on the loose attacking people. More and more reports poured into 9-1-1 as Police, Sheriff, CHP, Fire and Animal Control all converged on the area. As victims were located and treated by EMS, law enforcement with shotguns in hand and