Kaiser Strike Takes Toll On Pets

The six-month-old Kaiser strike has created some unexpected victims at the Spokane County Animal Shelter.

Animal control officers and shelter staff have seen an increase in well-cared-for family pets dropped off or brought into the animal shelter.

In a handful of recent cases, said animal control officer Jennifer Kline, locked-out Kaiser workers have reluctantly admitted they can’t afford to feed the pets anymore.

Kline accepted a black lab this week from a striker who said he had no other choice.

“This man was definitely distraught,” Kline said.

And his pet is in good company.

“We’ve seen a lot of very well-cared-for dogs (lately),” said Kline.

Some pets, she said, have been dropped off at night, in cages, with partial bags of food.

While it’s impossible to know exactly how many of the animals are in fact Kaiser pets, Kline believes at least part of the shelter’s bulging population is a result of the ongoing labor dispute. The last few months have been especially busy for the shelter, which has frequently found itself without a cage to spare.

When the shelter becomes full, workers are forced to make room by euthanizing animals who otherwise would be given more time to wait for a possible adoption.

Staff have been forced to make difficult choices.

This week, they couldn’t bring themselves to euthanize a 2-year-old black lab named Shelby, a dog who could sit, shake, heel and had obviously been through obedience training. They gave Shelby an extension - another week to be adopted.

But if the shelter remains full, Shelby’s extension will mean shortening another dog’s window of opportunity.

Shelter staff are encouraging would-be pet owners to visit the animal shelter, located at 2521 N. Flora Road, and consider opening their homes to one of the needy pets.

Residents living in unincorporated Spokane County can adopt a dog for $59.31. A cat costs $39.41.

The adoption package includes vaccinations, licensing for a year, spaying or neutering, microchip implantation and the animal’s first vet visit.

For more information, call the shelter at 458-2532.