Humane Society Blog

We need your help. Like the Music Festival, California State Parks wants the Mendocino Coast Humane Society to move our Mobile Pet Adoption from the Headlands site that we have occupied for over 10 years.
Historically, the Humane Society has parked its Mobile Pet Adoption truck every week-end on the Headlands next to the Ford House in Mendocino. Starting over a year ago, State Parks has restricted the Mobile Pet Adoption to one weekend a month and required we file a “Special Events Permit”. We have attempted to negotiate with the State Parks and return to our old agreement to no avail. We have met with them; we have written letters and collected many signatures. Although State Parks agrees that that their restrictions has negatively impacted the Humane Society and its adoption; they are unwilling to change their stance.
About 40% of the Humane Society’s adoptions have been from our Mobile Pet Adoption on the Headlands. This means that possibly 180 adoptions did not happen last year. Every time there is an adoption, a kennel becomes empty and we can take in one more homeless pet. If we do not have room, the pet is either let loose or dropped off at Animal Control, which must “put down” a high percentage of animals each year. An adoption that does not happen usually means that a life is lost.
Additionally, the State Parks restrictions have negatively impacted the donations made by the many visitors to our Mobile Pet Adoption. The Humane Society is a community supported organization and receives no government funding. The loss of donations impacts the services we can provide to our community. For example, we operate a low cost Spay/Neuter Clinic to help reduce the population of unwanted pets. We also Spay/Neuter feral cats which negatively impact businesses and the songbird population. We Spay/Neuter our animals before they are adopted and we provide them with full medical care. It is difficult to fund such activities when State Parks limits our donations. Our employees also lose. They do not get paid if they can not work. This is severe to unskilled staff in a community with few jobs.
For the 10 years before the State Parks restrictions, the Humane society had an “unwritten” agreement that allowed us to park on the Headlands every weekend, except during Special Events, like the Music Festival. The Humane Society has tried other locations in Mendocino on numerous occasions. And unfortunately we did not get many adoptions. For example, on our last visit to the Headlands in February, we had 9 adoptions. Although unrealistic, if we had 9 adoptions every weekend for 50 weekends we would have 450 adoptions in a year. 450 pets would be saved and find good homes.
In our attempt to convince the State Parks to again allow us to utilize the headlands every weekend; we have received numerous vague and nebulous reasons for their restrictions.

Use of the State Parks “are to be compatible and in keeping with the classification of the specific park unit and location; and with the general Plan.” Use of the State Parks “should be viewed as a way to promote State Parks and the California Department of Parks and Recreation, encourage public us consistent with the State Park mission, create and improve community and other constituency ties, and encourage new users to parks, thus increasing attendance and revenue.”

In our 10 years, we have never received a complaint from State Parks or any local business or visitor. If we had received a complaint we would have rectified it immediately. We operation for the benefit of the community and would never want to be a burden on anyone or any place. We just want to find homeless pets good homes.
After the State Parks told us that the Mobile Pet Adoption impacted the State Parks, a Board Member queried many local businesses, local residents and tourists. We also queried several State Parks Docents. All overwhelming supported us and we received no negative comments. The supporters included a Parks Docent and a Parks employee. In the same few days, the same Board Member collected over 1,000 signatures supporting us and our use of the Headlands for our Mobile Pet Adoption. Although the State Parks undervalued the signatures, in a town of 500, we thought it was spectacular support.
We need your help. Superintendent Marilyn Murphy and Northern Division Chief Lyn Rhodes accept that we have fewer adoptions, but are unwilling to change their policy. Additionally, the State Parks has asked the Humane Society to provide insurance for State Parks employees. The Humane Society carries full insurance, including liability insurance. We do not know how to insure un-named people who do not work with our animals or drive our truck. We are not even aware of a State Parks employee ever visiting our Mobile Pet Adoption. If they did; they were not wearing their uniform and working undercover. To require that we insure their employees is like asking us to insure the employees of the Mendocino Hotel; in the event that one of their employee visits us. In any case, that is why we carry liability insurance. Fortunately in 20 years, we have never had to make a claim. We think that this newest request is a way to eliminate completely the Humane Society’s Mobile Pet Adoption.
We need your help. Our animals need every chance that they can get to find a good home. We need your help for the animals.