Kathy Williamson

Kathy Williamson, director of the VVAPL, said Victorville and the county were notified in December that those contracts would not be renewed, so that they could begin making plans.

As for Adelanto, Williamson said the shelter is still deciding what will happen to their contract.

The department has three to five employees, including Murphy, estimated Kathy Williamson, manager of the Victor Valley Animal Protective League, which operates an animal shelter in nearby Apple Valley.
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"They're supposed to pick up (animals) off the street and bring them to me," Williamson said of the operating agreement between Adelanto and her shelter."Their numbers have been decreasing over the last five years, while everybody else's has been increasing.But they're saying that they have a good plan in place for knocking on doors and making sure that people have fenced yards and their animals are licensed."

California law generally requires animal control officers to impound strays so that they can be reclaimed by their owners or be adopted by new owners.The law makes an exception for animals less than six weeks of age, Williamson said.

"If you find a cat that's three weeks, you're not supposed to have to bottle feed it," she said."But they're supposed to be euthanized in a humane way."

She said she doesn't know whether anyone did anything wrong, much less what would have motivated it.

The stars of the recent event at Carmel Elementary School were the three cute and cuddly animals brought by Kathy Williamson.
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On May 15, the project concluded with VVAPL shelter director Kathy Williamson visiting to Carmel accept a check for $160 from the students.

"This much money could save a dog's life," Williamson said."It really does make a difference."

During Williamson's visit, a long table held pet food and supplies as an example of the items the money will help purchase.She also brought three furry friends to help bring home the message.With the help of Jade, a student who spearheaded the project, and two other classmates, Williamson introduced "Paws," a tiny black puppy, "Tiger," a kitten, and "Princess Leia," a fluffy 3-year-old pooch."She was just a stray little kitten lost in the desert," Williamson said of the kitten.

She also told the story of "Princess Leia."

"She's my dog, and she came to our animal shelter three years ago.Whenever you and your family want a dog or cat you should go to the shelter."

According to Williamson, the shelter goes through 1,000 pounds of dog food a month.The shelter also has its own surgery center, which enables it to spay and neuter animals onsite.

She was also frank with the students: "We have so many animals in our community and in the U.S. that come to be put to sleep."

One of five interested families will adopt it next week, said Kathy Williamson, director of the Apple Valley Animal Protective League.

"When we first got it, we got lots of calls, but after people found (out) it would get a good home, they were happy and didn't volunteer," she said."The families all have kids, and we'll choose one next week."

The dog, beaten and thrown into a dog house repeatedly by its owner, Donald Brown, 55, of Adelanto on June 22, had several wounds when it arrived, said Williamson.

Kathy Williamson of the Victor Valley Animal Protective League takes in animals that Adelanto Animal Control workers bring her.She says the city pays her $23 to take in a live cat for up to 10 days.She says Adelanto pays $10 for her to take a dead cat.

"I do think that if someone did do that they deserved to be punished," said Kathy Williamson, Victor Valley Protective League.

Kathy Williamson runs the Victor Valley Protective League.She says she cannot imagine why the city of Adelanto would want to kill the pets instead of giving them to her shelter.

"We do accept animals from that particular city in question.They have no limit and they can bring us as many as they want to.There is no reason for them not to bring them here," said Williamson.

Kathy Williamson of the Victor Valley Animal Protection League in Apple Valley, said they had an agreement with Adelanto to take any animals that were picked up.

Adelanto is charged $23 dollars for dropping off a cat for a holding period of three to 10 days which includes the cost of putting them down if they are not reclaimed by their owner or adopted, Williamson said.

If an animal is dropped off dead on arrival, the charge is $10 added Williamson.

Kathy Williamson, director of the shelter.
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"We want to go back to our mission of taking care of and placing animals," said Kathy Williamson, director of the shelter on Zuni Road in Apple Valley.
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But with the intense overcrowding, Williamson said most sick animals have to be put down.

Also, as with many over-crowded shelters, they are forced to immediately mix new animals with the general population, without observation time to ensure they are not carrying contagious diseases.

Under the new system, Williamson said all new animals will be isolated for ten days and animals with minor illnesses will be treated.Also, they will spay and neuter all pets and give them complete vaccinations on intake, including rabies and bordetella, or kennel cough.

As a result, families who come in and fall in love with an animal will be able to take it home the same day.

"Our main goal is to adopt out as many animals as possible," Williamson said.

She said she is confident that, with the new policies in place, the VVAPL will offer the best selection of healthy pets and will become the first stop for local families looking to adopt.

The shelter's manager, Kathy Williamson, said pit bulls are the only victims, leading her to assume that the stolen dogs are being used for fighting.
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"We often get pit bulls that are very scarred," Williamson said.She said they also see female pit bulls who have been used as "puppy mills" and have been "bred almost to death."

As a result, Williamson says pit bulls are euthanized more than any other breed of dog.
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In the meantime, Williamson said her shelter is installing security cameras.

The VVAPL staff will have adoptable pets at the store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., that Friday and Saturday, said shelter manager Kathy Williamson.