With the world focused on protecting its human populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can often be easy to overlook those looking out for our furry little friends. Despite staff shortages and health-related operating protocols, the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., animal shelter still offers limited capabilities.
The shelter's mission is to protect animal owners, nonowners and domestic animals. The shelter also protects animals from abuse and neglect, rescues sick or injured animals and places qualified animals into an adoption program. The staff also works alongside the Security and Emergency Service Battalion to enforce base regulations involving the ownership of domestic animals.
"The coronavirus has affected us quite a bit," said Elena Manos, a domestic animal control technician. "We would normally be out patrolling and ensuring people are complying with base regulations, but our facility is closed."
Complying with Health Protection Condition Level Charlie, the animal shelter has reduced its staff and has limited operations to mission-essential only to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19. Animal control missions are still carried out, and technicians are responding to calls 24/7. They are still conducting investigations of abuse and neglect, taking animals in and overseeing welfare checks on base.
As a result of COVID-19 and the health protection level, the shelter also stopped its volunteer program.
"We have a volunteer program here, and it gets a lot of Marines interested," Manos said. "It's a win-win — the service members get to connect with the animals, and the animals get a positive interaction."
The volunteers with the animal shelter are a huge asset, Manos continued. A lot of the animals have a past of neglect, and having volunteers available to care for them provides the animals an opportunity to trust humans again. Volunteering also provides a place to go for service members who miss a pet back home or those who just need a break.
While the shelter is closed for the foreseeable future, the staff looks forward to once again providing service members the opportunity to interact and adopt animals in need.
"Thank you to the base community for understanding we are closed," Manos said. "We look forward to welcoming everyone back."