"Dear Red Phone, my question is this: We have a humane society in San Martin. It is under the auspices of Santa Clara County. Well, I live and pay taxes in Santa Clara County, so why am I forbidden to use this facility because I live in the city of MH, which is in the county? I recently went through an incident involving a sick, stray cat. I called a local animal hospital, and for $150 they would dispose of it. A lot to pay for a stray. They suggested I call the Animal Control in the police department, but he was gone for the day. To take a sick, stray animal all the way to San Jose is a bit much for an elderly person who cares about animals."
Red Phone: Dear Humane Animal Lover, Red Phone contacted Brigid Wasson, animal shelter supervisor at the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter in San Martin. She said the shelter's jurisdiction is the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, and as such they are only allowed to impound stray and owner-surrendered animals from those areas. Animal care and control services for the city of Morgan Hill are handled by the Morgan Hill Police Department.
"Since our Animal Care and Control is a county government agency, we only have authority over the unincorporated areas," Wasson said. "We have no authority to provide services within the limits of any city in the county."
Good caller, the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter in San Martin takes in 3,000 to 3,500 dogs and cats per year and has an excellent adoption/reclaim rate of up to 80 percent, Wasson added.
The Animal Care Center on Vineyard provides veterinary services for animals impounded by MHPD.
"I called and asked their manager if residents could drop off critically ill or injured stray animals directly to their office and they said yes, but only if they have authorization from someone at the police department," she said. "If Morgan Hill residents are unsatisfied with the level of service they receive, they can call their city council and express their concerns."
Hope that answers all your questions, good caller.
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