The Los Banos Animal Shelter has undergone a significant transformation, enhancing its facilities and services to better accommodate the needs of animals and the community.
In an interview with The Westside Express, Sgt. Ivan Mendez, who has been supervising the shelter since 2020 and helmed its transformation, said the shelter has expanded its office space and added a dedicated cat room, improving the facility for more efficient operations.
The shelter was built in the early 1980s with its office space operating out of a single-wide trailer that was later purchased in the early 1990s, Mendez said. This outdated setup made daily operations challenging for both staff and visitors.
The newly constructed office offers improved functionality for adoptions, lost pet searches, and licensing services. The office also comes with an adoption room, a medical room where spay and neuters will be performed, a break room for staff and a lobby with seating.
One of the most notable additions is the dedicated cat room. Previously, cats shared their space with dogs, leading to a stressful environment. The new separation ensures a more comfortable setting for cats and improves their overall well-being.
Outside, the shelter features a fenced-in play area for dogs, a newly built parking lot and an outdoor pergola where people can meet and greet animals.
The transition from hardwired internet to Wi-Fi, Mendez said, further enhances the efficiency of the shelter’s operations, allowing for smoother digital record-keeping and communication and significantly improving operations.
The Los Banos Animal Shelter has benefited from several key partnerships, working with about 30 rescue and non-profit organizations. Roughly half of them is actively involved in day-to-day efforts.
Such partnerships, according to Menez, are essential in making sure that the animals receive the care and placement they need.
In particular, the organization Feral Freedom of Northern California, led by CEO Levi Fistori, helps to manage the feral cat population at no cost to the city. Feral Freedom regularly picks up stray and feral cats, which alleviates overcrowding at the Los Banos shelter and allows them to focus on adoptable animals.
Volunteers, Mendez added, play an essential role at the Los Banos Animal Shelter. They assist with adoptions and contact rescues. Additionally, they prompt residents to donate, help clean and sanitize the kennels, and work with the dogs and assess their behavior.
In the early 2000s, a strong volunteer program stood in place with about 15 to 20 active volunteers. Currently, there are about four active volunteers. Mendez highly encouraged people in the community to reach out, fill out an application and help at the shelter.
Besides collaborative organizations and community members, the animal shelter’s current staff plays a crucial role in keeping the shelter operational. This includes animal control officers Jason Martin and Mariah Beltran, shelter attendants Suzanne Cardoso and Adrienne Jasso as well as Sgt. Mendez.
The new additions Mendez believes, mark a major step forward in the shelter’s ability to serve Los Banos’ animal population. With a more efficient layout, better accommodations for both animals and staff and strengthened partnerships, the shelter is well-equipped to provide quality care and adoption services.
For those interested in adopting, volunteering, or learning more about the shelter’s services, Mendez encourages visiting the newly updated facility located at 1010 Airport Road, behind the Los Banos Municipal Airport. As community involvement increases, he hopes that more animals will find loving homes and the shelter will continue to thrive as a vital resource for the people of Los Banos.
