Five years ago, the state Legislature budgeted $50 million to stop killing “adoptable” and “treatable” dogs and cats in California animal shelters.
Today, the $50 million is gone. The killing continues.
In 2025, the city’s Front Street Animal Shelter euthanized 1,823 companion animals. The county’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter killed 2,603. More than 110,000 dogs and cats were euthanized statewide, second only to Texas.
Where did things go wrong?
Thousands of unwanted dogs and cats have flooded the city’s Front Street Animal Shelter in recent years. City officials faced a decision. They could promote adoptions and spay-neuter strategies. Or turn to euthanasia.
The city chose euthanasia. In 2024, Front Street killed 1,463 companion animals. In 2025, deaths jumped to 1,823. That’s five animals intentionally killed every day.
Most died due to limited capacity and escalating behavior issues, no surprise given the stressful environment in which they landed.
So when a recommendation came before the city’s Animal Wellbeing Commission for a six-month pilot program to promote adoption and rescue of senior animals and those at-risk of euthanasia, why would anyone vote no?
Cyrus lays in his kennel, tail thumping against steel bars.
The 2-year-old canine arrived at Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue in Elverta last July. He was rescued in China where he was bred for the dog meat trade.
When Cyrus arrived at the sanctuary, his knees faced outward. The limb deformity resulted from “two years in a cramped cage with no ability to stand,” Homeward Bound President Audrey Farrington says.
Long meetings. Tedious dialogue. Sitting on a government commission is thankless.
The city’s Animal Wellbeing Commission is no different. Commissioners serve because they want the best outcomes for Sacramento’s homeless pets.
The last thing volunteer commissioners need is a city spokesperson publicly accusing them of harming the animal shelter.
But that’s what happened at February’s commission meeting.
Always a dog lover, Sacramento resident Gary Cooper didn’t think much about cats until a Maine coon mix planted himself on Cooper’s doorstep 20 years ago.
After several months of leaving food for the young feline and watching him roam the neighborhood and scrap with another cat, Cooper scooped up the stray and brought him inside to join the family, which included five rescue dogs.
Now Cooper calls himself “a crazy cat lady.” He’s rescued seven felines over two decades. “I understand how wonderful they are,” he says.
Professional, polite and well-spoken, Julie Virga is a powerhouse. She’s relentless, determined and uncompromising.
She doesn’t mince words or pull punches when advocating for Sacramento’s dogs and cats. She requests meetings with city officials, sets agendas and gets attention.
A Sacramento native, Virga has rescued, fostered and rehomed countless animals, and volunteered as a foster parent for the city’s Front Street Animal Shelter.
