Operation Indio Animals in full force

More than 180 cats and dogs at the Animal Care Center of Indio are without a permanent home and in need of a loving one more than ever.

As of Monday, due to a lack of funding the dilapidated center on Van Buren Street stopped taking in stray animals, preparing to close for good. Now all animal control, sheltering and licensing will be taken over by Riverside County Animal Services.

“The animals left behind are who we have to get adopted now.”

As of Sept. 1, all animals still living at the Indio shelter will be transported to the county’s Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms.

“The Animal Care Center does a fabulous job, but they do have limited space,” said Golaunda Zoet, from Loving All Animals.

Local animal activists worry that without enough kennels and the campus, their fate uncertain.

“They have to start making choices, who is adoptable more than others. It’s a grave decision,” said Zoet.

The Loving All Animals kicked off Operation Indio Animals. Working with other local shelters and rescue groups from the Valley to Canada, to help transfer and adopt out the remaining homeless pets.

“We’re making a deal with them, that if they adopt out a pet, they’re actually going to take on an Indio dog. They’re saving two lives this way,” said Zoet.

Even taking to the streets to find pups like Fido a home.

“We’re going to take them to local merchants, really get the community involved,” said Zoet.

Zoet said it’s a commitment to saving lives and making the desert a “No Kill Coachella Valley.”

Loving All Animals will host community adoption events starting July 20 through August from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palm Desert athletic center.

For more information on how to adopt or help, go to lovingallanimals.org