Western University to Assist Animals From Morongo Basin Case

SAN BERNARDINO >> Veterinarians, professors and students from Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine were at the Devore Animal Shelter on Tuesday, June 28 to provide care to more than 60 dogs that were removed from a Morongo Basin animal sanctuary. On Friday, June 24, San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control removed more than 100 dogs and nearly 40 cats from Paws Rescue Ranch in the Morongo Basin as part of an ongoing animal neglect investigation. Forty of the dogs were taken to the Apple Valley Animal Shelter and 40 cats were taken to the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter. The remaining dogs are being cared for at the San Bernardino County Animal Shelter in Devore. The 65 dogs at Devore are in addition to the 11 that were removed from the Morongo site on Wednesday, June 22, as part of the initial investigation. Animal Control officers removed the 11 initial dogs from the property Wednesday after they found a dead shepherd mix dog chained outside without water or shade. Because this is an ongoing investigation, there is no additional information about the case. Updates will be provided as this case proceeds through the investigative process. Due to the large number of animals admitted to the animal shelter, the public is encouraged to adopt animals currently available for adoption at the County’s animal shelter in Devore or available for adoption at the Town of Apple Valley or Yucca Valley animal shelters. “We are thankful to Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine and our neighboring animal shelters and our rescue group partners who have already been assisting us with this case,” said Brian Cronin, Chief of San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control. “We ask for members of the public come forward and adopt the many dogs and cats at the shelter already awaiting adoptive homes.” The Devore Animal Shelter is located at 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino. Shelter hours of operation are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control at 1-800-472-5609 or visit their website at www.sbcounty.gov/acc to see photographs of the animals awaiting adoption.