Animal advocates protest Yucca Valley Shelter at annual film festival, town promises reforms
For nearly ten months, a loose coalition of Yucca Valley residents has urged the town to change how the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter cares for animals in its custody. They’ve spoken at council meetings, organized rallies, and circulated photos they say show neglect, missing listings for adoptable dogs, and unnecessary euthanasia.
One of the cases that galvanized the group involved a dog named Howdy. I spoke to Yucca Valley resident Leah Aguayo: “What brought us awareness of the animal shelter situation was Howdy. When I saw those pictures, I got our group together, Essig Dog Park, and we protested at [Highway] 62 and Dumosa. That was our first protest; it got some action. It got Howdy out of there. He went up to the Joshua Tree no-kill shelter, got the medical attention he needed, got the grooming, and he is the cutest, most wonderful, bouncy, happy puppy now.”
Town leaders were concerned that the protest might disrupt the opening of the film festival.
In the end, about twenty-two peaceful protesters — and one dog — stood along the sidewalk with signs. Festival-goers arrived, posed for red-carpet photos, and entered the Community Center without incident.
Organizer James Porter says bringing the protest to the festival’s opening night drew a response.
James Porter: “We’ve been involved with concerns about the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter as a group for almost 10 months now. When we decided to do a protest at the film festival, we did get a lot of response from the Town. The town has added its entire inventory of animals to their social media and websites as of today, which residents have asked for all along. And we’ve been assured by the town manager’s office that they are working on the volunteer program and will try to get that started as soon as possible.”
The volunteer program allows residents to walk and care for the dogs, easing some of the shelter’s workload.
Deputy Town Manager Frank Luckino says the town appreciates that the festival and protest could coexist in the same space.
Frank Luckino: “We’re happy the event is going off well. The protesters are here making their point, which is their right, and we’re glad that this is coexisting today.”
Luckino addressed questions about whether the town’s response restricted free speech.
Luckino said “The intent was not — and I will underscore not — to restrict any free speech. We were trying to be proactive and have both coexist through regulatory means. Just seeing it tonight, it’s happening naturally, and it’s the way it was meant to be.”
Still, some residents say the town’s earlier draft of a protest policy raised concerns.
Leah Aguayo says the fight has expanded beyond one dog. She and others were outraged when the town proposed a new “free speech” policy that could have limited where protests like this one could gather near events.
Perry: “We are just here for the animals. We’ve been trying for the better part of a year to get the town to listen to us. We’re just trying to make a difference.”
Animal advocates say they will keep showing up until volunteer programs are established, animals are consistently listed online, and they’re confident no animal will be euthanized just because the shelter runs out of space.
For now, both sides say they hope the dialogue will continue.
