Newport stray animals have new destination

HUNTINGTON BEACH — With a snip of some giant novelty scissors — and the assistance of some real ones to get the ribbon cut — Newport Beach city officials celebrated their partnership with the Orange County Humane Society on Saturday, the new destination for stray animals found in the city.

Newport Beach’s animal control officers previously sent found animals to the Dover Shores Pet Care Center in Costa Mesa, but when the company raised its prices this year, Newport Beach signed up with the Huntington Beach animal shelter.

“We want the animals here to go to a home,” said Sarah Woods, an animal adoption counselor at the center. “You save a life here. You don’t save a life at a pet store.”

The center had about 15 animals from Newport Beach there Saturday. The center also keeps animals from Costa Mesa until they’re adopted or euthanized.

— Joseph Serna