Stray and Struggling

Abandoned Animal in Manteca, a growing issue

The Kitten being held by Elise Deleo, Manteca High Senior, in the AG building on May 5, 2026, Manteca CA (Robert Nelson/The tower)

By ELISE DELEO & LILY PARKER
The Tower

Lost in the streets, four baby cats are looking for shelter. Frightened, alone, with no mother or owner around, these little animals have to face reality. They have been abandoned. 

Every year, dozens of animals end up on the campus of Manteca High School. Whether they are stray dogs, abandoned cats, lost birds or reptiles, these animals are collected and taken care of by the Agriculture Department. 

However, this problem goes beyond students and teachers.  

Like Thomas Wood, Woodshop teacher at Manteca High School, said “We should start figuring out what we can do in the community. It might be the solution to get rid of this whole drop off.” 

The presence of stray on Manteca High School’s campus has been an ongoing issue for many years.  

According to Amanda Martinez, an agricultural science teacher on our campus, the problem began about ten years ago. 

Cats, dogs and lots of other animals have been frequently dropped off in the Manteca High parking lot or in the areas surrounding the school. These cats have then been taken in by generous students, or the teachers themselves. 

Seeing all these abandonments, the community has the right to ask questions. 

Why do so many animals end up on campus? Yet we have an animal shelter in Manteca? 

All these questions, quite legitimate, have several answers. According to Aubrey Lowell, owner of the “little heart rescue” group, this does not happen because people don’t love their animals anymore. It is more likely to be in connection with money problems of the owners. 

“Economic hardship absolutely plays a role. Rising costs of housing, veterinary care, food, and general living expenses can leave some owners feeling overwhelmed and without resources, though abandonment is never the right solution,” said Lowell. 

The Manteca Animal shelter has had an overpopulation problem for a long time.  

“Our shelter is small and no-kill. They do work with a lot of rescues not only in Manteca but all around the country. The problem is that when they are full, they are full. They need to keep kennels open during the night in case the police department must bring an animal collected during an intervention,” said Martinez. 

Despite those conditions, the Agricultural department of Manteca High is always ready to help the community. 

Two weeks ago, Mathieu Evans found 4 kittens in the student parking lot. After trying to take them to the city shelter and having been rejected, he brought then back to school to obtain the help of our Department of Agriculture. 

Even though they were busy, the teachers immediately took charge of the animals. 

These teachers are feeding, watering, bathing, and checking these kittens to make sure they are completely healthy before sending them off to new families. 

The school's community is encouraging students and parents to report any new arrivals, and our AG teachers are emphasizing the importance of treating animals humanely, while also balancing campus safety. 

The question that remains pending is of course; what to do if you find an abandoned animal? 

First, you should call the animal shelter, and they should send an officer to retrieve the animal. 

If the animal is friendly and you take them home, you should take them to a vet to be scanned for a microchip. 

Post pictures on all the “209 Lost and Found Pet” pages. There are a lot of them on Facebook. 

Dropping stray cats off at Manteca High School may seem the fastest and most convenient thing for some people, but it creates challenges for both the animals and the school community. 

Strays can face a multitude of health problems without proper care. The sudden presence of animals on campus can disrupt classes, pose safety problems, and strain the resources of staff who try to help manage the situation.  

The safest and most responsible way to help these cats is to contact any local shelter or rescue organizations, where the animals can receive medical attention, proper food, and a chance to find a forever home.