IRVINE : Animals out in Cold on Channel 31

Pet adoptions have plummeted, local animal shelter officials said, since the city’s cable television show that offers homeless pets to the public was moved from Channel 3 to Channel 31 nearly a year ago.

Channel surfers don’t spend much time in the Channel 31 neighborhood, according to homeless-pet advocates who are asking Cox Communications to put “Irvine Pets and Company” back on Channel 3.

“There has been a drop-off in adoptions since the show changed channels,” said Carl Pagano, city animal services superintendent. “But I don’t want to discount the value of being on any cable television channel. It really helps.”

The show is carried on the city’s Channel 31 at 8 p.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays. Volunteers with PAWS, the nonprofit organization that assists the city’s animal shelter, have gathered about 500 signatures asking Cox to change the channel.

During the last fiscal year, about 800 animals were adopted from the city’s animal shelter, according to Pagano. But since the 4-year-old pet adoption program changed channels, PAWS officials said, the number of animals held for more than 45 days has more than tripled.

The PAWS organization pays for the care of animals that are held longer than 45 days.

Cox officials say the change was made to group all public access shows on Channel 31.

City Council members lodged a similar complaint in February after Cox planned to move coverage of City Council meetings to Channel 30 from Channel 3. The company agreed to keep council meetings on Channel 3.