Exclusive | Why angry animal advocates have become some of Nithya Ramans loudest critics
As Nithya Raman campaigns to become Los Angeles’ next mayor, a growing number of animal activists are accusing her of ignoring an animal welfare crisis on Skid Row.Animal rescuer Joey Tuccio says his team has rescued over 100 animals on Skid Row in the last three years, a conservative estimate. “This past Sunday, we rescued three dogs in less than an hour,” Tuccio told The California Post as he detailed the horror experienced by some of the animals.Tuccio has seen dogs who had their legs broken intentionally, their eyes and privates glued shut, raped, beaten and starved.
His team has even seen dogs overdosing on drugs that require Narcan to survive.Tuccio, who works for the Skid Row-focused nonprofit It Starts With One Today, has been pushing City Hall to address animal welfare concerns in the area.He says animal activists recently turned their attention to Raman because of her run for mayor and her background as a homeless activist and chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee. Raman hasn’t taken action or spoken up for the animals during her time in City Hall, according to Tuccio.In contrast, Raman’s primary opponent, Spencer Pratt, was much more vocal about the animal abuse on Skid Row.“Since she started running for mayor, obviously a lot of our eyes have been on her because she’s been one of Spencer’s biggest haters,” Tuccio said.
“One of Spencer’s biggest talking points was helping the dogs on Skid Row.So now our frustration is really twofold with her.” Raman’s press team has not responded to a request for comment.Raman’s Instagram and Twitter accounts are flooded with comments from angry animal advocates demanding action on the animal abuse crisis on Skid Row. “What about the animals? You continue to ignore the growing crisis impacting our shelter system, not to mention the blatant neglect and abuse happening on skid row.
Us volunteers in animal welfare are sick of paying the bills and cleaning up the mess…,” one ...