Theres no excuse for animal abuse and LA has the power to stop it
After 16 years of serving the animals of the city and county of LA, I can say without hesitation that what is happening to animals in our city is heartbreaking, gut-wrenching — and entirely preventable.LA is one of the largest cities in the world and California has the fourth-largest economy on Earth.Yet when it comes to protecting dogs, LA leaders, residents, shelters, and elected leaders are failing them daily.This is not a resource problem.
It is a leadership problem.And in LA city shelters, that starts with Karen Bass and the City Council.Mayor Bass has the power to appoint or remove the general manager of LA Animal Services.Blame also rests with local nonprofits that have a financial incentive not to fix the problem.Until we have the courage to tell the truth about what is really going on, the mass killing in “no kill” LA will continue.People often ask why so many healthy, adoptable dogs are being killed in LA shelters.It begins with failed leadership.
It also stems from a powerful false “no kill” narrative.The public has been led to believe that taking a dog to a shelter is a safe option because they have been told those shelters are “no kill.” They deserve to know the truth.Animals are still killed every day.This goes on, thanks to the lack of affordable and accessible spay and neuter services; a failure to enforce existing spay and neuter laws; and the failure to educate the public that shelters are not safe havens for dogs.My charity has tried to help city officials fix these problems.
After three years of fighting brutal horrors on Skid Row, and exhausting every single effort –– including offering resources, solutions, and funding –– and being rebuffed, we filed a lawsuit late last year against the city, Bass, the council, animal services, and the LAPD.To date, they’ve tried throwing out the case three times.Instead of just saving dogs, they’re using taxpayer dollars to fight a charity that’s trying to save dogs.
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