For Months, Animal Shelters in Los Angeles Have Been Under Criticism for Allegedly Neglecting Animals

The six city animal shelters in Los Angeles have been the target of criticism for months, with volunteers and rescue organizations alleging that animals are indeed being mistreated and department officials acknowledged that there is not enough staff to manage the six shelters.

Members of the commission that supervises Animal Services pressured department officials to respond to complaints about shelter personnel turning away people trying to surrender animals, the criticism erupted once more last week.

Shelters in Los Angeles refuse animals

(Photo : JOSEPH AGCAOILI/AFP via Getty Images)

The worries arise from the department's continuous challenges, which included a double-digit increase in the number of cats and dogs housed in Animal Services shelters through October compared to the same period the previous year, as per the Los Angeles Times.

Animals are frequently not accepted, according to callers to the Animal Services commission hearings. Larry Gross, the commission president, expressed his concern about people being turned away during the meeting on Tuesday.

Speakers at the meeting on Tuesday related instances in which shelter employees turned away cats and kittens. Someone found a kitten and wanted to surrender it to the shelter, according to Michelle Cornelius, a volunteer at the West Valley shelter, but was advised to release it into the street unless it was injured.

The rescue organization was contacted at first, but Origer said it was already overflowing with more than 100 animals.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Lisa Lange, vice president of communications, stated that she has heard from a number of people who have tried to drop off cats and dogs at city shelters only to be informed that the animals remain on the streets.

According to Justin Khosrowabadi, a spokesman for Animal Services, the shelters typically do not accept feral cats.

Animal Services is awaiting signs and pamphlets that will assure volunteers, staff, and the public are aware of the open-intake policy, according to Gross, the commission president, in a follow-up interview.

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Animal Welfare Is a Social Duty

Millions of homes love and embrace their pets as part of the family, but many people still view these furry companions as a danger to human health and safety, as per Animals Matter to Me.

Stray animals still contribute significantly to the nation's welfare and hygienic conditions, despite being perceived as a threat to society.

The only way stray dogs can survive is by rummaging through trash for food scraps. They are therefore advantageous to public cleanliness because they efficiently dispose of the trash that we carelessly toss.

Small rodents, birds, lizards, and huge insects are common prey items for stray cats. These creatures aid in halting the potential spread of disease and pests by doing this.

However, these stray animals lead risky lifestyles and frequently come under nasty human attacks, vicious scuffles with other strays, and road accidents.

They are also exposed to unclean surroundings which could lead to health concerns like choking, festering of wounds, developing skin diseases, and more.

Consequently, it is our shared obligation to see to the care and protection of these animals. They are a moral obligation as well as a social one.

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