(Editor’s note: The Westside Current and CTN are working in tandem to shed light on the horrific state of animal shelters in Los Angeles.)
The City of Angeles is neglecting animals in its shelters to the point of abuse.
Current Editor Jamie Page visited the South-Central Animal shelter and was brought to tears with the conditions.
“I have never seen conditions so bad,” Paige wrote. “I ended up fostering a senior dog, who has been in a kennel for two years. He was in pain, and I couldn’t leave him behind.”
She described moldy water and kennels full of feces. More than 500 animals are stuffed in cages meant for 200. Some have languished in cages on cement floors for years. Many are suffering from illness and are not being treated. Some are not getting walks – volunteers decide who they want to walk.
Paige described a revolving door of people dropping off animals they no longer wanted, claiming they were strays. She was asked if those pet owners didn’t have money for food. Supposedly the kennels are supposed to offer education and food to help people keep their pets. But the animals were treated as if they were a piece of clothing that the owner no longer wanted.
According to California Penal Code – PEN 597 “whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the weather, . . .is guilty of a crime.”
Los Angeles City Council needs to put an end to inhumane conditions or be charged with animal neglect. Until animals in shelters are cared for, this may be the City of Angeles, but it is in name only.
“There is no fundamental difference between man and animals in their ability to feel pleasure and pain, and happiness and misery.”
– Charles Darwin
People to call on the Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee, that oversees the shelters:
Chair Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez (213) 473-7001 or Councilmember.Hernandez@lacity.org
Councilmember John Lee (213) 473-7012 or Councilmember.Lee@lacity.org
Councilmember Heather Hutt (213) 473-7010 or heather.hutt@lacity.org
Mayor Karen Bass. (213) 978-0600 or mayor.helpdesk@lacity.org (and if it bounces back resend or try http://mayor.lacity.gov/Contact)