(Editor’s note: This story appeared in the Westside Current on April 29 and is reprinted with permission.)
These dogs were some at the West L.A. Animal Shelter, that Mayor Bass plans to close.
By JAMIE PAIGE
As outrage grows over proposed budget cuts to the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, Councilmembers Traci Park and John Lee have formally called on the city’s Budget and Finance Committee to reject the plan, warning it would have devastating consequences for both animals and the communities that rely on local shelters.
In a joint letter sent this week, Park, who represents the 11th District on the Westside, and Lee, who represents the 12th District in the North Valley, expressed “deep concern” about the mayor’s proposed budget, which would result in the closure of three regional animal shelters — West Los Angeles, West Valley, and Harbor — and cuts to shelter staff.
“These closures would severely impair the city’s ability to provide humane and essential care to animals and would disproportionately affect communities already underserved by city services,” the letter stated. “The services these shelters provide are not optional, they are essential to the humane functioning of our city.”
Park and Lee emphasized that each of the affected shelters plays a critical role not only in housing and rehoming animals but also in supporting public safety, facilitating pet reunification, and promoting community engagement around animal welfare.
“The West LA and West Valley shelters serve vast geographic areas with high demand for these services,” the letter continued. “Their closure would displace animals, force residents to travel unreasonable distances for assistance, and add significant pressure to remaining shelters, which are already stretched beyond capacity.”
The councilmembers called on the Budget and Finance Committee to instead identify alternative paths to fiscal responsibility—specifically, by utilizing the $5 million already set aside in the city’s Unappropriated Balance—without undermining the city’s capacity to care for vulnerable animals.
“The City of Los Angeles has long prided itself on its commitment to compassionate and effective animal care,” they wrote. “Abandoning that commitment now, especially in communities that depend on their local shelters, would be a short-sighted decision with long-term fiscal and ethical consequences.”
Their plea comes as more than 500 people gathered Monday outside Los Angeles City Hall demanding protection for the city’s animals. Protesters included people from across the city — shelter workers, animal rescue groups, and residents who have adopted pets from the impacted shelters.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one longtime shelter employee told Westside Current the proposed job cuts would be catastrophic.
“Animal shelters are already operating on the bare minimum and have been for quite some time. To propose job cuts and shelter closures is a recipe for disaster with deadly consequences,” said the employee, who has worked in the department for nearly 12 years and now faces possible termination. “We are all in shock to put it mildly. Where are these animals supposed to go? Who is supposed to take care of them?”
In response to the growing backlash, Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement Monday evening on social media, attempting to clarify the proposed budget.
“There has been confusion regarding funding for the Animal Services Department in my proposed budget,” Bass wrote. “My budget contains funding for the department in two different areas — in the departmental budget but also an additional $5 million in what’s called the ‘Unappropriated Balance.’ Combined, this means all six shelters will be able to stay open.”
But critics weren’t convinced.
“Nice try Karen, your very OWN budget proposal tells the real story,” one user posted on X. Another wrote, “They knew about this for weeks, but suddenly discover this ‘confusion’?” A third user added, “Just sent a payment to my credit card company and I footnoted this might be an ‘unappropriated payment.’”
In a May 28, story (“Bass Budget Plan Branded ‘Death Sentence’ for Animals as Hundreds Rally at City Hall”) The current reported that “Last year, Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia announced an audit of the Animal Services department, citing overcrowding, rising euthanasia rates, and staffing shortages. The results of that audit have not yet been released.”