Shelters should be safe havens — not places where animals suffer or die needlessly.

In San Jose, animal advocates have issued a legal notice to the city, accusing its shelter of violating state animal care laws. They describe severe mismanagement, unsafe conditions, and a lack of trained staff. One healthy dog, Rufus, reportedly suffocated due to poor shelter practices.

This is not an isolated case. Advocates say animals have been returned to unsafe kennels after surgery, staff turnover is constant, and basic systems are missing — from training to proper scheduling. An audit last year recommended clear improvements. The city agreed, but those changes still haven’t happened.

The result? More animals are at risk every day.

San Jose residents love animals and expect their shelter to provide care, not chaos. But right now, city leadership is failing the very animals it's supposed to protect.

The city has until January 31 to respond to the legal notice. What happens next matters.

We call on the San Jose City Council to act now:

• Fully implement the audit recommendations
• Ensure safe, humane conditions
• Train and retain qualified staff
• Create oversight to prevent further harm

This isn’t about blame. It’s about saving lives.

Sign this petition to demand real reform at San Jose’s animal shelter — because no animal should die from neglect in a place meant to keep them safe.