THE Jason Heigl Foundation POSITION ON THE CLOSED SHELTERS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

1. Shelters are funded by the public and their tax dollars. We, as taxpayers, who pay for the shelters and their employees, have a right to see what takes place there and to physically be able to see all of the animals during normal working hours.

2. The primary purpose of our shelters, the reason for their existence, is to find homes for the animals that are sheltered there. It is not to make things as easy as possible for the employees and staff.

3. It is impossible for this purpose to be served well with the shelters closed to the public, rescues and potential adopters. By only permitting adopters and rescues in by appointment and only allowing them to see one animal during a visit, this is counterintuitive to what our shelter system was created to do.

4. Under the present circumstances stated in #3, no animals should be euthanized unless they are suffering with serious medical problems. By severely limiting access to them and creating a situation where thousands will be passed over, good, adoptable dogs and cats will be euthanized.

5. Baldwin Park, is one County shelter that we are aware of, now euthanizing for “lack of interest.” This claim borders on the absurd, considering it is now very difficult to even show any interest in a shelter animal. Quick, thoughtless intake pictures will help very few animals garner interest. In fact, they usually do the reverse.

6. Considering all the above, the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation is now committed to using all of the resources available to us to ensure that shelters are reopened to the public, that this decision is reversed and that each and every shelter animal is given a fair opportunity to be adopted, rescued and ultimately placed in a forever home.

Nancy and Katherine Heigl

Source:
https://www.facebook.com/KatieHeigl/posts/361105022048853