E-mail from local animal networker...

THE LANCASTER SHELTER IS NOT SENDING OUT NETWORKING PLEAS ON ALL THE DOGS GOING AGAINST THEIR OWN DEPARTMENT POLICY OF (3 PLEAS). THEY ARE EUTHANIZING DOGS THAT WERE NEVER NETWORKED. I HAVE EMAILED SUPERVISORS, LT'S, SGT'S, SHELTER MANAGER SHERI KOENIG, DISTRICT MANAGER RAUL RODRIGUEZ, BOARD OF SUPERVISERS KATHRYN BARGER, AND MARCIA MYEDA.

MAYBE YOU ALL CAN SEND EMAILS TOO - TO SHOW THEM THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR. We all know dogs with behaviors get rescued everyday. So that is NOT an excuse to NOT NETWORK THEM.

William Saunders [wsaunders@animalcare.lacounty.gov]
Daneil Dibene [DDibene@animalcare.lacounty.gov]
Sheri Koenig [skoenig@animalcare.lacounty.gov]
Raul Rodriquez [Rrodriguez@animalcare.lacounty.gov]
Marcia Myeda [mmayeda@animalcare.lacounty.gov])
Kathryn Barger kathryn@bos.lacounty.gov

THESE DOGS HAD BEEN THERE A MONTH – LONG BEFORE THE WEED GROW DOGS CAME IN AN OVERLOADED THE SHELTER.
EVERY DOG DESERVES A CHANCE TO BE SEEN AND SAVED. NETWORKERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EMAIL THE SHELTER AND BEG THEM FOR B.NOTES OR MEDICAL NOTES....THIS IS PART OF THEIR JOB TO SEND OUT PLEAS FOR HELP AND THEY AREN'T DOING IT ON ALL THE DOGS.


See email below from Los Angeles County Animal Control...

We actively manage our animal population at the Lancaster Animal Care Center (ACC) and the management team meets on a regular basis to discuss the animals in our care.  Managing the daily animal population and its overall health is the foundation of providing safe and humane housing for our animals. The animal population at the Lancaster ACC changes daily, and the staff and medical team evaluate the animals daily to ensure their needs are being met. Animals are evaluated for their health, behavior, and how they are thriving in the care center.  

It is important to know, the Lancaster ACC management team had to anticipate the number of new arrivals expected during a joined operation with LASD, during the last 2 weeks of May, where hundreds of Search Warrants would be served in the Antelope Valley. The operation lasted 9 days, and the care center had to plan for the many new arrivals and their safe and humane housing accordingly.  

To make room at the Lancaster ACC, management team transferred 38 dogs to other DACC animal care centers and started doubling up animals per cage in its kennels. Management team also reached out to adoption partners and the ASPCA, asking for assistance transferring dogs out of the care center.  

During the operation with LASD, a total of 167 animals were impounded and that included 137 dogs. All ACCs felt the impact of the animals impounded; however, Lancaster ACC received the bulk of dogs coming from their service area. Because of the large influx of dogs coming in from the operation, Lancaster’s management team had to make hard decisions to open room when all options were exhausted.  

Jake (A5474632) had been at the ACC for 33 days. He was given the opportunity to be seen to be considered for adoption by the public via our website, and during visiting hours at the care center.  

Camden (A5474001) had been at the ACC for 35 days. He was given the opportunity to be seen to be considered for adoption by the public via our website, and during visiting hours at the care center.  

Melissa (A5465930) had been at the ACC for 50 days. She was given the opportunity to be seen and to be considered for adoption by the public via our website, and during visiting hours at the care center.  

Regarding our plea system, pleas are sent asking for assistance on animals with behavior challenges. The plea system has been implemented as a tool to help us reach out to DACC Adoption Partners and request assistance moving these dogs out of the care center. It has been an excellent tool and our partners are happy to work with us on this. It is important to understand that sending a plea is not a requirement for a care center. This is a proactive approach to help animals get exposure to rescue groups and networkers. There are other tools like posting the dogs on our department’s website, social media, and exposure to the public during visiting hours that are in place, and it can be a combination of any of them.  

We recognize the hard work and dedication of the rescue community, and we are grateful for all the efforts made to rescue the animas in our care. In addition to relying on the rescue community, we work with the ASPCA to arrange transports, we attend offsite adoption events, and we also rely on public adoptions. We look forward to our continued partnership with our rescue partners.  

Thank you for your email and for giving us the opportunity to respond to your concerns.  

Raul Rodriguez
He, Him, His
Deputy Director
North County Operations & Public Safety Division 
County of Los Angeles
Department of Animal Care and Control
5898 Cherry Ave. 
Long Beach, CA 90805
https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/
https://lacountyanimals.org/