PLEASE JOIN US IN ASKING LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL TO GIVE US AN INDEPENDENT, CITY-RUN ANIMAL SHELTER. Please sign by March 20 to present to the City of Long Beach Council (California).

Honorable Members of the City Council of Long Beach,

At the Jan. 21, 2020 Long Beach City Council meeting, City Council discussed ongoing inappropriate actions by SpcaLA regarding the city-operated Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) shelter.

We, the undersigned, are very concerned about the many issues negatively impacting LBACS ability to saves lives that were discussed at the Jan. 21 meeting. These include:

• Possible lease violations by SpcaLA that impede LBACS’ ability to save animals’ lives (mentioned by Councilwoman Suzie Price)
• A hostile workplace environment caused by SpcaLA impeding LBACS’ employees ability to work (mentioned by Councilwoman Pearce)
• The need for an anonymous hotline for accepting complaints about SpcaLA because of people’s fears of retaliation, supposedly, by SpcaLA (mentioned by Councilman Supernaw)
• Unknown outcomes for animals transferred from LBACS to spcaLA (LBACS manager, Staycee Dains stated that the city does not know what happens to the pets pulled by spcaLA.)

Our LBACS shelter and city employees need and deserve to have the ability to serve Long Beach city residents and help our shelter animals without interference from a private organization.

As animal lovers and citizens who want our city shelter to save animals and be a leader in lifesaving, we are respectfully asking you to protect our shelter by implementing:

-- A FULLY INDEPENDENT LONG BEACH (LBACS) SHELTER.  The City Council will make the Long Beach city shelter (LBACS) completely operationally-independent of spcaLA so that LBACS can meet the needs of the residents of Long Beach.  LBACS NEEDS ITS OWN ADOPTION PROGRAM WITH NO RESTRICTIONS FROM OUTSIDE PRIVATE INTERESTS.

-- NO NEW AGREEMENTS WITH SPCALA. The City will not enter into any new agreements with SpcaLA.

-- A FULL CITY AUDIT OF SPCALA.  The City Auditor will complete a full and transparent audit of SpcaLA, including its operations and its finances at its Long Beach location.

-- FULL TRANSPARENCY FROM SPCALA.  To help LBACS do its job of saving animals’ lives, spcaLA must be required to report the outcomes of animals (adoptions, euthanasias, transfers, etc.) in its shelter to the public.

Thank you very much for your support of our shelter and for being a voice for Long Beach residents and animals.