TO THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES - PLEASE DO NOT CAUSE THE UNNECESSARY DEATHS OF DOGS AND CATS BY SHUTTING DOWN ROCKIN' RESCUE

Rockin’ Rescue is an animal rescue for dogs and cats located in Woodland Hills, California, part of the City of Los Angeles.  I know Rockin' Rescue from my work as a Volunteer at the City of Los Angeles West Valley Animal Shelter. 

I believe Rockin’ Rescue is the best animal rescue in the area.  It is non-profit, and in fact costs the founder, Ady Gil, hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to operate.  Rockin’ Rescue has saved the lives of many dogs and cats who were about to be killed in City Shelters, and found them homes.  It would be a tragedy if Rockin’ Rescue is shut down.  There are generally about 100 to 120 animals at Rockin’ Rescue.  If Rockin’ Rescue had to close down, those animals would be brought to city shelters, where many of them could be killed; or other animals would be killed to make room for the animals coming from Rockin’ Rescue.  And of course, Rockin’ Rescue would be unable to save the lives of hundreds of dogs and cats in the future.  This would be completely counter to the goal of the City of Los Angeles to become a no kill city by 2017. 

Rockin’ Rescue has been fighting against being shut down by the City of Los Angeles because of a zoning issue.  Rockin’ Rescue is located in a Commercial Zone, rather than a Manufacturing Zone; it has requested a zoning variance from the City, so that it can continue to operate in a Commercial Zone.  

Unfortunately, the Zoning Administrator denied the variance requested by Rockin’ Rescue, even though both the Tarzana Neighborhood Council and the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council unanimously supported granting the variance.  City Councilman Bob Blumenfield also supported granting the variance.  Nevertheless, the Zoning Administrator denied the variance, even though she specially found as follows:

"There is no dispute that the applicant [Rockin’ Rescue] is providing a valuable and necessary service for the City. The proposed variances were supported by the Woodland Hills NC, Councilmember Blumenfield, the adjacent Tarzana NC, and hundreds of area residents."  [Zoning Administrator Decision (ZA Decision) page 8 (emphasis added).]

Concern about the lives and well-being of animals, as well as respecting the will of the people and their elected representatives, didn’t seem to count for much at that stage of the proceedings.  The only thing the Zoning Administrator cared about was that Rockin' Rescue is located in a Commercial Zone rather than a Manufacturing Zone.  But a Manufacturing Zone is hardly a good place for an animal rescue.

The Zoning Administrator didn’t think it mattered that hundreds of area residents supported Rockin’ Rescue -- let’s get thousands of signatures worldwide. 

Documents regarding this matter can be found at the following webpage:  http://mausnerlaw.com/save_rockin_rescue

Please join in asking the City of Los Angeles to SAVE THE LIVES OF DOGS AND CATS BY KEEPING ROCKIN’ RESCUE OPEN.  DON’T SHUT DOWN ROCKIN’ RESCUE.  Please sign this petition.

Sincerely, Jeffrey Mausner