The animal welfare community and animal lovers are begging for change at our LAAS shelters and the animals languishing there. The department has been vacant of leadership for almost two years. And before that, we had dog breeder Brenda Barnette as the GM for many years, responsible for most of the mess we are in now. 

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Dogs and cats are SUFFERING! We need a true animal advocate appointed as the new GM. 

While we appreciate Mayor Bass acknowledging the problems at our shelters, we disagree entirely with spending money on hiring an outside firm to search for some executive NOT involved in our community when that money should go to the animals. 

Los Angeles is DROWNING in abandoned dogs and cats. Spay/neuter laws are NOT being enforced. Thousands of breeding licenses have led to a staggering number of puppies entering the shelters and being dumped on the streets.  Other cities canvass for licensing revenues.  LA does nothing. Only a handful of animal control officers cover the entire city of L.A.

Rescuers are overwhelmed, and our shelter system would collapse without them regularly pulling dogs and cats. They are doing the heavy lifting while volunteers are disrespected and retaliated against. Unions and management protect staff, on the other hand.

We NEED NEW LEADERSHIP NOW—someone who will work WITH us and not AGAINST us.  Los Angeles has one of the nation's most significant and active animal welfare communities. It’s time our progressive city hires a proven leader committed to transforming how our city cares for its animals. We are confident Judie Mancuso will modernize our antiquated system into a model that other cities will be proud to follow. 

A little more about Judie Mancuso:

Judie Mancuso is the Founder and President of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL). Judie’s early collaborative work with LAAS led directly to Senator Liz Figueroa’s 2006 “Animals in Unattended Motor Vehicles” law and SCIL’s founding in 2007.
 
Her organization has been the driving force behind 22 bills passed into law to benefit California’s pets and wildlife, including the ban on the sale of mill-bred dogs, cats, and rabbits (a bill copied across the US), the Safe Transportation of Dogs & Cats Act, the Animal Evacuation Act, the Pet Microchipping Act, the Dining with Dogs Act, and the law that made shelter pets the “Official State Pet” of California.

Judie was the leading force behind California’s Pet Lovers License Plate, which has raised well over a million dollars for sterilizations. She recognizes that pet overpopulation is the root cause of the animal shelter crisis and offers innovative and cost-effective spay/neuter solutions.
 
As an appointed board member of the California Veterinary Medical Board for two terms, serving eight years, Judie has amassed an arsenal of experience and relationships with key players in this sphere. She comes from the world of technology, where she managed large teams of engineers and complex budgets, skills that will serve her well as LAAS’ General Manager.
 
Mayor Bass, we respectfully urge you to consider Judie Mancuso for Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS) General Manager.