NOTHING HAPPENS IN LA COUNTY WITHOUT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVAL. 

 

 

 

On December 5th Kathryn Barger made a motion in response to the LA times front page Article concerning the high euthanasia rates, the size of the Palmdale shelter, the operating procedures at both Lancaster and Palmdale shelters, and what needs to be addressed in the communities they serve. 

She wrote a detailed plan and gave DACC a time Frame to respond. These will die as a good gesture if we don't follow through as a community and make change happen.

WE HAVE TO BE INVESTED IN THE OUTCOMES 

This petition is to show the board of supervisors that we need a unanimous Vote to MAKE THESE CHANGES HAPPEN. Our communities are sick of breeders, dogs running our streets, people dumping dogs, Euthanasia at our shelters, not enough access to affordable spay, neuter services. We need officers and mobile Vans to go out into the unincorporated communities where the need is the greatest. The Board of Supervisors needs to approve funding and Marcia Mayeda need to hire more staff and officers to get the job done. 

KEEP IN MIND IF WE WANT A BIGGER SHELTER AND MORE SERVICES THEY WILL NEED TO APPROVE HIRING MORE OFFICERS, STAFF, AND will need funding approved for all of it. PALMDALE SHELTER IS ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED. LANCASTER NEEDS SUPPORT AS WELL TO BECOME PASSIONATE ABOUT SAVING LIVES AGAIN. 

PLEASE READ BELOW:

++++++++++++++++++++++

MOTION BY SUPERVISORS KATHRYN BARGER AND HILDA L. SOLIS DECEMBER 5, 2023

URGENTLY MITIGATING HIGH EUTHANSIA RATES IN ANTELOPE VALLEY ANIMAL
CARE CENTERS
On September 26, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved a motion titled “Expanding Animal
Care Services in the Antelope Valley” with the primary goal to decrease euthanasia rates in the
Palmdale and Lancaster Animal Care Centers. The motion asked the Chief Executive Office
(CEO) in collaboration with the Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) and the
Department of Public Works (DPW) to improve live-outcomes by expanding spay and neuter
services, increase enforcement to mitigate illegal breeding practices, and provide education
and outreach efforts to stop the abandonment of dogs in the Antelope Valley. In addition, the
motion directed the departments to investigate the expansion of the Palmdale Animal Care
Center. The Palmdale Animal Care Center provides care for approximately the same number
of dogs as the Lancaster, Downey, and Baldwin Park Animal Care Centers, but with
significantly less space. The departments are in the process of exploring options to increase
the size of the Palmdale Care Center, however, preliminary estimates reflect a cost of more
than $25 million.
On December 3, 2023, the Los Angeles Times (Times) published an article addressing
concerns over the high euthanasia rate in the Lancaster and Palmdale Animal Care Centers as
compared to other Care Centers in the County. The concerns detailed in the article by the
Times align with the concerns addressed in the September 2023 motion. The Times article
also noted that there is an “overcrowding crisis” in shelter systems throughout the nation,
providing examples from New York, Texas, and North Carolina. The article cited various
reasons for the nationwide overcrowding crisis which include dogs being returned to the
shelter system post-Covid, the high cost of care for animals, and a shortage of veterinarians,
adoption partners and rescues who are also overwhelmed.

-MORE-

Page 2
The Times article also noted additional areas of concern for the Antelope Valley that are
worthy of attention. These issues include inconsistencies and gaps in notifying the public,
volunteers, and adoption partners of dogs scheduled to be euthanized; inconsistencies in the
plea-process; record keeping related to euthanasia; public access to dogs specifically in the
Palmdale Shelter, and poor photo quality of adoptable dogs. They also noted issues with
staffing levels in the department and issues with the behavioral assessment process which
determine which dogs are deemed adoptable. In addition to the work currently underway in
response to the September 2023 motion, DACC must also address these additional concerns.
This will require an ongoing and focused effort to ensure the outcomes in the Antelope Valley
Care Centers improve and meet County and National standards.
WE, THEREFORE, MOVE that the Board of Supervisors direct the Chief Executive Office
(CEO), in collaboration with the Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC), and the
Department of Public Works (DPW) to report back in 60 days with an assessment of short term
and/or temporary solutions to provide added capacity to the Palmdale Animal Care Center.
This may include the build-out of prefabricated or temporary kennels on-site, as well as an
exploration of off-site facilities in the vicinity of the Palmdale Animal Care Center that may be
suitable for contracting with to expand capacity to house more dogs in the Antelope Valley.
WE, FURTHER, MOVE that the Board of Supervisors direct the CEO, in collaboration with
DACC, and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to report back in 60 days with an
evaluation of current vacant and funded positions in the Antelope Valley Care Centers and
recommended strategies to fill and retain qualified candidates.
WE, FURTHER, MOVE that the Board of Supervisors direct the DACC to report back in writing
in 30 days on the following:
1. A review of the policies and procedures related the plea process and notification
process for pending euthanasia of dogs. This should include appropriate timelines, and
a plan for more robust communication and outreach to adoption partners, rescue and
foster organizations with proper documentation, as well as added use of social media
platforms for appeals and notifications;
2. A review of the policy related to data and record keeping when euthanasia is used and
recommendations to improve data collection;
3. Recommendations to enable visitors to view and access all adoptable dogs in the
Palmdale and Baldwin Park Animal Care Centers without the need to be escorted by
DACC staff; and,
4. An evaluation of best practices related to the behavioral assessment process to ensure
that the most current training and tools are being utilized that will allow for consideration
of dogs that enter the shelter in a state of fear.
# # #

SUP:KB:SE

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PLEASE REVIEW AND REPORT BACK IS FLOWERY LANGUAGE AND LIP SERVICE. NO we don't need more REVIEWS....WE NEED CHANGES/ACTIONS NOW - NOT 3 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NEEDS TO APPROVE THE FUNDING NOW TO MAKE CHANGES HAPPEN. 

I would like to point out - no matter how big we build our shelters or how many staff we hire - we will fill them up in 10 days if we don't address the source of the unaltered animal overpopulation crisis in our communities.

THESE ANIMALS COME FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE SOURCE.

 

 

THE PALMDALE SHELTER NEEDS THEIR OWN MEDICAL BUILDING DEDICATED JUST TO SPAY/NEUTER AND MOBILE MEDICAL VANS TO GO OUT INTO UNINCORPORTED AREAS AND GET THESE ANIMALS FIXED.

This means hiring more vets, vet techs, and support staff to do as many surgeries possible in one day - 5 days a week. this needs to be a free or low cost ($20) service AVAILABLE to the public AND THE RESCUES. 

COUNTY NEEDS TO GET CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL VETS TO OFFER 1 FREE SPAY/NEUTER DAY PER MONTH. I WOULD LIKE TO EMPLORE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY AND RESCUES TO COME TOGETHER AND ADVOCATE, EMAIL, BEG AND PLEAD, DONATE/SUPPORT EVERY VET IN TOWN TO OFFER 1 LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER DAY PER MONTH EACH. If we can get the County to help the vets off set costs we would have a low cost clinic 4 days a week somewhere in the Antelope Valley.

 

 

The cities of LANCASTER AND PALMDALE need to bring back door to door code enforcement of licensing, microchipping, altering, and compliance requirements of 4 dogs, 5 cats per household. THIS CANVASING SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE CITY - NOT THE COUNTY AND WRITTEN BACK INTO THEIR CONTRACT OR HAVE THEIR OWN CITY EMPLOYEES ENFORCE IT.

 

 

Our lost and found pages are inundated with unaltered animals that have no collars, no name tags, no microchips. These animals could be reunited the day they are found if people would comply with Title 10 code enforcement. 

THERE NEEDS TO BE A 5 YEAR MORITORIUM ON BREEDERS LICENSES PERIOD. Including more oversight on the ones already sold. Backyard breeding/neglect/abuse/dumping and backyard buying of animals from illegal sales needs to have a steeper fine and felony status/JAIL TIME to detour these horrific practices.  

THE ANTELOPE VALLEY IS SICK OF THE EXPLOITATION OF ANIAMLS. PEOPLE WHO BUY FROM BREEDERS FUND THIS HORRIFIC PRACTICE WITH THEIR WALLETS.

LET THEM PAY A BIGGER FINE THAN ITS WORTH. 

TAKE A MIN TO SCROLL THROUGH THE PET SECTION ON CRAIGLIST TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PETS ARE BEING SOLD ILLEGALLY. THERE ARE CURRETNLY 7,128 ANIMALS FOR SALE ON JUST THAT ONE PLATFORM IN ANTELOPE VALLEY. 

 

 

WE CAN ASK THE COUNTY TO FUND CHANGE, WE CAN GET THE SHELTERS TO MAKE CHANGES, BUT IF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T STEP UP AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHANGES AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE OR CARE TO COMPLY WITH LOCAL ORDINANCES - NOTHING WILL CHANGE IN OUR SHELTERS. PERFECTLY GOOD ANIMALS WILL DIE!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WRITE/CALL AND EMAIL:

KATHRYN BARGER:  kathryn@bos.lacounty.gov

500 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 

 Phone: (213) 974-5555

=======================

MARCIA MAYEDA - LA COUNTY ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL:  mmayeda@animalcare.lacounty.gov

PO Box 743887
Los Angeles, CA 90074-3887
Phone: (562) 728-4610

=======================

DANNY URBANO DEPUTY DIRECTOR DACC

dubario@animalcare.lacounty.gov

=====================

CHRIS CIRAR - PALMDALE CA SHELTER MANAGER

ccirar@animalcare.lacounty.gov

===========================

DANIEL DIBENE - LANCASTER CA SHELTER

MANAGER 

 DDibene@animalcare.lacounty.gov