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L.A. County Animal Shelters See Rising Trend In Dog Admissions

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) reported a recent increase in stray dog admissions.

The DACC reported that 4,971 dogs were admitted to animal care centers, averaging a 26.7 percent increase since the first quarter of 2022.

Giving an increase of 1,048 dogs admitted to the seven animal shelters compared to previous reports.

“We believe the economy is driving this upward trend in dog admissions,” said DACC Director Marcia Mayeda. “The primary reasons people surrender their dogs are the inability to pay for their care, especially veterinary medical expenses, and losing pet-friendly housing.”

The national database, Shelter Animals Count, predicts that shelter populations will mirror pre-pandemic numbers by 99 percent compared to 100 percent in 2019.

“The crisis shelters are facing does not originate within the shelters,” said Stephanie Filer, Executive Director of Shelter Animals Count. “Shelters need help now more than ever. This is a community problem that requires a community solution.”

The increase in stray dogs, not reclaimed by their owners, indicates owners’ inability to continue caring for their dogs according to DACC. The number of stray dogs admitted into shelters has gone from 57.6% in 2020 to 65.6% in the first quarter of 2023.

To counteract the increasing crisis, DACC has launched programs to reduce the number of community strays. Programs include more than a million dollars in grant funding and donations to expand its Pets Are Family (PAF) program, providing critical resources to pet owners.

These include Care vouchers that cover up to $500 in medical expenses; free wellness exams and vaccinations provided through Vet@ThePark outreach clinics; free pet food and supplies provided through DACC’s Pet Food Pantry Program; a medical helpline that has processed and helped connect thousands of pet owners to critical resources; collaborating with community cat caretakers to ensure the population control, health, and welfare of free-roaming, unowned cats in the communities; providing low-cost spay/neuter and vaccinations, and much more.

“DACC is committed to making all efforts to keep pets with their families and place unowned, adoptable animals into new homes,” Mayeda said. “Our progressive and innovative programs have saved thousands of animal lives and greatly reduced euthanasia in our care centers. We encourage anyone who is having difficulty keeping their pet to call us for advice and resources. But most importantly, we need the community’s help in adopting from and supporting their local animal care center.”

A SAC survey reviews additional factors that are potential reasons behind the animal shelter population increase. The data found that  44 percent said euthanasia of dogs had increased in 2023 compared to January-March 2022. Another 45 percent said euthanasia had stayed the same, while only 11 percent said it had decreased. When asked about the considerations behind euthanasia, the most common reasons were not having enough adopters or interest, dogs exhibiting behaviors that made them unadoptable, and a lack of space. Hundreds of respondents provided additional insight into the crisis and fostered solutions for the animals at risk.

“Our euthanasia is not a shelter issue,” one respondent said. “We are doing everything and then some to get animals out alive. It takes action from our immediate community to keep euthanasia numbers low… People can help by choosing to adopt, foster, volunteer, and donate.”

SAC brings the data to promote public awareness and give a call to action to help resolve the increasing animal shelter dog intakes.


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L.A. County Animal Shelters See Rising Trend In Dog Admissions

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About Carl Goldman

Carl Goldman, along with his wife, Jeri repurchased KHTS AM-1220, Santa Clarita’s hometown station on October 24, 2003. They owned it from 1990-1998, and then sold it to Clear Channel Communication in 1998, buying it back from Clear Channel in 2003. Since then, they have rebuilt KHTS as a critical voice of the Valley. In 2015 the radio station moved to its new headquarters on Main Street in Old Town Newhall, in the original Newhall Hardware building. In 2018 an FM was added, 98.1, with its signal being simulcast with AM-1220. In January 2020, Carl and Jeri cruised on the Diamond Princess. Carl was one of the first Americans to come down with Covid-19. Months earlier he was impacted by Guillain Barre Syndrome as a result of a Shingles vaccine in September 2019. He is still in recovery from the vaccine.