The city of Los Angeles reached a “no-kill” milestone last year for dogs under the care of the Department of Animal Services, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Thursday.
“No-kill” is defined as 90 percent of dogs and cats entering shelters not being euthanized, and in 2017, L.A.’s live/save rate reached 92.4 percent for dogs and 81.3 percent for cats, the mayor’s office said.
“Every pet should have a home where they are loved, cared for, and valued,” Garcetti said. “The city’s extraordinary partnership with the No- Kill Los Angeles Coalition has helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals. Every Angeleno who loves animals can help by adopting, fostering and volunteering at their local shelters.”
The city first set a “no-kill” goal in 2012, and since then the city’s total live/save rate increased from 57.7 percent to 87.2 percent and saved the lives of more than 227,000 animals, Garcetti’s office said.
“Putting an end to the senseless euthanasia of domestic animals in our L.A. shelters has been one of my lifelong goals,” said Councilman Paul Koretz, who is chair of the City Council’s Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee.
“For more than 30 years I have worked on animal welfare issues including a ban on puppy mills. I couldn’t be more delighted that in the same year the State of California has banned pet stores from selling domestic animals — modeled after my local ordinance — we have also come so close to fully-reaching no-kill in Los Angeles,” he said. “But what is really critical is that we create systems, programs and partnerships to not only achieve a 90 percent live-release goal in both dogs and cats but sustain it permanently.”
Garcetti and the Department of Animal Services in the coming months plan to start a campaign dedicated to raising awareness of spay/neuter laws, cat adoptions, and kitten fostering, and Los Angeles Animal Services is also exploring options for expanding the city’s spay and neuter program.
“Since the city committed to becoming no-kill, we’ve implemented more humane policies and practices and developed strategic partnerships with our No-Kill Los Angeles Coalition,” said Animal Services General Manager Brenda Barnette. “While we still have more work to do, I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.”
Judah Battista, co-founder and chief regional programs officer for Best Friends Animal Society, the lead partner in the NKLA Coalition, said, “This is not only a game-changer for Los Angeles, but for the entire country. We know that if a city the size of L.A. can achieve this milestone, it will be possible across the country by 2025.”
–City News Service