Extra security is in place at Los Angeles Animal Services’ North Central shelter after an attack last week left staff members injured, LAAS General Manager Gabrielle Amster said Tuesday.
The attack occurred Friday afternoon at the facility at 3201 Lacy St., near Interstate 5 and the Harbor (110) Freeway, Amster told the Board of Animal Services Commissioners at its regular meeting.
According to officials, a man who had recently been incarcerated went to the shelter to retrieve his dog, who was undergoing neuter surgery, when he became irate for unspecified reasons. He began throwing items, damaging property and threatening staff members.
The Los Angeles Police Department was called to the shelter and the man was arrested.
Amster said the employees’ injuries were not life-threatening, but the experience was traumatizing for them nonetheless.
“Our staff at North Central felt under siege at their own workplace,” she told the commissioners.
Amster added that the Mayor’s Office sent extra security to the shelter Friday, and that security remained in place with no current timeline for removal.
The GM said she hopes the incident does not cause people to associate the shelter with violence.
“It is a wonderful shelter with beautiful play yards … and an important anchor for the community,” she said.
Amster also provided a brief update on last month’s City Council vote directing LAAS to explore the possibility of having nonprofits operate one or more of the city’s six shelters due to severe animal overcrowding, staffing and budget challenges.
Amster said the next step is preparing a feasibility study, which the department is working on after “important City Council discussions” scheduled for last Friday were rescheduled.