People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals representative Lisa Lange said the LA County Department of Animal Care and Control has emphasized spay and neuter policies to help reduce the population of stray and homeless animals, rather than emulating no-kill shelters that turn sick and dangerous animals away to maintain favorable statistics.
“We all want to see an end to the homeless animal crisis, but the way to get there is not by closing our shelter doors and turning animals away for a meaningless save rate,” Lange told the LA County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. “This policy will help animals on a huge level.”
PETA representative Diana Mendoza called the newly adopted practices “a smart, compassionate, level-headed model that has the power to bring the community together.”
“Instead of reducing animals to statistics the way the no-kill movement does, socially conscious sheltering puts the animals’ interests firmly in focus along with what is best for the community,” Mendoza said.
The DACC said many no-kill practices require agencies to refuse admission to animals that aren’t adoptable and also overcrowd shelters, increasing the risk of disease.
Some release dangerous dogs for adoption to meet live release goals, according to the DACC and PETA.
The PETA website details dozens of instances of hoarding animals or sickly or dangerous dogs approved for adoption.
“It’s time for the truth that not all animals, just like not all people, are loving, trainable and safe,” said Phyllis Daugherty of the Animal Issues Movement.
Socially conscious sheltering originated in Colorado. Its goals are to ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care and to make every healthy and safe animal available for adoption.
In line with those practices, the DACC will not offer animals for adoption that are dangerous or “irremediably suffering.” And it will compassionately euthanize animals in severe, unremitting pain or suffering from other serious health challenges.
The DACC transferred 7,763 animals to low-intake animal shelters around the country last year in an effort to maximize adoption rates for healthy, safe pets. Here at home, it assesses potential adopters to make suitable matches and provides post-adoption support to ensure good outcomes.
A PETA shelter in Norfolk, Virginia came under scrutiny in 2015 for the 80% rate of euthanization in its shelter there, leading state lawmakers to pass a bill changing the definition of an animal shelter. But PETA staffers said they end up caring for animals turned away by other shelters. Many owners of elderly or suffering pets also turn to PETA when they cannot afford to pay the veterinarian’s fee for euthanasia, the animal rights organization told the Washington Post.
A blog post from PETA President Ingrid Newkirk states, “It’s easy to point the finger at those who are forced to do the ‘dirty work’ caused by a throwaway society’s casual acquisition and breeding of dogs and cats who end up homeless and unwanted, but at PETA, we will never turn our backs on neglected, unloved and homeless animals — even if the best we can offer them is a painless release from a world that doesn’t have enough heart or homes with room for them.”
The DACC’s live release rate for dogs is 88% and it finds homes for roughly half of the cats that come into its shelters, nearly double the rate for felines five years ago.
“Through collaboration with strategic partners, especially the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), DACC has been able to greatly improve outcomes for animals in its care,” DACC Director Marcia Mayeda said. “We are committed to continuing our efforts through socially conscious animal sheltering to save animals’ lives and protect our communities.”
At the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger asked for an update on the new “socially conscious” operating practices DACC. A report back is expected in 90 days.
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Paula Renee says
Shelters don’t have a magic wand that they can wave to create loving homes for all the animals who so desperately need them. No one wants to euthanize animals–least of all, the caring souls who must perform this heartbreaking task. Instead of demonizing them, we should all work to end animal homelessness–and the resulting need for euthanasia–by spaying and neutering our own animals and helping others in the community sterilize their animals as well.
AMD says
No animal should be turned away, ever. This is a step in the right direction.
Heather Moore says
Unwanted animals won’t just vanish into thin air. No one wants to euthanize animals, but it’s more humane than being warehoused, abandoned, neglected, or killed in cruel ways. But shelters wouldn’t be forced to euthanize animals—or turn them away—if everyone in the community would spay or neuter.
Craig Shapiro says
I hope other municipalities adopt this blueprint. No-kill shelters do animals no favors. They all need a place where they’re safe, fed, and have a chance to find a home.
Socially Conscious says
“And it will compassionately euthanize animals in severe, unremitting pain or suffering from other serious health challenges.”
And finally, more states are allowing death with dignity for its terminally ill citizens.
Alexis says
Unless you’re a Christian.
AV Illegal says
Great idea…..I wonder if the concept would work for humans? I suppose taking care of the homeless animals is a bigger priority. I love the furry creatures, but if they put the same enthusiasm into the homeless issue maybe the situation would be changed. I suppose there is a lot more money and fame to be had by USING the unfortunate people of LA county, not fixing the problem.
Laughing says
You mean by euthanizing the homeless?
That is the main point of this article. They will choose to euthanize more to make room based on how friendly/adoptable the animal is.
PETA is well known for killing more than they actually rescue and rehome.
This is why I support the other P.E.T.A. – People Eating Tasty Animals.
Tom says
Animal control needs to start controlling a lot of these so called rescues in the AV. So many do more harm then good for these animals. You have good intentions, but when you cant part with an animal or have the funds to care for the amount you have. Plus the price and BS the rescues at Pets Mart make you go through to adopt come on you don’t have to do a welfare check on a dog someone took a year ago, and don’t call it a re homing fee when you set your own price, it’s a sale. You really want loving caring people for your dogs and cats have them work your kennels for a few weekends, ask for feed for the animals not adopted, people sure don’t want surprise visits from a dog rescue nut. Look at BLM Mustangs. They will pay you two $500 installments for rescuing a horse. And at the end of the year a veterinarian can sign off your contract.
It's just meat says
I ate dog and cat in Asia. If I wasn’t told what it was I would have never known. Meat is meat feed it to homeless and people on Welfare Texas does it with the wild hogs. It will either get people back to work real quick or open more homes for these dogs and cats.
Lucy Post says
Every community needs a shelter that accepts every animal in need, without restrictions. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, PETA’s shelter fills that need. It is a desperately needed shelter of last resort for animals who need euthanasia to end their suffering (many of whom have been rejected by other facilities). This includes dogs who are aggressive and unadoptable because they have been kept chained their entire lives; feral cats dying of contagious diseases; animals who are wracked with cancer; elderly animals who have no quality of life and whose desperate guardians brought them to PETA because they can’t afford to pay a vet to euthanize them; and the list goes on. A painless end is a kindness for these animals, and the services PETA provides are vitally needed in an area where many people can’t afford to take their animals to a veterinarian. This video explains more about PETA’s work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XZZnK7G2Y0