Lifesaving Measures
When General Manager Staycee Dains took office in July 2023, the City’s six shelters were nearly 1,000 animals over their built capacity. In the eight months since then, even as the shelters take in an average of 115 animals each day, she has managed to reduce that overall number by 50 percent.
The following is a list of lifesaving measures General Manager Dains has implemented:
- Opened the shelters in late June for adoption without requiring appointments
- Offered reduced adoption fees
- Nearly doubled the number of active volunteers from just over 500 each month to nearly 1,000 by removing barriers to signing up and on-boarding
- Increased volunteer engagement by holding regular volunteer meetings, resulting in improved communication and enhancements to shelter policies and practices
- Increased access to adoptable animals by expanding adoption venues to more non-traditional offsite locations
- Conducted a holiday adoption campaign that placed over 3,000 animals
- Increased transparency for pets in urgent need of placement through New Hope rescue alerts, and increased the time for finding resolutions for those animals from two (2) days to two (2) weeks.
- Successfully applied for support from Best Friends that offers free microchips for all pets in the city of LA at any LA Animal Services Shelter
- Formed a transport committee to perform outreach to out-of-state organizations for placement of animals and assure lifesaving outcomes
- Launched fundraising campaign for sick and injured animals raising nearly $100K for the STAR program in less than three (3) months
- Expanded STAR funding for sick and injured animals from only rescue groups to include potential foster and adoptive homes
How You Can Help
Adopt a big dog
There's a furry friend ready to meet you and be a part of your family. Dogs adopted from LA Animal Services join their new families already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, licensed, and microchipped. Adopters also receive a Petco flyer with discounts to help make their pet adoption a success and a VCA Healthy Start Certificate, which provides up to $250 of follow up veterinary care within the first 14 days of adoption. In addition, canine companions adopted from LA Animal Services are also eligible for free dog training classes at the Paws for Life K9 Rescue People & Pet Innovation Center in Mission Hills, CA. Contact info@pawsforlifecanine.org for more details.
View the pets in our Centers who are available for adoption by going to laanimalservices.com.
Foster a big dog
For pets, there is no place like home, even if it's only for a couple of days or a few weeks or longer. Fostering allows our canine buddies to thrive in a home setting where they are less stressed and can benefit from additional socialization. Open your heart and home and start your foster journey today.
Spay/Neuter
Spaying and neutering your pets will prevent unwanted pet births and decrease the overpopulation of stray or abandoned animals that end up in city shelters. For Angelenos, there are resources available for their pets, which include spay/neuter certificates for eligible residents or low-cost coupons for all Angelenos, that will help cover the cost of a pet's sterilization cost. Learn more about spay/neuter resources and download your certificate or coupon today or pick up from any of the six Centers.
Reunite with your lost dog
Register your pet on Petco Love Lost, a free national lost and found database that uses image-recognition technology to simplify the search for lost pets by using one photo and view our lost pets page to look for a lost pet in one of our six shelters.
Shelter-At-Home
Help a lost pet find their home without taking them to the Shelter. Through our Shelter-at-Home program, you can safely harbor animals that you have found and help reunite them with their owners.
Rescue
Animals that cannot be adopted to the public due to safety issues or that require medical assistance beyond what the Department can provide is placed with New Hope Partners, private nonprofit animal rescue organizations that work with us to save the lives of our most vulnerable animals. For more information about New Hope Partners, click here.
Spay or neuter your pets. LA Animal Services offers free certificates for eligible residents and low-cost coupons for all Angelenos that can completely cover or offset the cost of surgery.
License your dog. Should your dog become separated from you, the department can immediately reunite you with your dog if your dog is licensed.
Donate. There are many programs to donate to that directly pay for services for animals in LA Animal Services' care
Microchip your pet. Its only $15 at all shelters. Walk-ins during normal business hours are welcome
Train your dog. Paws for Life offers free dog training, exercise, and consultation to all adopters who adopt a dog from LA Animal Services
Keep your pets safely confined to your property or on a leash whenever off of your property. Do not allow dogs or intact cats to roam
